Selfish GPs

AS A retired GP, I read with disbelief that the British Medical Association has voted to pass a motion to negotiate changes to the GP contract with the NHS to remove home visits as a requirement (Mail).

I worked as a rural doctor and GP educator for 38 years when home visiting was an essential requirement. Seeing a patient in their own home is not only an important part of the assessment of their needs, but also appropriate for those unable to travel to a surgery or hospital.

In rural areas, especially with the reduced provision of public transport, I can remember many cases where my visit was vital to a patient’s well-being and treatment. How is it that a caring profession can be so crass as to make decisions of this kind that demean the role of the family doctor?

The decision to negotiate to withdraw from providing out- of-hours care was another selfish decision by the profession, which led to excessive pressure on A&E departments.

GP services were once known as the jewel in the crown of the NHS, but it is no longer seen as a favoured speciality by junior doctors.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has voiced his opposition to this proposal. I very much hope the Royal College of General Practitioners, of which I am a Fellow, does likewise. I intend to resign my membership of the BMA because of this decision.

ROGER D. PARKIN, Sherburn-in-Elmet, N. Yorks. THE people who are likely to need a home visit by a GP are the disabled, elderly, housebound and mothers with young children. Without it, they will have no option but to call for an ambulance.

I called a doctor out of hours when my son was having a febrile convulsion, was unresponsive and I could not get him to a hospital.

When I apologised to the GP, he said: ‘I would rather have one patient tonight than two in the morning.’ This wise man knew that without the visit, my anxiety would affect my son’s and my own health. LORRAINE SMITH, Southminster, Essex.