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GP surgeries will close for eight days at Christmas

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Published Date: 01 December 2008
By DAVID MADDOX
SURGERIES will be closed for eight days over the Christmas period in Scotland because NHS bosses thought that negotiating with GPs to open longer would lead to unnecessary confusion.
Announcing their preparations for the winter period, NHS chiefs said people would have to rely on NHS 24 for around half the Christmas period.

The closures come despite criticism last year of GPs refusing to provide full cover across the Christmas period.

John Turner, the chief executive of NHS 24, said the organisation was "fully prepared" for the winter period. But he admitted they expected to receive more than 136,000 calls over the 21-day festive period from 15 December and 4 January – up 15 per cent on the previous year.

Dr Malcolm McWhirter, a senior medical officer for the Scottish Government, pointed out there are 50,000 more deaths in the winter months a year than the summer months.





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  • Last Updated: 30 November 2008 9:57 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Mr A Roy,

01/12/2008 00:39:43
And what are the figures for 2008 for heart attack admissions ? I wait with baited breath !
2

Dunedinhen,

Darlington 01/12/2008 01:06:26
if i only get two days at christmas and one day at new year.....what makes the gp's special? apart from not wanting to provide the service they are paid to do so!
3

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 01/12/2008 01:34:08




Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily health.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from ill health for eight days, over the Christmas period in Scotland .
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. for ever and ever. Amen



4

Anne,

Eaglesham 01/12/2008 06:33:35
They are only getting two days' holiday, Dunedin, Christmas day and Boxing Day and New Year's day and the second of January.

This year, the weekends fall directly after the holidays, so millions of workers will enjoy the same length of break.
5

Kate,

Zurich 01/12/2008 07:38:02
Nice one Charles!

Anne, that is not the point, the point is that GPs are paid very high salaries, which take into consideration working at inconvenient times, including Christmas, New Year, holidays and so on. Many GPs are only in this for the money and have absolutely no compassion for those who fall sick or need constant care.

We can't postpone whatever illness befalls us and GPs should not insist on their 8 days off.
6

fife runner,

01/12/2008 07:42:16
#4 what about the Monday Tuesday Wednesday.
7

fife runner,

01/12/2008 07:45:32
I work with Royal mail and to clear the backlog we are being asked to work Sunday before and after Christmas as well as extra hours on other working days otherwise many will not get their mail. I do not need the overtime as both myself and me wife work but will do so to provide a service which is what many of my colleagues do so why not doctors who are providing a public service which is what # 4 forgets when she equates GPs to other workers.
8

Kate,

Zurich 01/12/2008 08:12:35
#7 Fife Runner, well said and exactly! You and your colleagues are providing a service, which is not needed, but much appreciated. GPs should be providing a service, which is vitally needed!
9

....D,

Edinbourg 01/12/2008 11:42:33
#6 What about Mon/Tues/Wed?! Are you sure they are included in the eight days mentioned?
10

Da Doo,

Edinburgh 01/12/2008 11:59:02
The sooner we get salaried GP's the better, never mind this independant contractor lark.
11

Guga II,

Rockall 01/12/2008 12:55:10
So, if you get sick, go to your local A & E as NHS24 will be a shambles, again.
12

it has always been allan,

01/12/2008 13:18:04
Us OAP's are a drag on the economy so a chance to accelerate the wastage rate is a forward thinking move really and should not be so harshly criticised.

Brown is always trying to help us. After all he is now the world statesman and new leader.
13

JT,

01/12/2008 13:30:49
As someone who works too far from their GPs surgery to attend a day time appt, I can only get to early morning appts and be late for work. Although my doc is one of the good ones, I do feel that taking this time off which I add alot more people dont have the option either is wrong. Its not as if they work weekends all the time, and they get paid over the odds for on call work. My surgery wrote to me twice to get a smear test - cant get one booked til mid to late january at the earliest (only working 3 mornings a week) and then wrote to me to book an appt for blood pressure ( now booked 3 weeks in advance!!)
14

fife runner,

01/12/2008 14:09:45
#9 I take it they are
15

fife runner,

01/12/2008 14:17:42
#13 at my surgery two weeks is not extraordinary for routine appoinment with any GP. I have complained to the practice manager and now to my MSP. Since doing so I now tend to get better treatment. Problem is many will sit and let the status quo persist when the remedy for change is in their own hands.

The last straw for me was when my surgery on top of taking two three day weekends in a four week period a few weeks ago my friend who suffers from MS had to phone up to ten times one day to get any help so much so that she was very distraught at her treatment or lack of. One call after another was met with complete lack of any sympathy.
16

The real dracula,

04/12/2008 19:13:13
No #11 that is definitely NOT what A&E is for , if you attend with a minor complaint you will either wait a lengthy time to be seen and be told your attendance is inappropriate or you will be referred to out of hours GP.
Abusing A&E is not the answer , people cannot clog the emergency system with minor ailments as it is detracting from the more seriously ill patients who do need to be there.
Please be sensible A&E is not an extension to GP services or an alternative it is for SERIOUS illness and ACCIDENTS ONLY

So please dont do it.

There is also a minor injuries unit at the western general hospital.

Especially at this time of year A&E needs to be kept clear of Gp type problems there is enough to deal with as the fall out of the weather ie multiple broken bones , serious road traffic accidents etc

 

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