'To be seen by a doctor, the same doctor, that's the biggest problem'

New GPs have been recruited in a bid to help people across Bolton struggling to get to see family doctors. This after years of hardship, especially for older people, across the borough when it comes to getting seen at surgeries. In recent years groups like the Bolton and District Pensioners Association have said repeatedly that their members had been at the sharp end of the shortage of doctors.

Association secretary Bernie Gallagher said: “Any new GPs are welcome, but people have still been saying how hard it is to get a face-to-face appointment. “People can get seen in surgeries but to be seen by a doctor and to be seen by the same doctor consistently, that’s the biggest problem.” Bolton and District Pensioners Association secretary Bernie Gallagher (Image: Newsquest) She added: “And you find as you get older, you need that consistency.



” Figures from the House of Commons Library last July showed that there were an average of 1,602 patients for the equivalent of every full time GP in Bolton. This was nothing new, with the Bolton and District Pensioners Association having hosted a meeting nearly two years earlier on the "crisis" in GP access. The pressing need for GPs meant that people from all over the borough, from the town centre to the outlying districts, had struggled to get to see them.

The new GPs are amongst 1,503 recruited by the government as part of the Plan for Change programme since October last year, well above the target of 1,000. Of these, 143 are expected to serve the Greater Manchester area but campaigners say they would still question how many of these will come into effect in Bolton. Mrs Gallagher said: “If that’s divided amongst the 10 boroughs that’s not a significant number, for a town of 260,000 you need dozens.

“If Bolton got 100 of these, you’d think great but its only going to be 13 or 14 it doesn’t seem so significant.” But the government hopes that its Plan for Change scheme, which includes investing £82m in placements and new GP contract reforms, will make it easier to see doctors across the country. ALSO READ: Falling numbers of Bolton GPs felt by patients 'all over the borough' ALSO READ: Falling numbers leave just one GP left for every 1,600 Bolton patients ALSO READ: Bolton patients struggle to get through to GP surgeries, survey finds Council cabinet member for health and well-being, Cllr Jackie Schofield, said: “Everyone in Bolton deserves fast, reliable access to a GP and this news is another sign that the Labour government is delivering the change we need.

“These 143 extra GPs across Greater Manchester are already helping patients get the care they deserve and easing the pressure on existing services. She added: “We know there’s more to do. That’s why here in Bolton, we’re continuing to work closely with the NHS to support access and improve primary care locally.

“We’ll keep pushing for improvements, because every family in every neighbourhood deserves to know help is there when they need it.”.