The Doctor’s Association UK have written to Prof Lord Darzi of Denham, ahead of his planned review of the NHS, to highlight the key issue within General Practice. Read our letter in full below and add your support by clicking the links.
Dear Lord Darzi
We understand that you have been appointed to lead an investigation into the performance of the NHS.
As an independent group of grassroots GPs, we would like to bring a number of facts about the GP crisis to your attention:
1. There are 1,790 fewer full-time equivalent GPs working in the NHS since September 2015. (https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/general-and-personal-medical-services)
2. A single full-time GP is now responsible for an average of 2,292 patients. This is 354 more than in September 2015. (https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/general-and-personal-medical-services)
3. Despite this, GP practices are offering record numbers of appointments for their patients. (https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/appointments-in-general-practice)
4. More than 90 percent of a patient’s direct experience of the NHS is through primary care and their GP practices (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gp-practice-data-available-for-first-time)
5. Despite growing demands for GP appointments, 6 out of 10 job-seeking GPs have struggled to find a vacancy to apply for over the past year (https://www.rcgp.org.uk/news/member-research-jobsearch-struggle)
6. A recent BMA survey showed that 84 percent of locum GPs in England cannot find work, and 33 percent of GPs have already made definite plans to change work or career paths. This makes no sense when we have patients desperate for appointments but no money for practices to pay for these doctors (https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/over-80-of-locum-gps-struggle-to-find-work-finds-bma-survey)
7. 64 percent of GP practices report concerns over short and long-term viability. 57 percent have experienced cashflow issues in the last 12 months. And 54 percent report that these cashflow challenges adversely affect their day to day performance (https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/gp-patients-likely-to-suffer-unless-government-improves-inadequate-gp-contract-offer-warns-bma)
8. Over 1,000 GP practices have closed since 2015. This amounts to an average of one practice closure every three days. (https://www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-centre/gp-patients-likely-to-suffer-unless-government-improves-inadequate-gp-contract-offer-warns-bma)
9. GP core funding is just £107.57 per patient per year. https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1812879378612908310.html
10. Schemes aimed at reducing GP appointments such as Pharmacy first, the Additional Roles and Reimbursements Scheme actually cost more money to run https://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/practice-personal-finance/redirect-arrs-and-pharmacy-first-funding-to-core-gp-says-dauk-manifesto/
11. US Data shows that care provided by non-physicians providers is ultimately more expensive and leads to higher rates of emergency department use https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/scope-practice/amid-doctor-shortage-nps-and-pas-seemed-fix-data-s-nope
12. Independent research from Carnall Farrar shows that for every £1 invested in community or primary care, there is up to a £14 return back into the local economy. (https://www.nhsconfed.org/news/extra-investment-out-hospital-care-can-reap-billions-wider-economy)
All these factors have impacted the workforce morale and greatly compromised the standard and continuity of care. Supporting general practice now, will in turn reduce the burden and cost on secondary care in the long run, as well as being an essential part of helping people feel well again.
However we really cannot continue to run on fumes. We need a commitment from NHSE and the government to significantly uplift core funding and continue to do so in line with inflation.
We, the undersigned, ask that you take these facts into consideration whilst conducting your investigation.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Shan Hussain
Dr Ellen Welch
Dr Lizzie Toberty
Dr Sarah Jacques
Dr Steve Taylor
Dr Rosie Shire
