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Some Freshbrook patients have to travel further
to see their doctor D&L Blinds
Patients registered with the Freshbrook Surgery have seen the days they can see a doctor locally cut from five
days a week to three as senior partner Dr Amit Dwivedi tries to manage the problem of a national shortage of
doctors taking up opportunities to go into general practice. Quality made to measure
The practice, a branch ments and don’t bother to Blinds & Curtains
of Ridge Green Surgery inform the surgery, even when All types of blinds, supplied and
at Shaw Centre, has been they’ve been offered one on the fitted by a family run business
given permission to re- same day. He said that at the last Choose from a wide range
duce opening hours on a survey by the practice the wasted of fabrics in the comfort
temporary basis by NHS appointments equalled 2.5 GP of your own home
England from 1 August days a month. 01793 619428 / 07974 380865
whilst a shortage of doc- Anne Snelgrove, Labour’s email: [email protected]
tors is reviewed. prospective parliamentary can- www.dandlblinds.co.uk
The two practices have didate, organised a petition to
a combined patient list NHS England calling for the
of 10,100. Dr Dwivedi GP shortage to be resolved.
said patients can attend She said: “The situation in
surgeries at Ridge Green Freshbrook is very worrying
and home visits would be for patients, particularly for
offered to people unable older people who live in the four
to travel to Shaw, which sheltered housing units closeby.
requires two bus journeys. Anne Snelgrove and Dr Dwivedi. Photo: Richard Wintle “I don’t blame Dr Dwivedi
Dr Dwivedi said the Calyxpix.com because the practice is trying
government has to look at the national have vacancies. At the last review 550 to resolve the situation. But £1.8 bil-
situation urgently. “I recognise the GPs in the South West are planning lion has been spent on reorganising
concerns of patients that we’ve had to leave in the next two years but only the NHS and I question the benefits.
to close on certain days; we’ve been 150 are predicted to come in.” NHS England really have to respond
recruiting for months but doctors At the same time Dr Dwivedi to the needs of vulnerable people;
are voting with their feet and leaving pointed out that the level of wasted things are going wrong in Swindon.”
the profession because of changes in appointments is unacceptable. Many See the explanation for the reduced
the NHS. Forty per cent of practices patients don’t turn up for appoint- hours at: bit.ly/FkGPhours

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swindonlink.com • September 2014 5

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