GP surgery lays bare struggle to attract staff
A DOCTOR’S practice that was mentioned in the Burton Mail last week by a former member of staff as one of the best in the area has admitted it is struggling to recruit new GPS.
Barton Family Practice was described by retired GP receptionist Val Hackett as the best she had worked at, after finding others had “rude” receptionists and “unapproachable” doctors.
But in an article in the parish magazine of St Werburgh’s Church in Hanbury, which also covers the villages of Rangemore, Draycott in the Clay, Tutbury and Newborough, the practice said it was time for a “reality check”.
It said: “Our practice is struggling to recruit new GPS. The stresses and unrelenting pressure caused by the pandemic and a perceived lack of support for the NHS workforce has led to widespread exhaustion and demoralisation across all levels of the GP team.
“Young, recently retired GPS are very reluctant to take on substantiative positions or join partnerships. The recruitment crisis is the biggest challenge facing the NHS at present. It is made worse by the fact that many older and experienced GPS are approaching retirement or planning to take early retirement.
“This is a perfect storm. We shall continue our efforts to recruit GPS, and hope we can get more doctors to join us so that we can continue to provide effective care for our patients.”
Last October, a package of measures for general practice announced by the Government was criticised by GPS’ leaders, who said the multimillionpound package – aimed at improving access for patients – did not go far enough and hit out at conditions which would leave practices which failed to provide an “appropriate” level of faceto-face appointments ineligible for the new funding.
Doctors also accused the Government of being “ignorant” to the scale of the crisis facing the NHS, including staff shortages, high patient waiting times and abuse towards healthcare professionals.
The measures will see GPS freed from some red tape and other parts of the NHS will be called upon to help with some care – such as other healthcare workers being given new powers to provide patients with fit to work notes or DVLA checks.
NHS England said the measures, including a £250 million winter access fund, would enable GP practices to improve availability and increase the number of face-to-face appointments and same-day care.
But British Medical Association GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said at the time: “GPS across England will be truly horrified that this is being presented as a lifeline to general practice, when in reality it could sink the ship all together. There can be no doubt that this lack of action at such a critical time will force many GPS to hang up their stethoscopes and leave the profession for the last time.”