Clause 21 - out of hours medical services
Health and Social Care Bill
10:45 am
Ms Lorna Fitzsimons (Rochdale, Labour)
Whatever the experiences of the hon. Gentleman and his colleagues, will he also accept that I am deluged with complaints about surgeries that leave inadequate answer phone messages? In some cases, the contact number for an emergency doctor is cut off halfway through, and no information is given about when the surgery will next be open or about any service alternatives. That leaves the person no choice but to go to an accident and emergency department or to contact NHS Direct.
We are lucky enough in my area to be able to access NHS Direct. It is a safeguard for many people who find themselves in the same situation as the hon. Member for West Chelmsford when he had to phone to get advice about a sick child. I have used the service and found it invaluable when the ordinary surgery has let me down.