The surgery with just one GP for 11,000 patients
A single permanent GP is responsible for caring for 11,000 patients at a surgery in Maidstone, it has been revealed. Patients at the under-pressure Albion Place Medical Practice routinely queue outside in the cold before the building even opens to ensure they are seen by health professionals. A dozen people were seen waiting patiently in the vestibule by the front of the surgery, off the A249, on Monday morning before its doors opened at 8am. NHS figures show the average practice in the UK has 1,721 patients per doctor compared to 1,653 four years ago. Approximately two per cent of practices have more than 6,000 patients per GP, three times above the ‘safe’ level.
Those queuing outside Albion Place explained how they are often seen by nurses and even paramedics instead of a doctor and how having to make an early start in the queue was becoming an increasingly common occurrence.
Jason Heasman had an appointment scheduled for last Friday, but was told the surgery was too busy and to come back again on Monday.
The 49-year-old said: “It completely depends on whether you have an appointment, and even then you can be waiting 20 or 30 minutes.
“I’ve been coming here for two or three years and you see queues outside like this most mornings - it probably has got worse recently as well. “Having said that, I’ve had a good experience with the paramedics, everything is always double-checked.
“I think they need more help, and permanent doctors would be a good start, they use a lot of locums.”
Another patient added: “I’ve always thought it’s best to get here as early as possible, because you just don’t know how long it will take to be seen, even in a bit of an emergency situation.
“I think the staff are trying their best but it doesn’t seem like they’re getting the help and support they really need.”
On Monday afternoon, practice bosses had also invited patients for an open meeting with management and the team, in which feedback and concerns could be shared with the clinical directors.
Earlier this year, statistics revealed the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group, which plans and runs health services in areas including Tonbridge, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, has, on average, one GP for every 2,123 patients - placing it in the lowest 13% of CCGs in England.
The figures showed Kent has 1,093 GP doctors - down from 1,194 in September 2015.
Albion Place Medical Practice, which is open to patients between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday each week, did not wish to comment.