Thursday, July 22nd,'2004 .No. 6,158.


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CPs’ out-of-hours opt out by Rebecca Wright


EMERGENCY medical services in the Ribble Valley are to be dramatically altered following new Government legis­


lation. . The introduction of the new general medi­


cal services contract has given GPs across the country the right to opt-in or opt-out of pro­ viding 24-hour medical services - a controver­ sial move that has resulted in all Ribble Val­ ley GP’s opting out. Currently, the local Ribblesdale Emergency Medical Service (REMS) provides a 24-hour call-out service where local GPs are on hand to attend medical emergencies in and around the rural area.. A new system will operate from September


1st - leaving people increasingly anxious about the level of health care that will be pro­ vided in the area. Although 24-hour GP cover will still be pro­ vided, it will be on a rota basis - and operated by GPs mostly from Blackburn and Burnley.


There will be an improved NHS Direct ser­


vice, where qualified nurses are available 24 hours to offer advice and diagnosis over the phone - and refer patients to the ambulance service if the situation is serious. There will also be emergency nurses avail­


able a t the Clitheroe Health Centre, who will be on hand to offer home visits where they are needed. Ribble Valley MP Mr Nigel Evans said this


week that he was “hugely worried" about the effects of the loss of the REMS service and voiced concerns about the Ribble Valley receiving an "inferior" service. The area, he said, was huge and known to


rural GPs. “Yet again, Ribble Valley folk are subsidis­


ing urban areas and we will become the Cin­ derella recipients of the NHS,” he warned. . One rural Valley resident contacted the


Advertiser and Times this week to express his concerns. “The REMS was a vital service on our


doorstep," he said. "It is a real shock that it is closing down.


“I once called out the REMS service in an


emergency and it took the GP over 30 minutes to reach me, and that was from Clitheroe. “If the GPs are travelling from Blackburn


and Burnley it could be well over an hour. That could mean a big difference in an emer­ gency. However, the Hyndburn and Ribble Valley


Primary Care Trust, which has now taken on the responsibility of covering the out-of-hours medical care of the Ribble Valley, denied that would be the case. Associate director of modernisation and


head of primary care at the PCT Mr Derrek Cummings said: “We have estimated that the GPs from Blackburn with Darwen Doctors' Co-op will be able to reach anywhere in the Ribble Valley within half-an-hour". The organisation is currently negotiating


with Ribble Valley GPs who may yet choose to opt back into the out-of-hours health care once the new service is up and running.


Valley council homes sell-off threat


THE ownership of the Ribble Val­ ley’s remaining council houses could transfer to a privately-run company depending on the out­ come of a major consultation exer­ cise.


Council tenants are being asked


to act as “judge and jury” on four options on the future of housing stock drawn up by Ribble Valley Borough Council at a public event on Thursday, September 2nd.


The options are: retaining them,


transferring them to a registered social landlord, setting up an “arms length management” scheme whereby the houses would be looked after by a board of coun­ cil officers, members and tenants, or entering into a Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which will mean transferring management and maintenance of the properties to a' private company for 30 years.


Central Government has


ordered all councils across the country to assess their housing stock and ensure they meet the required standards - the Decent Homes Standard - by 2010. Chief Executive of Ribble Val­


ley Borough Council Mr David Morris explained th a t even though all the Ribble Valley’s 1,220 council houses were in “good condition”, the council still had to


take part in this mandatory exer­ cise and formulate a plan for future investment. Roadshows have already been


staged by the council’s housing department to inform tenants of the exercise. They began in Lon- gridge in June with the last one taking place in Chipping. Ribble Valley Borough Council


A royal date for civic pai


THE man believed to be the country's oldest mayor has spoken to the Queen. However, it was not


Coun. Charles Wark- man's age - 86 - th a t caught the attention of her equerries, but the Ribble Valley crest on


the tie he was wearing. The meeting in the


grounds of Buckingham Palace was "a wonderful experience" said the Rib­ ble Valley's Mayor, who was accompanied by his wife, Ruth. • Full story, turn to


page 2. PAGES 22,23 ■ AT YOUR SERVICE... PAGES 8,9 ■ VILLAGE NEWS... PAGES 11,12,13


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