GPS battling bureaucracy to help fight Covid

sir – I read with interest your report on GPS returning to work during the pandemic (“Just 25 per cent of GPS who left retirement saw patients”, October 7). I’m not surprised by your findings.

I am a retired GP of 32 years’ experience. I first contacted NHS Professionals on December 4 2020 about helping out. On December 30 I was invited to apply. I did the 21 learning modules and sent through documents to prove who I was, as well as a history of my medical experience. I heard nothing back, despite emailing several times.

Eventually, on March 31, I contacted the NHS Professionals online chat. I was told that it was very busy and that my application was still under review. On April 15 I received an email saying: “No further workforce needed” – unbelievable at the height of the pandemic. On May 21 I was told there was no available job to match my skills. Who is accountable for this process?

In the meantime, knowing that my primary care network needed help, I had contacted it on February 26 and was accepted that afternoon with a minimum of fuss and paperwork, and started doing vaccinating, advising and administration.

NHS Professionals is a waste of applicants’ time and public money. The NHS needs all the help it can get.

Dr Philip WD Meager

Watford, Hertfordshire

sir – Hugh Simpson (Letters, October 7) misses the point of telephone triage. It is not there to protect the doctors, but the patients.

A packed waiting room full of elderly, frail patients and those who may be immunocompromised, mixing with patients infected with Covid, is not going to improve anyone’s health. Dr P Broadbent

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

sir – Hugh Simpson, a retired consultant physician, needs to visit his surgery for his annual blood-pressure check. A machine costs about £20 – why can’t he check his own blood pressure?

Ken Turrell

Norwich