A DISILLUSIONED GP who is quitting his practice at the end of the month has launched a scathing attack on health care provision.

He claims patients in the Leigh area are at risk because of shortcomings.

Dr Hans-Christian Raabe, who is moving to Canada with his doctor wife who has a new job there, has outlined his reasons for leaving in a letter to patients.

The 40-years-old medic, who arrived in Railway Road four years ago, claims he has never come across such difficult working conditions as he has in Leigh - one of the most under-doctored areas in the UK.

He is disappointed with the performance of the two years old Wigan-based Primary Care Trust claiming there is increasingly widespread dissatisfaction among health professionals who feel their views are not taken into account.

And he says his practice of 4,000 patients and three doctors, which moved in July to bigger premises in Bengal Street, has been let down regarding the second phase of the Leigh Health Park and by lack of a new computer system.

He has also on several occasions asked to address the PCT Board about his concerns but without success.

Dr Raabe, who has worked in health services in Germany, Switzerland, Tanzania and the UK says that apart from Tanzania he has never met conditions that are so tough.

He said: "Soon after arriving in Leigh I was astonished to come across some of the most horrendous problems in hospital services that I had ever seen in all my years as a doctor.

"Outpatients' appointments were cancelled and put back many months and not infrequently the new date was cancelled.

"Over the years I have written dozens and dozens of letters pointing out shortcomings in the provision of health services. I do not think this has made any difference whatsoever.

"We have even met with hospital managers to discuss the issue and suggest practical solutions but things are as bad as ever.

"When more recently I brought to the attention of the PCT that one of my patients with bladder cancer had to wait two years for a camera test into his bladder I was told I have high expectations.

"I personally believe the situation regarding primary care in this area is very serious, now worse than ever.

"Patients who move into the area find it increasingly difficult to be registered with a GP, there has been an exorable increase in the doctor's workload and I think we as a practice spend more time on paperwork than seeing patients."

Dr Raabe also hit out at the no-win, no fee solicitors who are taking up valuable surgery time which result in referral letters to hospital being delayed.

He says: "I believe this is a an abuse of the system and unfortunately the government does not appear to be prepared to do anything about this compensation culture which will ultimately be to the detriment of everyone."

"I can see the collapse or break-up of general practice over the next five to 10 years because there will be a large number of GPs retiring then and replacements are hard to find.

"Unfortunately there is increasing disillusionment among GPs in this country and I know several conscientious and dedicated doctors who are leaving their posts to do locums or reducing their hours.

"Most young doctors who start working here leave again, some within less than a year."

"The many shortcomings of the health service in this area put patient care at risk. As a GP I am no longer able to compensate for these risks and I am less and less in the position to provide safe healthcare to my patients.

"There have been many, many very positive encounters over the past four years with many patients and I hope that I have been able to help some. I am sorry that things have developed this way, this was not my intention ."

Dr Rabbe asks patients concerned about the situation to write to their MP who can press for changes at government or local level or to the chief executive of the Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust.

A spokesperson for the PCT said: "It is a high priority for the PCT to work with all GPs in the Borough to continue to improve the standard and quality of medical services available locally for the benefit of GPs and their patients.

"In Dr Raabe's case, his practice moved from Railway Road into improved premises in Bengal Street in July this year."