Let us turn away patients if we’re too busy, say GPs

DOCTORS have voted to be allowed to close their doors when surgeries are overwhelmed and send patients to A&E instead.

They want to introduce an alert system, similar to that used by hospitals to divert ambulances elsewhere. Under the proposals, surgeries could send a ‘black alert’ to NHS England, which would draft in locum GPs and send patients to hospitals or walk-in centres instead.

Up to 250 doctors backed the policy yesterday at the British Medical Association’s annual conference in Bournemouth. Dr Peter Holden, a GP from Matlock, Derbyshire, said the alerts would introduce a ‘good, safe system of care’. He claimed patients were currently being put at risk because overworked GPs were suffering from lapses in concentration and fatigue.

Meanwhile, Dr Richard Vautrey, chairman of the BMA’s GP committee, said it would give surgeries the power to say ‘we’re really struggling’ and ask for help.

However, some oppose the plans, fearing it would only shift the pressure onto struggling casualty departments.