Emergency doctors 'need funding'

The doctors are called out to join paramedics at emergencies

Doctors who give their time voluntarily to attend the scenes of accidents and emergencies have said they may have to withdraw the service without NHS money.

GPs in the "Simcas" organisation are paged to attend road crashes and similar incidents in Sussex and Surrey.

Their specialist equipment is funded by donations and they say some of it is 15 years old and becoming out of date.

The 19 Simcas doctors are warning they may not be able to continue unless they are given funding from the NHS.

Lifesaving manoeuvres

There is no statutory requirement for a GP to attend the scene of an accident or emergency and in most cases it is thought paramedics will be able to provide adequate cover.

But some ambulance services can only provide limited types or amounts of drugs and cannot carrying out potentially lifesaving manoeuvres such as tracheotomies.

Many ambulance services have an arrangement whereby they can call a doctor out if necessary - Simcas provides that service throughout Sussex and in part of southern Surrey.

The charity says it needs more than £30,000 a year to operate, with its doctors dealing with more than 500 casualties a year.

The doctors all work as GPs in the area and are on call for Simcas outside their surgery hours.

Expensive equipment

On its website, Simcas estimates it costs £3,000 to get a fully kitted-up doctor on the road with basic medical equipment and items such as a pager, radio communications gear and weatherproof clothing.

It says its equipment is expensive partly due to the relatively small market but also because it has to be totally reliable and able to withstand the elements.

Simcas has approached primary care trusts in the area asking for financial help but said it has so far received no money.

The Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust said in a statement: "The funding issue has recently come to our attention.

"The Trust would be happy to discuss the longer term sustainability of Simcas with its NHS partners and the GPs involved."