PCT needs to come clean on out of hours cover - Lib Dems

11.39.00am GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010

Wiltshire Liberal Democrats are asking for clarification on the intentions of the Primary Care Trust on out of hours cover. "It seems that a new contract starts in April with the same providers as before - Wiltshire Medical Services," said the prospective MP for SW Wiltshire Trevor Carbin.

"The PCT have stated that the number of sites will be increased, but that still leaves a question mark over the quality of the service, and the terse nature of the PCT's latest press release on the subject won't be enough to satisfy concerns amongst the general public"

Cllr Carbin had previously put in a Freedom of Information request to the PCT. "In early February I asked them if there was a change in specification of the new contract, and if there would be any difference in the way the service operates in West Wiltshire," he said. "I also asked about the way the contract was awarded as there seems to be no information on this. I suspect this is something which should be going to Wiltshire Council's Health Scrutiny Committee so councillors and the general public can understand what's going on."

The PCT have said they'll be mounting a "communications campaign" in the run-up to April 1st and the start of the new contract.

"This just isn't good enough," said Trevor Carbin. "If the PCT have nothing to hide as they claim they should stop being secretive and give us the facts now."

The PCT press release dated 9 February states:

"Out of hours service

From 1 April 2010 the Out of Hours service will be provided by Wiltshire Medical Services, which is run by local GPs. The service will be run from all existing sites, plus a number of additional sites, to improve access for patients.

A communications campaign for patients is currently being developed, which will be launched in the weeks leading up to 1 April. NHS Wiltshire has no further comment to make but is keen to stop any further speculation about cuts in services."