Richard Ottaway MP: Press releasses

PRESS RELEASE

18 May 2004

OTTAWAY PROBES LOSS OF SATURDAY GP SURGERIES

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, is concerned to learn that Saturday GP surgeries are under threat.

"Residents attending the Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards and Croham
Neighbourhood Partnership meeting last week were shocked to hear that they are
likely to lose their Saturday morning GP surgeries.

"This will be as a result of the new contracts for Doctors which entitles GP's to
opt out of providing 'out of hours' cover. It will mean that patients needing to see
their GP between 6.30pm on Friday and 8.00 am on Monday will be provided
with a Doctor from the Croydoc service."

"Whilst many people are aware that 'out of hours' cover is provided overnight the
fact that Saturday mornings is also included has come as a considerable surprise
to local residents. I will be taking this up with Croydon NHS Primary Care
Trust as a matter of some urgency."

ENDS

For further information please call 020 7219 6392

Free Nursery Places (Croydon)

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether Croydon council is in breach of its obligations in the provision of free nursery places for three-year-olds. [171448]

Margaret Hodge: Section 118 of the School Standards Framework Act 1998 places a duty on all LEAs to ensure sufficient nursery education for children of the prescribed age. They must also have regard to a Code of Practice which makes clear that, with effect from 1 April 2004, and six months ahead of target, all three-year-olds are entitled to receive a free part-time place for at least six terms prior to compulsory school age. Croydon council has yet to confirm that all three-year-olds will receive that entitlement in full. I have asked my officials to investigate the matter and to work closely with the local authority officials to ensure that parents and children in Croydon are able to benefit fully from the free entitlement.