THE number of people attending the out of hours GP service at the Vale of Leven Hospital has plummeted, new statistics have revealed.

Figures released under freedom of information rules state that just 81 people attended the service at the Alexandria hospital last month – compared to 818 in July 2019.

Statistics published by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also show that the Vale service was closed on 218 occasions between July 2019 and last month – more than any other out of hours GP service across the health board area.

The up-to-date figures have been published just weeks after health officials reached an agreement with local GPs on a rota system for the future running of the service.

Local MSP Jackie Baillie, who asked the health board for the figures, said they underlined the urgent need for local running of the service.

She said: “The issues that this research uncovers are simply the next in a long line of health board failings when it comes to our vital out of hours service.

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“Attendance is not down because local people aren’t in need of an out of hours GP – it is down because the service is closed more often than it’s open.

“It’s not helped either by the complete lack of communication between the health board and NHS 24 as to whether the service is available. Local people are unnecessarily being sent further afield for medical attention because no one has a clue when the Vale of Leven service is operating and at what capacity.”

“It has been years since I first raised the issue of closures at the Vale out of hours service.

“Time and time again, health board chiefs have told me that these problems have been solved but the numbers speak for themselves. We have had the highest number of Out of Hours closures of any hospital in Greater Glasgow & Clyde. And That is simply not good enough.

“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is letting local people down and putting their health and well-being at risk because of its inability to maintain a functioning out of hours service.

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“The sooner local GPs are in charge of organising and running the service, the better for local people.”

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We are committed to the GP out of hours service at the Vale of Leven and have ensured the community continues to have access to a GP out of hours in the short-term, as we look to implement long-term improvements to extend the service.

“As part of those improvements which will help create a robust and sustainable out-of-hours service for the Vale of Leven, we have been working in partnership with the local HSCP and with GPs in the area to create a rota system.

"This will ensure clinical staff are available to fulfil shifts to operate a GP out of hours service which extends beyond the current overnight cover.

“Coupled with a new appointments system rolled out at the start of June, which allows patients to be cared for from home via video and telephone consultation, alongside face-to-face appointments and physical home visits, we are confident the new approach will improve local access to out of hours care at the Vale and meet the needs of the community now, and for the long-term.”

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