FACE-TO-FACE GP APPOINTMENTS STILL ONLY AT ‘LOCKDOWN LEVELS’
Only half of city patients get seen in person
ONLY half of GP appointments in Stoke-on-trent are being conducted face-to-face - close to the levels seen during lockdown.
The latest figures from the NHS reveal just 55 per cent of patients in the Potteries were seen in person by their doctor in August including home visits.
That compared to 54 per cent in January, during the winter lockdown, and 92 per cent in February 2019, before the pandemic.
Issues with accessing GPS have led to a knock-on effect on other services, with A&E busier than ever during the summer, and deteriorating ambulance service 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.
Separate figures from the NHS show there are currently 116 full-time GPS in Stoke-on-trent, excluding locums and trainees.
That’s down from 123 in 2020, and a drop of 13% from 134 five years ago in 2016 - despite a government drive to increase GP numbers.
Royal College of GPS chair Professor Martin Marshall said GPS strive to deliver the same highquality care whether a consultation is remote or in person. But 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 being a joint one between GP practices and their patients.
“Ultimately we need more GPS to deliver the care our patients need.
“The Government needs to act now to address this by working to build the workforce by at least the 6,000 full-time family doctors that have been promised, as well as other members of the practice team, and address the ‘undoable’ workload 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, that proportion fell below 50 per cent, and has remained low ever since.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We’ve always been clear that 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 £270 million to expand GP capacity, on top of providing £1.5 billion for general practice until 2023/24 to deliver worldclass care to patients.”