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Over 17,000 extra patients register with Sandwell GPs

More than 17,000 extra patients have registered with GPs in and around Sandwell in the past two years.

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But conversely the number of Dudley-registered patients has dropped.

The figures have been released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre and show a steady increase elsewhere in the Black Country.

Across the West Midlands there has been an increase of almost 50,000 in two years, at a time when GP surgeries are already under tremendous pressure.

Long waiting times for appointments have been reported across the region with patients sometimes having to wait weeks.

It is in Sandwell and West Birmingham where the biggest Black Country increase has been reported.

In April 2013 the area has 538,683 patients registered by a GP.

Now that number is 555,864 - a jump of 17,181.

In Walsall 5,160 extra patients have registered in the past two years, up to 277,105.

Wolverhampton's number has increased slightly by 2,500, meaning 265,636 patients are registered with a GP.

However in Dudley there has been a surprising drop of 150 patients, down to 314,713.

Dr Jas Rathore, GP and clinical lead for Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Dudley has a stable population with minor variation from year to year.

"This variation is within the bounds of normal variation."

The Sandwell figure reflects an increase seen across Birmingham, with the south and central parts of the city seeing an 8,300 rise.

Across England numbers have gone up by almost one million.

Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG spokesman James Turner said: "There are a number of reasons that could explain the figures.

"We have above average birth rate locally, and a higher than average transient population, with people both coming into and leaving the borough.

"We are close to Birmingham which is showing a one per cent increase in population each year - attracting people for many reasons, including employment.

"More registered patients does not necessarily mean the equivalent increase in demand.

"We are continuing to work with practices to look at how we can improve access to GP services, there are a number of good initiatives taking place locally including enhanced case management for vulnerable patients, telephone triage and weekend clinics.

"Many of our practices are also considering how they can make best use of technology, including online appointments and regular health checks by patients in their own home."

Birmingham South Central CCG, which runs GP services in the city, said the increase could be attributed to restructuring issues.

A spokesman added: "There are a number of factors involved in the increase in patient numbers - the main one being the increase in the number of GP practices in the area we cover."

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