Innovative and imaginitive policies required to relieve the burden placed on GPS
Doctors across the country have been operating in a difficult environment long before Covid-19 ever entered our lexicon, writes Andy Drane
The pandemic is taking a serious toll on UK healthcare sector professionals, including GPS, who are under increasing pressure due to remote patient contact, staff absences and a backlog of treatment for non-covid ailments.
A poll published near the end of 2020 in Gp-online revealed that 81 per cent of GPS had seen their workload rise since the pandemic hit, with a third describing workrelated pressure as 'very high'. The situation is unlikely to improve with the UK managing a second wave of the virus.
GPS have been operating in a difficult environment long before Covid-19 ever entered our lexicon. While the added pressure brought on by the pandemic has triggered an immediate crisis for those within the profession, none of the legacy issues have gone away either, presenting a wider threat to public health and wellbeing.
Asgps continue to get older, there aren’ t enough newly-qualifiedcandidates emerging as replacements, nor will there be for some years to come. training more doctors takes years. while some uk doctors have postponed retirement to help during the pandemic, for others it’s hastened their plans to step down. With the second wave of covid placing even greater burden son the profession, I would anticipate that once they get the chance to draw breath, significant numbers of gps will decide it’s time to move on.
Here in Scotland, the challenging task of GP recruitment has been further complicated by the Scottish Government’s attempted integration of health and social care alongside the implementation of its new GP contract. Under the new agreement, GP practices will continue to operate as private businesses with the partners’ remuneration dependent on their level of profitability. Policy underpinning the new agreement is supposed to offer further Government support by removing elements of the risk of running a business from GP practice partners, allowing them to focus more clearly on meeting patient needs. As well as making more funding available, the new GP contract also reinstates the principle that doctors are expert medical generalists supported by a raft of healthcare professionals and should therefore only focus on those patients who actually need to be seen by them. At least that’s the theory.
However, if Scotland is to avoid post-covid GP shortages, further actions will be essential. Creating a vibrant and stable working environment for GPS and other healthcare professionals is a critical part of addressing improving the country’s underlying health issues. Along with ensuring that all health Boards take a consistent approach in implementing the new contract, the scottish government must also deliver on its key support policies.
Meanwhile, the conservative government at Westminster needs to focus onuk-wi de issues which prevent older, experienced GPS from working. The Chancellor’s March 2020 budget took some steps towards addressing aspects of the pension crisis where currently doctors’ earnings are super-an nu able at fixed percentages. Covid has diverted debate from these steps but issues still remain,lifetime allowance limits.
Incentivising medical students into a career within general practice is also needed along with rules requiring Uk-trained doctors to remain working here for a minimum period after qualifying.
The post-covid world represents real opportunities to reimagine how services are delivered. Challenging as the pandemic has been there has been new learning for everyone, the health sector included. the strain ongps is likely to continue beyond covid if policy makers fail to deploy innovative and imaginative policies that reduce the increasing burden they’re facing. Given the essential front line role of GPS in promoting public health, it is a challenge which must be met with vigour and urgency.