Why face-to-face appointments are still at lockdown levels in the area
FEWER THAN TWO THIRDS OF PATIENTS SEE GP
FEWER than two-thirds of GP appointments in Hull are being conducted face-to-face, close to the levels seen during lockdown, despite the ending of restrictions.
The latest figures from the NHS reveal just 60 per cent of patients in the area were seen face-to-face by their GP in August, including home visits.
That compared to 58 per cent in January, during the winter lockdown, and 88 per cent in February 2019, before the pandemic hit the UK.
Issues with accessing GPS have led to a knock-on effect on other services, with A&ES busier than ever during the summer, and deteriorating ambulance response times.
Analysis by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) showed a lack of access to GPS has been a key factor in this increased pressure - particularly with older people, those with disabilities and families on low incomes struggling with remote appointments.
Both the government and NHS England say more patients should have face-to-face consultations and that GPS are being given the money to provide them.
However, GPS have said rising demand and staff shortages mean they are struggling to see more people face-to-face.
GPS have seen their workloads increase due to the pandemic - for example, by the Covid vaccination programme, people needing support due to long waiting times for hospital treatment, and increased frailty in older people.
Speaking to the BBC, Royal College of GPS chair Professor Martin Marshall said: “The workforce is simply not big enough to manage.”
Separate figures from the NHS show that there are currently 106 full-time GPS in Hull, excluding locums and trainees.
That’s up from 101 in 2020, but down 20 per cent from 132 five years ago in 2016 - despite a government drive to increase GP numbers.
Prof Marshall said that GPS strive to deliver the same high-quality care whether a consultation is remote or in person, and that some patients prefer remote consultations as they can be more convenient and fit around other commitments.
However, he added: “Remote consulting will not always be appropriate. This is why in person appointments are being made, making up almost six in ten consultations in August, and have been throughout the pandemic when they’ve been necessary.
“Face to face consulting will always be an essential part of general practice, and as we move out of the pandemic, we want to see a blended approach with decisions about how care is delivered being a joint one between GP practices and their patients.
“Ultimately we need more GPS and other members of the practice team to deliver the care our patients need.
“The Government needs to act now to address this by working to build the GP workforce by at least the 6,000 full-time equivalent family doctors that have been promised, as well as other members of the practice team, and address the
‘undoable’ workload in general practice that is leading to trained family doctors leaving the profession earlier than planned.”
Across England as a whole, more than 80 per cent of patients were seen face-to-face either in the surgery or at home before the pandemic.
During the first lockdown in spring 2020, that proportion fell below 50 per cent, and has remained low ever since - hovering between 50 per cent and 60 per cent all this year.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We’re hugely grateful to GP practices for their hard work and dedication to bringing appointment numbers back to pre-pandemic levels, with more than 330 million delivered in the last year.
“As has always been the case, we are clear GP practices must take the preference of the patient on board and provide face to face appointments to those who want them, alongside remote consultations.
“We are investing £270m to expand GP capacity, on top of providing £1.5bn for general practice until 2023-24 to deliver world-class care to patients.”