(Image: LDRS)
A GP who is solely responsible for 6,000 patients has warned the future of three Yorkshire Dales medical centres could be at risk unless more GPs can be recruited.
Dr Jonathan Pain, senior partner at Central Dales Practice in Wensleydale, said the transfer of patients from Reeth Medical Centre had contributed to a big increase in patients and demand at a time when the practice was already struggling with staffing.
Although services have been secured at Reeth following the retirement of long-serving GP Dr Mike Brookes, Dr Pain said the current arrangements were not sustainable without additional doctors.
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Earlier this year, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust secured a five-year lease for Reeth Medical Centre, with Central Dales Practice providing branch surgery services, as well as continuing to operate surgeries at Hawes and Aysgarth.
It comes as patients at York’s largest medical group, Priory Medical Group, are being told routine GP appointments may take more than a month.
It operates eight surgeries in the region, including practices in Fulford, Heworth and Acomb.
Patients requesting an appointment receive an automated text saying their request is “under review”.
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They are then told that a routine appointment will be offered only after a minimum wait of 35 days.
Some patients say they have been informed that appointments could be five or six weeks away.
Meanwhile, in the Dales, Dr Pain said he decided to speak out after press releases from Richmond and Northallerton MP Rishi Sunak and the NHS trust heralded the work to secure the centre's future.
He said: “While it is true that the surgery in Reeth is open, what the press releases fail to acknowledge is the incredible and ongoing stress and pressure this whole incident has had upon the staff of the Central Dales Practice.
“Things are not at all as positive as suggested.
“We are even more short-staffed than before Dr Brookes departed, with a 38 per cent increase in patients and demand, and while Reeth might be open now, I don't think this is sustainable without being able to recruit fresh GP help.”
Dr Jonathan Pain. (Image: No credit.)
Dr Pain, 61, who hopes to retire in the coming years, said the practice was receiving no interest or enquiries from GPs, with a national recruitment drive attracting just one genuine applicant.
He said locums could be used at “eye-watering sums”, but the practice had not been fully staffed with permanent GPs for more than a year.
Dr Pain added: “Currently I am a lone GP responsible for 6,000 patients spread over hundreds of square miles and, at 60 years plus, despite the amazing help of my nursing colleagues and receptionists, without new blood I fear it will not be Reeth that shuts but Aysgarth and Hawes surgeries as well.”
Responding to the concerns, Mr Sunak told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Managing partner Lynn Irwin has told me that she is currently in the process of seeking a salaried GP, with a regular locum GP covering at present.
“I will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) said recruiting GPs in rural areas was a national challenge and remained the responsibility of individual practices.
A spokesperson added: “We are fully committed to supporting the continued provision of primary care services across the Dales to ensure patients maintain access to local healthcare.
“The ICB and local Primary Care Network are actively collaborating with Central Dales Practice to provide additional clinical capacity and ensure continuity of care for residents.”