Modality Attwood Green GP surgery and the Bath Row Medical Practice both sit in a modern, glass-panelled building near the centre of Birmingham. Patients for the former get out of the lift on the second floor while those for the latter get out one stop earlier.
The reception desk they report to could have significant consequences for the treatment they can expect.
Despite being separated by only their shared floor and ceiling, the Modality surgery comes under Sandwell and West Birmingham clinical commissioning group, while Bath Row comes under Birmingham South and Central CCG.
Patients at both surgeries would be offered one cycle of IVF, but only patients at the Bath Row surgery would be eligible for two frozen embryo transfers - boosting their chances of a successful pregnancy.
Waiting times also vary significantly between the two CCGs. For dermatology, Birmingham South and Central patients have to wait 14 weeks - twice as long as West Birmingham. General surgery waiting times are five weeks longer, at an average of 12 weeks.
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Patients leaving both surgeries were surprised to be told about the difference. Mary Carruthers, a 27-year-old retail assistant and Bath Row patient, said: “It’s not fair one bit, everyone should have equal opportunities for health care, just not fair at all.
“The reason why I’ve never changed practices is because I’ve just stayed there since I was younger. But hearing that other surgeries- even in the same building - might be better or at least offer more of something I might need makes me think should I do some research.”
Mario Boulad, 26, a student who goes to the same practice, said: “The world is rarely fair but with something like this where there is no reason why differences exist between practices, I honestly don’t know what to say.
“So someone could have a better chance of conceiving by seeing a doctor on one floor to another? That’s shit with a capital S. It’s beyond me how this is OK today.”
Shamina Taylor, 24, another Bath Row patient said: “It does make you think is that one better than my one and makes me a bit concerned because obviously as a parent you want the best for your kids.”
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Lorian Hinton, 63, a retired retail worker who goes to the Attwood surgery, said: “No one here has ever told me what a CCG is so I don’t know what it does or how it influences anything.
“The fairness of waiting times to see someone to receive treatment I think should depend on the problems and for the more serious issues the wait should be shorter.
“That should apply to every surgery up and down the country and certainly in the same building. I can’t see any justified reason for there to be any other discrepancy in waiting times across practices.”
Olivia Price, a 26-year-old nurse who is seen at Attwood, said: “I wasn’t aware of how much impact a CCG actually had on small doctor’s surgeries like these, let alone the fact that the two floors are covered by different groups. It’s quite unfair really. You’d probably want to change your practice if you heard that you could get a much better deal even under the very same roof.”
Retired Paula Stevens, at Bath Street, was more positive. She said: “It's good to have the opportunity to go to the different surgeries to get the different services if needs be.”
