"Out of hours care lacking in Beverley"

On two occasions recently, members of my family have required medical help out of "so called hours"( i.e 9-5 and never at weekends it seems.)

I have been misinformed by Minor Injuries Unit, who did not even know that there was a GP out of hours service on the same site, and suggested taking the patient to A & E instead. This occurred on a Saturday evening, probably the worst time to attend a busy A & E dept, especially with a toddler when all he needed was to see a GP.

The second occasion was with my daughter who was visiting a friend in the nearby town and upon collecting her she told me that she had severe pain over her kidneys and was finding it difficult to pass urine. I am a nurse myself and recognised that this was an infection.

I took her to the local cottage hospital in the town of Beverley only to be told that it was a GP out of hours only service, and not a walk in centre. I was also told that due to my postcode and location of our family GP that I should have gone home first, called my GP then taken my daughter to Bridlington some 21.5 miles away (whereas Beverley is six miles from our home).

The GP at Beverley was kind enough to see my daughter and the lady on the desk was very professional. I cannot fault their helpfulness and caring attitude, they like all of us who work in the NHS were governed by the stupid rules and regulations made by East Yorkshire PCT, now Humber PCT.

It is something when, sitting in the waiting room at Beverley, the posters on the walls advertise the services of City Health Partnership minor injuries units (who by the way do a great job) and Hull & East Yorkshire acute services (who the residents of East Riding are advised to use inappropriately), but not one poster advertising the services offered by East Yorks PCT.

Following this, I then had to drive to Hull to pick up the prescription for the antibiotics and painkillers my daughter needed, yet there are at least 4 chemists in Beverley that obviously do not provide evening cover to the residents of the town.

It seems to me that there is a lack of services on offer to the residents of Beverley and the surrounding areas and a postcode lottery as to where you need to go to get the care required.

I must remember next time to be ill during working hours. That's if I can get through to my surgery to make an appointment and indeed get one to suit me.