Why I’m proof that GPs are NOT work-shy
I’M InSULTED by the implication that, as a gP, I don’t work hard enough (Mail). I start consulting at 8.10am and I don’t stop until 11am. I don’t have a drink, chat to my colleagues or visit the loo. The first hour of my ‘three-hour lunch break’ is spent speaking to patients on the phone and signing prescriptions. In the second hour, I visit a nursing home, or people in their own homes. I return to my desk to write up the home visits. For the next hour, I write referrals, look at blood results and analyse and process letters from hospitals. I may speak to a district community nurse or palliative care worker. I eat lunch at my desk. I start consulting again at 2pm and don’t stop until 5pm or 6.30pm, depending on my shift. I then write the referrals and process the outcomes from my afternoon surgery, which can take 90 minutes. I leave work between 7pm and 8pm. During the day, I’ll have heard of heartbreak, pain and distress. I’ll have been concentrating, analysing, processing, communicating and caring for 11 hours non-stop. It’s rewarding — but it’s tough. gP surgeries which shut for one afternoon a month are training staff. Job interviews take place in the evening so as not to take up precious gP time. An average salary is £50,000 a year and £6,000 to £8,000 of this is spent on medical insurance so we can practice. nearly £500 goes on general Medical Council membership and £400 on college membership. Many surgeries don’t pay maternity leave. We work exceptionally hard: on most days, far from having a ‘three-hour lunch break’ we have no break at all. The deadlock between the public, politicians and healthcare workers over the nHS won’t be solved while people continue to believe such untruths.
Dr CHaRlOttE alEXaNDER, london sW1. My FOUR-yEAR-OLD granddaughter had a convulsion at nursery recently. An ambulance was called, but as she had quickly come out of the fit, a trip to hospital was unnecessary. However, the ambulance crew couldn’t leave until her case had been formally handed over to her gP. The surgery was closed for the half-day, so the crew had to call the out-of-hours service. Their message was taken, but they still needed to speak to the locum gP. It was almost another two hours before the locum called. Two wasted hours when the ambulance could have been available for other calls. Extending gPs’ hours would help take the pressure off the emergency services.
Paul laWRENCE, Ruislip, Middx.