Widdrington doctor fights to survive
Dec 4 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal
A VILLAGE doctor who fears his practice will be badly damaged if a new pharmacy is allowed to open has set out his case against the plan to health service watchdogs.
Dr Chris Waite – who runs the 3,000-patient surgery in Widdrington Station, Northumberland, with his wife Dr Yvonne Lees – explained his opposition to the pharmacy in evidence given to an NHS Litigation Authority panel sitting in Harrogate this week.
It was the final session of appeal proceedings in which the two GPs are asking the Litigation Authority to overturn a decision by the North of Tyne Primary Care Trust to allow a pharmacy to open in the village.
Two months ago, the Litigation Authority panel heard evidence from more than 20 patients of the surgery during a two-day hearing in Northumberland.
At that time, scores of placard-carrying villagers staged a demonstration in support of the Grange Road surgery when the panel members arrived for the hearing.
Now – following the evidence given by Dr Waite on the likely prejudice to the GP practice if the pharmacy is allowed to open – the Litigation Authority is expected to announce its decision on the appeal in late January. Yesterday, local councillor Arnold Baker, who accompanied Dr Waite to Harrogate and was allowed to sit as an observer, said he was ‘cautiously optimistic’ that local campaigners would emerge victorious.
“Dr Waite gave his evidence and was challenged by legal representatives of the primary care trust and the pharmacy applicant. In my view he was able to answer all of the questions raised with him. I feel he gave a very good account of himself and I left feeling cautiously optimistic.
“Patients and the local community must now wait nervously for some time for the eventual outcome of the appeal.
“I have been impressed at both hearings by the way in which the five members of the panel appeared willing to listen very carefully to the views of the patients and local residents.”
Under NHS rules, if the pharmacy opens, the GP surgery will be prevented from dispensing drugs and medicines to all but 300 of its 3,000 patients. Because income from the dispensary is used to subsidise and support the surgery’s medical services, campaigners say its loss will result in one of the GPs having to be laid off and possible closure in the future.
The North of Tyne Primary Care Trust approved the pharmacy application despite a 1,700-name protest petition.
The PCT claims Widdrington Station patients should not lose out if the pharmacy opens because the practice’s medical and dispensing services are paid for through separate funding streams.
