New centre sought for patients banned from GPs

A new venue is being sought for an alternative treatment centre (ATC) for patients in Gwent who have been expelled from GP lists, following concerns that the current set-up is unsuitable.

For more than 10 years, Maindee police station in Newport has hosted the ATC for patients barred from family doctor lists due to, for instance, violence, threats of violence, or verbal abuse to GPs, other practice staff, or other patients.

But following an inspection, health watchdogs have concluded that the ATC at Maindee police station is unfit for clinical use and ‘impacts negatively on the patient experience’.

Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council (CHC) found that the ATC is based in a small police interview room furnished only with a desk and two or three hard backed chairs.

“We found that there was no examination couch, no hand wash sink basin, no alcohol hand gel dispensers, no soap dispensers, no hand drying facilities, and no clinical waste disposal facilities,” it states in a report.  And, we might presume little or no facility for safe clinical waste disposal though as a police station there should be something available.

Provision of healthcare for those who find themselves outside the system can be very difficult. But it should not be unsafe.

 

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