By Kelly Eve

Last updated 05:37, Friday, 01 August 2008

A LEADING Cumbrian GP is warning that a rising number of patients may not be able to see the doctor of their choice as the health service looks at ways to improve access to surgeries.

Ian Mitchell: ‘Patients may not be able to see the doctor they wish’

Results of a Department of Health survey of more than 23,500 Cumbrians show that the vast majority are happy with the access they currently have to local GPs.

Overall, 94 per cent are satisfied with the telephone access, 83 per cent are happy with advanced booking arrangements and 91 per cent say they are able to see a GP within 48 hours.

More than nine out of 10 questioned, between January and March, also said they were able to get an appointment with their chosen doctor yet the 91 per cent figure is down slightly on last year’s figure.

Dr Ian Mitchell, from the Cumbria Primary Care Trust, believes several changes to the way doctors work in the health service today could continue to affect patients in the future. Dr Mitchell, who is chairman of the trust’s performance executive committee, said: “The figures are very good compared to the national figures and show another improvement in three of the key access areas.

“There was a one per cent fall in the patient’s ability to see the GP of their choice and I think this is going to be an increasing area where patients may not be able to see the doctor they wish.

“A GP’s portfolio has changed. Doctors aren’t just full-time GPs now. You find many do part-time hours and then have a regular commitment to work out of hours for the likes of Cuedoc or have a medical specialism they work on away from the surgery.”

He also added that surgeries across the county are looking at new ways to meet the growing needs of adult patients who work during the day and who would like to see more evening and weekend surgeries.

A new out-of-hours centre is to be created at Workington hospital in the west of the county in a bid to tackle this issue after four of the town’s five surgeries presented the idea to leaders at the Primary Care Trust recently.

Some surgeries in the north of the county are also looking at increasing evening and Saturday morning opening.