Assurance for Audlem Practice patients

Last night, the Audlem Medical Practice Patients' group met with representatives from the Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust.

Regular readers may recall the story on Audlem Online on 28th January headlined 'Audlem in medical limbo' following the transfer of the Medical Practice back to WCPCT.

This move had led to concerns that local patients may have to travel to different locations for some treatments or that their medical treatment may be affected.

In January, there had been reports of both Leighton Hospital and the Spinal service not accepting Audlem patients for physiotherapy and there was concern about other PCT services, such as Podiatry and Cataract services, which may require longer and more difficult journeys than before the switch of PCTs.

The patient panel, however, received a clear guarantee that there would be no changes whatsoever as far as patients were concerned as a result of the change of PCTs.

This assurance was given by Dr Maureen Swanson, Medical Director, and Alison Lee of Western Cheshire PCT. It was agreed that this assurance could be published this morning.

Asked how any patient should complain if they did encounter any problems with PCT services, for example being asked to go to a different location for a particular treatment, they should contact the WCPCT's Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): email pals@wcheshirepct.nhs.uk">pals@wcheshirepct.nhs.uk or telephone 01244 389292 / 0800 132996, or write to:

The Patient Experience Manager
FREEPOST (CS 1528)
1829 Building
The Countess of Chester Health Park
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1YZ

Last night's meeting arose because In recent years, the Audlem Practice has operated within the Central & Eastern Cheshire PCT, as the Audlem area naturally gravitates to medical facilities in Nantwich and at Leighton Hospital.

During those years, however, formal 'ownership' of the Audlem area has, largely for historical reasons, remained with WCPCT. Money was transferred from Western Cheshire to the Central & East Cheshire PCT to cover Audlem and district's medical facilities.

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