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Staff morale falls as GP out-of-hours service privatised
THE GP out-of-hours service in Worcestershire is being privatised.
Staff have been told the service, run by doctors and nurses, will be taken over by a company called Take Care Now (TCN).
The service, currently run by Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, provides care for patients outside normal GP working hours.
One nurse, who asked not to be named, said it employed about 40 nurses and treated 3,000 patients a week from Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester, Kidderminster Hospital, the Alexandra Hospital and at community hospitals in Evesham, Malvern and Bromsgrove. However, the PCT was unable to confirm how many doctors and nurses worked in the service, how many patients it treated or which organisations had bid to run the service.
A spokesman did confirm the move would not result in any job cuts.
The nurse, who has been working for the NHS for 25 years, called your Worcester News in tears and said she was not even sure she would keep her job or be able to carry on her pension plan. "We're all deeply unhappy," she said. "We all feel we have been kicked in the teeth. Morale is really low. We have staff leaving by the bucket-load and we're not allowed to recruit any new ones.
"We feel we have been let down by the PCT. We want to work for the NHS, not a private company."
Worcestershire PCT was unable to confirm if TCN would be running the service when your Worcester News went to press.
A 10-day standstill' period has been called, giving unsuccessful bidders the chance to raise any challenges. A full statement will be issued by the PCT after the trust board meeting on Wednesday, May 14.
On its website TCN is described as a UK-based independent healthcare provider working with the NHS.
Paul Bates, chief executive of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, said: "The PCT has tendered for a new out-of-hours service because the public have quite rightly demanded that we improve the service that is offered.
"The PCT has followed the letter of the law on the formal arrangements for tendering services and its only determination has been to ensure that a better service is provided."
12:23pm Saturday 3rd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Alan2, Worcester on 2:31pm Sat 3 May 08
DIGITAL EDITOR:-
For some days now your site has been proving extremely difficult to work. I have a very good, fast broadband connection and I have no problem at all with other sites. Yours is, on occasions almost inoperative, with pages failing to display, terribly slow speeds at the best of times and, all in all it's a pig's ear. At one time it was exceptionally good - now it is almost not worth working it on occasions. Could the person responsible give it a "twig" please. Thanks.
DIGITAL EDITOR:-
For some days now your site has been proving extremely difficult to work. I have a very good, fast broadband connection and I have no problem at all with other sites. Yours is, on occasions almost inoperative, with pages failing to display, terribly slow speeds at the best of times and, all in all it's a pig's ear. At one time it was exceptionally good - now it is almost not worth working it on occasions. Could the person responsible give it a "twig" please. Thanks.
Posted by: Sir Smeg, Worcester on 2:58pm Sat 3 May 08
Although completely off topic with the news story, I have to agree with Alan2.
There are times when I cant access the site at all even with an 8Mbps connection.
The progress bar on my web browser tells me that I am waiting for one or more ads to load, I dont want the ads, I want to read the news stories.
I appreciate there have to be [italic]some[/italic] ads, but is there nothing that can be done to make them a little less intrusive.
Although completely off topic with the news story, I have to agree with Alan2.
There are times when I cant access the site at all even with an 8Mbps connection.
The progress bar on my web browser tells me that I am waiting for one or more ads to load, I dont want the ads, I want to read the news stories.
I appreciate there have to be
some ads, but is there nothing that can be done to make them a little less intrusive.
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 3:12pm Sat 3 May 08
I put it here Sir Smeg because there was nowehere else that I could get to draw it to attention.
My progress bar takes minutes to complete, then it fails to respond then it clears altogether. It is worse than before BB was invented.
I put it here Sir Smeg because there was nowehere else that I could get to draw it to attention.
My progress bar takes minutes to complete, then it fails to respond then it clears altogether. It is worse than before BB was invented.
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 3:14pm Sat 3 May 08
I put it here Sir Smeg because there was nowehere else that I could get to draw it to attention.
My progress bar takes minutes to complete, then it fails to respond then it clears altogether. It is worse than before BB was invented.
I put it here Sir Smeg because there was nowehere else that I could get to draw it to attention.
My progress bar takes minutes to complete, then it fails to respond then it clears altogether. It is worse than before BB was invented.
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 3:18pm Sat 3 May 08
No, it's not worth sitting twiddling thumbs waiting for a page to turn up, the sites kaput.
No, it's not worth sitting twiddling thumbs waiting for a page to turn up, the sites kaput.
Posted by: Stan Parr, Pershore on 5:46pm Sat 3 May 08
May I add my support and total agreement with Alan2 and Smeggy over this, now sadly degraded,site.
I have been off-line with a small breakdown for two days and although I have now been on this site for nearly 45 minutes, I have only just managed to read a few letters and comments and finally now slowly managed to reach the "Latest/News" panel!
I too have a computer that "is more powerful than the one used by NASA", but it makes no diffence with our beloved WN site.
Slow is not the word, but try the Daily Mail or some of the national daily sites - instant response!
I think the WN site may be under the control of British Rail - certainly during this weekend!
May I add my support and total agreement with Alan2 and Smeggy over this, now sadly degraded,site.
I have been off-line with a small breakdown for two days and although I have now been on this site for nearly 45 minutes, I have only just managed to read a few letters and comments and finally now slowly managed to reach the "Latest/News" panel!
I too have a computer that "is more powerful than the one used by NASA", but it makes no diffence with our beloved WN site.
Slow is not the word, but try the Daily Mail or some of the national daily sites - instant response!
I think the WN site may be under the control of British Rail - certainly during this weekend!
Posted by: Stan Parr, Pershore on 5:50pm Sat 3 May 08
..and a PS - - -
Sorry to hear about the nurses and their problems!
Which dipstick is behind THIS particular daft idea?
Bring back Matron, et al - or explain to us all what is going on, please and why!
Is it really broke and needs fixing?
..and a PS - - -
Sorry to hear about the nurses and their problems!
Which dipstick is behind THIS particular daft idea?
Bring back Matron, et al - or explain to us all what is going on, please and why!
Is it really broke and needs fixing?
Posted by: Digital Editor, Worcester on 12:11am Sun 4 May 08
[quote][bold]Alan2[/bold] wrote:
I put it here Sir Smeg because there was nowehere else that I could get to draw it to attention.
My progress bar takes minutes to complete, then it fails to respond then it clears altogether. It is worse than before BB was invented.[/quote] [bold]There's an [italic]ideal[/italic] place to draw it to my attention Alan2. I created an Oi Admin! section in our forums months ago - http://forum.worcest
ernews.co.uk/viewfor
um.php?f=14 - for anyone who wants to draw things to my/our attention. I'll chat away 'til the cows come home in there...
Seriously everyone, [italic]please[/italic] bring this up in there and describe all of the problems you're experiencing with the site, because now I know there's a problem on the public side of the site (we've been having trouble for some time at the WN) then all of the information I can get will give me more ammunition when I next speak to our Systems people. I'll start a new thread in Oi Admin! to get you going.[/bold]
Alan2 wrote:
I put it here Sir Smeg because there was nowehere else that I could get to draw it to attention.
My progress bar takes minutes to complete, then it fails to respond then it clears altogether. It is worse than before BB was invented.
There's an ideal place to draw it to my attention Alan2. I created an Oi Admin! section in our forums months ago - http://forum.worcest
ernews.co.uk/viewfor
um.php?f=14 - for anyone who wants to draw things to my/our attention. I'll chat away 'til the cows come home in there...
Seriously everyone, please bring this up in there and describe all of the problems you're experiencing with the site, because now I know there's a problem on the public side of the site (we've been having trouble for some time at the WN) then all of the information I can get will give me more ammunition when I next speak to our Systems people. I'll start a new thread in Oi Admin! to get you going. Posted by: Digital Editor, Worcester on 12:29am Sun 4 May 08
[bold]To make it even easier for you, please use the following link to take you straight to the topic. You'll have to register on the forums first before you can reply, but it's no different to any other forum on the web.
The link might split over two lines when I come to post this comment, but just paste both bits together and it should work:
http://tinyurl.com/5
t7r39[/bold]
To make it even easier for you, please use the following link to take you straight to the topic. You'll have to register on the forums first before you can reply, but it's no different to any other forum on the web.
The link might split over two lines when I come to post this comment, but just paste both bits together and it should work:
http://tinyurl.com/5
t7r39 Posted by: val, worcestershire on 10:33pm Sun 4 May 08
I must be extremely lucky as every time i log in i get there without a problem. I think it is the best site. every one can get a hiccup now and again but now wn know of problems they will sort with their usual expertise.
I must be extremely lucky as every time i log in i get there without a problem. I think it is the best site. every one can get a hiccup now and again but now wn know of problems they will sort with their usual expertise.
Posted by: val, worcestershire on 10:35pm Sun 4 May 08
I must be extremely lucky as every time i log in i get there without a problem. I think it is the best site. every one can get a hiccup now and again but now wn know of problems they will sort with their usual expertise.
I must be extremely lucky as every time i log in i get there without a problem. I think it is the best site. every one can get a hiccup now and again but now wn know of problems they will sort with their usual expertise.
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