GPs are still here

Where have all the gPs gone (Mail)? the simple answer is that I am a gP and I am where I’ve always been: assessing patients via email, phone and face to face.

I make home visits to the very frail or those at the end of life to provide the care they need. I consult with up to 35 patients a day, making critical decisions about their health.

as well as acute medical issues, gPs like me are managing chronic disease, wound care, vaccinations, cervical screening, contraception and minor surgery. We are dealing with blood results, scan reports, referrals, letters from hospital appointments, medication requests, acute and repeat prescriptions.

We complete a wide range of admin tasks and requests for information from such bodies as the dVLa, PIP claim reports, exemption requests and insurance forms.

We can’t keep up with increasing demand and the backlog fuelled by the pandemic. the undermining of public trust in the profession has left morale at an all-time low.

there is a perfect storm of early retirement, resigning to work abroad and taking on non-patient-facing roles. Some doctors have become burnt out and disillusioned.

I get it: patients deserve better. I don’t want anyone to feel the only way to get medical care is to go to a&e. Something needs to change, but it’s wrong to blame, shame and criticise individuals for multiple inadequacies in the system.

I do not ask for pity, praise or thanks. I am privileged to do the job I have been supported and trained to do. But please don’t ask where I am because I am right here.

rACHeL HuBBArD, Sheffield.