It seems that there are now two surgeries in Epsom having problems with previously arranged agreements. (Ill -advised, July 17). Ashley Centre Surgery - where I am a patient - cannot get the funding to move into new premises and a new surgery earmarked for the Longmead Estate has been abandoned for the same reason.
Government says it wants more care in the community to deter people from going to A&E and that they should go to their GP instead.
This disaster is solely due to the Government's unwanted and unnecessary £3bn top-down reorganisation of the NHS which did away with the primary care trusts (PCTs) last April that had agreed the principle arrangements for the new surgeries.
The PCTs were replaced by the Sussex and Surrey Area Team who say that they are waiting for instructions from the Government before allowing the funding to be released.
A BMA spokesperson said last week that this is the tip of an iceberg. In the meantime we patients are seeing one local surgery in danger of closing and another has been lost due to such inertia.
Chris Grayling MP has been forthright in his view on saving Epsom Hospital. What are his views on this matter? Will he join a campaign to get his Government to release the funding to place the well-being of patients before that of needless bureaucracy?
John Geleit
West Hill
Epsom
- Send your letters to: letters@epsomguardian.co.uk
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