Chair of Healthwatch Haringey Sharon Grant is determined to help deliver more GP services in the east of Haringey.

Ms Grant has said she will keep the pressure on NHS England to ensure they make good on the promise of an extra temporary GP service in Tottenham Hale by October.

A recent report revealed demand for GP services in the east of the borough significantly outstripped supply and NHS England said it would be taking urgent action to address the problem.

The solution put forward is a two stage approach with a temporary service in place by October and a brand-new health centre in place in Tottenham within the next 3 years.

Ms Grant said: “This is a reasonably positive move but at the moment people just can’t see their doctor, this is very important given the health inequalities faced by people in the east of the borough.

“People end up being diagnosed late because they can’t get a GP appointment which is especially a problem with cancer and heart disease.

“NHS England has done well in taking some steps to address the problem but to be honest this sort of planning should have been done years ago.

“We will be pleased if this temporary solution is delivered on time but the long term goal is to address the standard of healthcare in this part of the borough and to do that a new facility is needed.”

A recent report demonstrated that 80% of GP’s premises in Haringey do not meet required standards.

Haringey council has pledged to work with NHS England to help improve the standards of GP services in Tottenham following a report showing that 5 wards in the area exceeded the national average figure of 1,800 patients per practice.

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