GPs in Scotland have lodged a petition of 21,916 signatures with the Scottish Parliament objecting to a shake-up of health services.
The doctors are fighting NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plans to remove health visitors from practices. So far a deal has been made to stop the moves, but doctors warned the fight was not over.
Govan GP Euan Paterson said: “It’s the first step in what we hope will be a long-term solution. If they were to remove the health visitors, as they suggested, we feel there would be grave consequences.”
The petition, which was signed by people in practices across Glasgow, began when plans were revealed to relocate the posts to social work services, which the health board said would give highly skilled health visitors more time with the children and parents who need them most.
GPs mounted their campaign with claims the shake-up will compromise patient safety and break up a “tried and tested model”.
Frank McAveety, convener of the Parliament’s public petitions committee, met the doctors at Holyrood today.
He said: “It will be given serious consideration. We want to make sure that whatever decisions are made are the right ones.”
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