GP appointments start to increase
across England as a whole, not to”. where 20.6million appointments But chief executive of the were made in June – Patients Association Rachel 4.3m more than in May. Power said the Secretary
It means appointments of State should publish evidence in June were 11% lower compared showing this works to a year ago. for patients.
The NHS says changes in She added: “Patients have how practices operate during put up with a great deal over the pandemic may have affectedthefigures,withremoteconsultations recent months to help the NHS cope with an unprecedented underreported. emergency – often
The Royal College of GPs at considerable cost to their says demand at surgeries own health and wellbeing. could soon surpass pre-crisis "Phone, online or other levels as people feel more types of virtual appointments confident accessing services. cannot be allowed to become
In Sunderland, 51% of sessions the new normal without an were completed over assessment of the benefits to the phone in June, up from patients." just 10% a year ago. An NHS spokesman said:
Nationally, 48% were conducted “GPs have had to adjust the over the phone, compared way they work to protect people to 13% last year. from the risk of the virus
In a recent speech, Health – remote consultations offer Secretary Matt Hancock a convenient, safe option for called for all sessions to be patients to access care in addition done remotely unless there to face-to-face appointments." is a "compelling clinical reason