SICK and injured people in Ludlow and the surrounding area face a triple whammy and a further erosion of local health services.

Troubled Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group is putting the out of hours GP service ‘Shropdoc’ out for tender.

And Ludlow GPs say that such a move would be a disaster.

It follows the decision last year to merge two wards at Ludlow Hospital that came in the wake of the loss of the promised £27 million Eco Park Hospital and health village following delays caused by Government changes to the NHS.

This latest news comes just three years after a local campaign to save ‘Shropdoc’ after plans by health chiefs to replace it with the 111 service were abandoned.

But now the wheel has come full circle and the battle lines are being drawn for a replay.

However, any attempt to reinstate a change will face an uphill fight as Ludlow health professionals and local residents join forces.

“Portcullis Doctors unanimously feel that Shropdoc has an excellent track record and is staffed by local GPs, nurses and other admin staff,” said Ludlow GP Dr Catherine Beanland from the surgery.

“In addition they have good relations and communication with our local hospitals. We feel it would be a disaster for Shropshire if the contract with Shropdoc was not renewed and would urge the public to email the Clinical Commissioning Group and complete the online survey to voice their support.”

The trouble-torn Clinical Commissioning Group was put into special measures last year and its head, the former Ludlow GP Dr Caron Morton, stood down for unspecified reasons.

A meeting of the Shropshire Patients Group has discussed the possible tendering of the service and has come down strongly against such a move.

“At the Shropshire Patient Group, on my proposal, it was agreed to formally oppose the out of hours service going out to tender and requesting that ShropDoc be awarded the contract,” said Gill George, of the Ludlow based ‘Save our NHS in Shropshire Group'.

“ShropDoc is a trusted ‘brand'. With any other provider I suspect we would just see more people referring themselves to Accident and Emergency out of hours.

“The loss of ShropDoc would be a significant blow.”

Dr Russel Muirhead of Shropdoc has raised the alarm about the future of the service.

“Shropdoc has provided out of hours services on this patch for the last 20 years, as well as many other services including the Care Coordination service, physiotherapy triage and dedicated helplines for oncology and LTC patients,” he said.

“The organisation is highly regarded by patients and is recognised nationally for its quality.”

Shropdoc is run by a consortium of local doctors and was headed for the scrap heap in 2013 but was saved after the introduction of the 111 emergency call service was abandoned as a fiasco.

It enables people to speak directly with a doctor.

This is in contrast to the 111 service in which people were asked computer generated questions asked by someone with no medical qualifications.

The 111 service was widely criticised in other parts of the country and was blamed for an increase in the number of 999 calls and direct visits to Accident and Emergency Units.

"No decision has been made although the Clinical Commissioning Groups do need to make sure that there is an integrated service that meets the national guidelines,” said Richard Caddy on behalf of the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

“In September 2015 NHS England issued new guidance on all areas having an integrated NHS111 and GP out-of-hours service.

“Telford and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Groups have both been carrying out a survey, available on the front page of their websites. requesting patient experience of using 111 and GP out-of-hours services locally.

“This will help them decide what the next step is. Currently Shropshire and Telford commission 111 as part of a wider West Midlands consortium but don't have to do the same with the out-of-hours service.”