GP sends e-petition to number ten

Jan 11 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

A NORTHUMBERLAND family GP is taking people power to top level with an online petition direct to the Prime Minister opposing cuts to services.

Alan McCubbin, of Seaton Park Medical Group in Ashington, has launched an internet petition against cuts to services which doctors fear will spell closures of rural practices, redundancies and affect patient care, unless a resolution proposed last night is brought into force.

The e-petition direct to Gordon Brown has already had 261 signatures from concerned patients in its first 24 hours of existence. Dr McCubbin said: “So far, patients in Northumberland have been effectively excluded from having any say about the proposed drastic cuts to budgets and services.

“There has been no genuine consultation about this and the view of thousands of Northumberland patients are being completely ignored.” A service run by the practice at Ashington Grange Moorhouse Farm, which gives elderly residents access to a practice nurse, is threatened, as the nurse is facing redundancy.

The scheme has cut the hospital admission rate by 50% in its first year, according to Dr McCubbin.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has struck a deal with Northumberland Care Trust which means practice nurses will be found alternative employment within the trust if they are made redundant.

Practices were given a revised funding offer in December, but it is now hoped a resolution has been reached.

A spokeswoman for Northumberland Care Trust said the trust was aware of the petition.

Anyone wishing to support the petition should log on to http:/petitions.pm. gov.uk /northumberlandGP/ and follow the on screen instructions.