DOCTORS have raised concerns about key health workers being removed from GP surgeries, due to fears over vulnerable children and the enforced changes being made ‘without consultation’.

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust is set to move its health visitors, who give support to vulnerable families with young children, into local children’s centres instead.

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Dr Mike Ions, who is chief clinical officer at East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and a GP at Pendle View Medical Centre in Brierfield, has expressed concern about the change, saying it ‘could have significant impact on safeguarding and was happening without any consultation’.

CCG chairman Dr Phil Huxley said doctors wanted to provide integrated care around GP practices, in which health visitors play a key role.

He added: “Before we support any change to the way services are delivered, we need to fully understand the consequences of any reduction in direct GP and health visitor working. We would also expect that patients and families are engaged in the decision making.”

Lancashire Care said the set-up is already working in Blackburn with Darwen, and has been supported by NHS England.

Lynne Braley, the trust’s network director for children’s and families services at Lancashire Care, added: “The trust aims to deliver services where the best opportunities are for integrated working, with children’s centres becoming the central source of support for families.”