Chloe Smith raises further questions over out-of-hours care

Today Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, questioned the Rt Hon Mike O'Brien MP, Minister of State for Health Services, following his statement on out-of-hours GP services.

Following Mike O'Brien's statement, Chloe raised the example of a constituent, Mrs Marjorie Alderson, whose daughters contacted Chloe to highlight her difficult and painful experience with out-of-hours care, and who has since passed away. Chloe asked whether he would give serious consideration to the difficulties around attracting doctors to work out of hours, as articulated to her by one Norfolk medical professional. Mike O'Brien responded that he would.

The statement followed the inquest into the death of David Grey in February 2008, who died of a lethal overdose when a German doctor was on his first out-of-hours shift. The verdict recorded was of unlawful killing.

In 2004 most GPs chose to opt out of providing out-of-hours care and since then, many Primary Care Trusts have relied on private firms. The EDP/EN recently looked into the numbers of doctors covering Norfolk during 6.30pm and 8am.

Commenting on out-of-hours care Chloe Smith said:

"I understand it has become increasingly hard to attract doctors to work out-of-hours. There are several reasons for this - it can be disheartening to work in a system that is often overwhelmed. There may also be a question mark over pay rates, and the extent to which trainee GPs can get experience of out-of-hours care.

"I think we need to look at such questions carefully in out of hours care contracts."