NHS: GPs May Stop Taking New Patients

General practitioners are under so much stress that more practices could be forced to turn away new patients. That is according to the doctor’s union, the British Medical Association, which has written to Jeremy Hunt warning that urgent action is needed to tackle staff shortages.

Workload and Costs

Richard Vautrey, (left) chair of the BMA’s general practitioners committee, highlighted in the letter a recent survey by the association of almost 2000 general practices which found 54% of respondents would consider temporarily suspending new patient registration so they could focus on delivering safe care to patients already on their practice lists.

The survey also found that 44% would consider applying for a formal and permanent list closure. “With unprecedented patient demand, a recruitment and retention crisis, huge workforce shortfalls and major premises problems, it is no wonder that GPs are having to consider action such as suspending their patient lists,” he said.

Among the BMA`s key demands for dealing with the crisis were a quick solution to rocketing insurance premiums, Government initiatives to limit workloads by expanding the workforce, and a programme to modernise surgery buildings.

NHS England did announce in September an investment of £10m towards indemnity costs to help GPs through winter but the BMA said a longer-term solution was needed rather than a temporary plug.

All talk and no action

Hunt came under fire for his speech at the Conservative Party conference, which the BMA said offered no real solutions to what he had admitted was a health crisis.

“It is encouraging that the Health Secretary has acknowledged that the NHS is under unprecedented pressure, especially as we head into a winter when many services will be pushed to breaking point,” said Dr Chaand Nagpaul (left), BMA council chair. “However, it is disappointing his speech offered no immediate, practical solutions to the problems threatening to overwhelm the NHS. Hospital, GP and other services are struggling to cope with increased patient demand, especially from an ageing population, on inadequate resources and with widespread staff shortages. As a result, patient care is being compromised daily, with in general practice eight out of 10 GPs saying they are routinely struggling to provide safe care.”

GPs Under Stress

“It is also regrettable that the Health Secretary did not address the Government’s pay cap which has meant years of pay cuts and freezes for most doctors and other healthcare workers. We need to support our staff, especially at a time when many are working an increasing number of hours in a difficult environment to provide more care to patients,” he said.

Nagpaul’s comments followed growing frustration with Hunt’s failure to offer real solutions for the major problems affecting the whole health service. He was recently criticised when he summoned the chief executives of 60 hospitals failing the four-hour A&E target to a meeting where, according to the Department of Health, they were “read the riot act.” Paul Watson, NHS England’s regional director for the Midlands and east of England, later held a meeting with the hospital chiefs in his region and made them chant “we can do this”, which many found embarrassing and patronising.

Across the frontline of healthcare it is the same pattern: practitioners repeatedly warning there are major problems and  the Health Department doing little to react.

by Stewart Vickers

 

The post NHS: GPs May Stop Taking New Patients appeared first on Felix Magazine.

NHS: GPs May Stop Taking New Patients posted first on http://www.felixmagazine.com/