The report of the GP Task Force, which was created to uncover and solve the problems facing local GPs right now, will not be presented to Cabinet for approval due to Conservative councillors voting to shelve it at the Health and Adults Scrutiny committee. The vote was held on the 12th of January, and the Tories used the spurious grounds that they wished to hear from more GPs.
Council officers advised that 30 GP practices had been approached but demand for appointments and Covid infections prevented many from attending the Task Group. In spite of this, in the course of the Task Group’s work we still heard from numerous GPs, patients, the ICB’s, Dr Sukh Singh (who leads on GP services for Kent and Medway), a public health consultant, practice nurses, and pharmacies.
Conservative Cllr David Wildey used his chairperson’s casting vote to dump the report after the first vote was 6 in favour, 6 against. The Medway Labour and Co-operative Group have expressed their disappointment over this and condemned Cllr Wildey’s petulant and unrealistic attitude to the report. Conservative councillor Elizabeth Turpin who was a member of the Task Group voted with Labour.
Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Health Spokesperson said:
“Following the extensive work that went into this report, it is astonishing that Medway’s Conservative councillors have denied an opportunity for this report to be sent to Cabinet for action on the 14 recommendations many of which require the Council’s support.
The challenges facing some of our GPs are significant and at the meeting Medway’s Director of Public Health, James Williams advised members that the recommendations had the potential for real change.
When many people are waiting over 28 days for a GP appointment, the Conservatives’ failure to support the report demonstrates how out of touch they are with the priorities and concerns of the people of Medway.
“They have effectively rejected the extensive evidence and good ideas for positive change that the health practitioners who spoke to the task group brought forward demonstrating their unwillingness to take responsibility for trying to help residents get better access to primary care. The Labour group will do all we can to ensure the recommendations are taken forward.”
Cllr Adam Price, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Member for Gillingham North added: “I was part of the task group and was impressed and motivated by the willingness of health practitioners to share their challenges and ideas for improvement with us. The Conservatives who voted to kick the report into the long grass have confirmed that they do not want Medway residents to have proper access to primary care services.”