Are Gps Partly Responsible For The Crisis In The N H S?

[naomi24]

//Ministers are under mounting pressure to respond to "intolerable and unsustainable" pressure facing the NHS.

Senior doctors described the NHS as on a knife edge, with some A&Es in a "complete state of crisis".//

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64148967

With GP appointments difficult to access, people are turning up at A&E with conditions that are due neither to an accident or an emergency which in my opinion is a big part of the problem. I can see no reason why GP surgeries haven't returned to normal working - but they haven't - and that serves only to exacerbate the problem. Quite shameful really.

[Aircooledfool]

Completely agree that the current situation is a direct result of the Blair reforms ,as is even ed by the responses here to the op

[Untitled]

the reason that gp services are deteriorating is because the gp workforce is in decline and demand on their services is increasing rapidly due to an ageing population...

https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o1535

https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/alert/gps-workload-did-not-improve-when-practices-employed-other-clinicians/

it is not surprising in these circumstances that practises use phone triage, however unsatisfactory that may be...

the only ways solution is either by waiting for all the extra old people to die from lack of care (which would be evil) or by improving recruitment and retention of gps...

why are gps quitting? they say it's because of hours and workload which is a problem that will only get worse if there are fewer gps

so no i don't think gps are to blame

[Untitled]

"The role of pharmacies needs to be widened; they should be able to dispense common drugs such as broad spectrum antibiotics "

this is a terrible idea and will rapidly lead to antibiotic resistance which is already a serious worry

[Untitled]

gp services are experiencing a "snowball" effect... aging population means higher workload, higher workload means fewer doctors; fewer doctors means higher workload... etc.

gps who are leaving the profession do not seem to be complaining about pay and most are aged 50+ so can presumably afford to leave their career...

seems to me the best idea is to recruit doctors from abroad and the more the better... more doctors means lower workload which will make being a GP a more attractive profession

[douglas9401]

Perhaps the NHS could tap into the success story that is young people being turned, almost instantly, into sour and middle-aged jobsworths by the existing reception and admin staff.
In a week a previously cheery and helpful recruit is kicked into shape by the lumpy drones who've been there for years, often regarding the place as 'their' surgery.

This type of speedy re-education if applied to the medical side could result in a glut of doctors solving everybodys problems.

Of course you'd still have to get past the rotweiller at the gate.

[youngmafbog]

//and demand on their services is increasing rapidly due to an ageing population//

And nothing to do with illegal immigrants flooding the country then bringing their families who probably never will pay a penny in?

In fact I wonder if you have ever really paid in, I bet most of the old folk you want to kill off have, most would not have been able to get any benefits so their net contribution was positive.

Typical commie statement to talk about old dying off.

[Redhelen72]

I read recently that there is a huge increase in junior drs leaving the NHS to become 'private locums'.
This way they work part time and make 3 times as much as they would if they remained in the NHS.
Should there be a period of time that they should be contracted to remain with the NHS?

[bobbinwales]

well aslong as there working somewhere in the UK health system does it matter helen?

[Untitled]

"And nothing to do with illegal immigrants flooding the country then bringing their families who probably never will pay a penny in? "

the uk does have an aging population and its impact on gp services is described in one of my research links... i am sorry that facts offend you

i do not want to kill off old people... i specified that this would be an evil thing to do

[Untitled]

https://www.nhsconfed.org/publications/report-future-general-practice

"The HSCSC's report, The Future of General Practice, paints a sombre picture of general practice in crisis, with the government and NHS England neither acknowledging nor remedying the situation. This crisis is caused by a depleting GP workforce and ever-increasing demands on services from an ageing, more clinically complex population, resulting in the increased use of expensive locum doctors."

[rowanwitch]

I definitely agree, there are areas where pharmacists can help, Definitely not with antibiotics except maybe topical ones. I would like to see some areas of care fully removed from GPs, most wound care ,tissue viability, falls to community nurses. Let them run proper clinics, with potentially wider prescribing powers within that the only extra thing they need is the right to refer to dermatology/ plastics whe 're retirement. t skin grafting is needed. They also already do most of the day to day asthma and diabetic management, maybe that could also be expanded. We also probably need the polyclinic idea to be utilised properly. Xray, blood tests, community physio, are three areas that need a proper centre in every town and a few in each city. Those patients shouldn't be take time in hospital as out patients. The hospital teams should be focused on in patients and in the case of physics and OTs with a view to improving discharge Putting them closer to patients rather than centralised means patients who couldn't go across town to an appointment at a major hospital ( maybe tying up a transport ambulance) could get to one much nearer under their own steam, I have excluded speech therapists and some of the others as they are very few and far between so may need to work from a central setting. I believe the whole system needs proper analysis, and the long term may require a radical approach in higher education alongside it.

Here's a thought. How about fully funding (including basic living expenses) for those wanting to be doctors, physios,dietitians, etc. Yes eventually they may well end up in very well paid roles, but we will get a return anyway in their normal tax burden. It should I believe be part of long term planning, .

[douglas9401]

There's always the possibility that those who in recent history took over many corner shops, convenience stores, garages, estate agencies and taxi companies will see this as an area ripe for takeover and our problems will be solved.

[Redhelen72]

Bobbinwales - they are working for agencies that charge the NHS high amounts for their services far more than they would be paying if the junior dr's were still employed by the NHS so yes it does matter

[naomi24]

I wouldn't mind betting that 'diversity' is the only thing that is working to plan in the NHS. Got to get the priorities right.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/31/nhs-diversity-drive-cost-taxpayers-almost-three-quarters-of/

[vulcan42]

untitled, it's obvious the research you refer to didn't include my local clinic regarding GP's hours. They work from 9 to 5, office hours, and you won't see or be able to contact them from 4 pm Friday to 9am on Monday.

[Untitled]

your local clinic is irrelevant and impossible to verify

[vulcan42]

\\ your local clinic is irrelevant and impossible to verify//
It's totally relevant to the people who need a doctor and can't get one.

[MissTerious2]

Simple answer to OP. YES! and a very large part.

[Untitled]

people are understandably using the question to express frustration with their own gp services but it is with all due respect irrelevant... the reason that gp services are so poor is because huge numbers are leaving the profession and they are not being replenished... they are not shy about explaining why they are leaving either...

if we want good GP services then we aren't going to get them unless we solve those problems

[nicebloke1]

It does appear that doctors are overloading the NHS with problems that could be sorted out to a certain degree at the surgery, or at least put peoples mind at rest to worries they may have. A phone call don't always do that.
The doctor shortage is however real I believe, but I also believe its being used to not see patients in person, but it doesn't seem to be affecting private practice.

Any increase / rise given to present NHS workers should be one, to encourage present staff to stay, and encourage others to train.
The increase should not, in my view, be given to nurses who work 2/3 for the NHS and the rest of the week for an agency, the latter is already milking the NHS. So you get a dam good increase if you sign up to work for the NHS ONLY, you can't have it both ways.