DOCTORING THE TRUTH
Tories ‘are stoking up anti-GP rhetoric’ Javid ducks out of showdown with docs
QUIZ Charlie Stayt & Javid yesterday
GPs accused Health Secretary Sajid Javid of running scared yesterday after he snubbed a doctors’ conference amid a row over face-to-face appointments.
Mr Javid announced a £250million package for practices in England, but funds will be denied to surgeries struggling to offer in-person appointments, even though there is a 2,500 shortfall in GP numbers.
As Mr Javid was accused of stoking up anti-GP rhetoric, he pulled out of a planned address to the Royal College of GPs at their conference in Liverpool.
Dr Farah Jameel, GP committee lead at the BMA, said: “He had the perfect opportunity today to defend his so-called rescue package and hear first-hand what GPs thought.
“Ducking out of the conference shows he wasn’t willing, or in reality, able to defend the indefensible.”
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the RCGP, told the conference: “The so-called support package is most definitely not the answer to the challenges that we are facing.”
And he said: “The widespread vilification of hard-working GPs and our teams is unfair, it’s demoralizing, and it’s indefensible.”
Fewer than 60% of GP consultations in England are now being held in person, compared with 80% before the pandemic.
Widespread vilification of GPs who work so hard is unfair
MARTIN MARSHALL CHAIRMAN OF RCGP
SHORTFALL
But Academy of Medical Sciences analysis shows a 2,500 shortfall in GP numbers, and there are 1,500 fewer GPs than in 2015.
Prof Marshall said: “When demand outstrips supply, the traditional general practice model is becoming less and less deliverable.”
England’s Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty told the conference Covid had forced GPs to move to remote appointments, but said: “Obviously that’s not a sustainable position. Now the pendulum is already swinging back. I don’t think it’s settled at the right point yet.”
Mr Javid, who visited a GP surgery in South East London, also plans to allow patients to rate GPs by text.
On BBC Breakfast, presenter Charlie Stayt told Mr Javid his plans had sickened Dr Rosemary Leonard, a GP and a regular on the show.
He said: “She says what you are doing is stirring up anti-GP rhetoric.”
Dennis Reed, of the over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said: “The rapid move to remote consultations cannot be explained by a lack of resources alone.”