NHS has continued to care throughout crisis
IN response to name and address supplied I would like to offer a careful response, with some advice and information for your readers that may help give some context (“Disgraceful lack of care from the NHS” September 29).
Latest figures from NHS Digital show that between February 2019 and July 2021, general practice appointments in England rose from 25 to 28 million per month (12% increase) while the number of full time equivalent GPs fell from 28,100 in 2015 to 27,700 in 2021 (1.3% decrease).
The majority of GPs and their allied clinical colleagues work 10 or 11 hour days and in my experience are deeply caring, and passionate about providing a quality service despite ever increasing demand, substantial government underinvestment and hate campaigns in the media (the Daily Mail a standout culprit).
General practice is not shut, and never has been throughout the pandemic, patients who have a clinical need to be seen face to face have been and continue to be seen.
Primary care has adapted to using new and more efficient ways to consult with patients. I know of one local practice that has increased the number of available appointments by 40% by adopting greater use of telephone and email consultations, rearranging use of available rooms and remote working from secure laptops.
In the clinical examples you refer to, you have made some important errors which might lead people make wrong choices, you are however correct on one point, a stroke is an emergency where time is of the essence. A brain attack requires urgent CT scanning and potentially brain saving thrombolysis treatment, neither is available in primary care and it is entirely proper that if a patient calls their GP practice with symptoms suggestive of stroke that they be directed to call 999 and head straight to hospital for their expert assessment and treatment.
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency and the treatment and assessment is always going to be in hospital and will sometimes result in prolonged stays. I suspect the patients’ family would not view that as a waste of NHS resource. As with a stroke the correct advice from 111 and your local surgery should be immediate assessment at hospital when sepsis is suspected.
Your letter appears to be denying that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the NHS, I suggest asking any NHS worker their experience, all will give you examples of how stretching, demanding and draining 2020/21 has been. Most will also say what a privilege it is to work in a system which is still largely free at the point of use and makes every effort to treat everyone well, regardless of their understanding of reality, political views or choice of propaganda.
Andrew Brooks, Derby