The receptionist will see you now in effort to ease burden on GPS
‘I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice’
RECEPTIONISTS are to assess GP patients in an effort to end the “8am scramble” for appointments, as Rishi Sunak aims for a reset after last week’s local election losses.
The Department of Health will give receptionists extra responsibilities as “care navigators” amid concerns about the pressure facing doctors.
Staff answering the phone when surgeries open will take down information and direct patients to the most suitable health professional, as the Government attempts to modernise primary care.
After last week’s local election results, where the Conservatives lost more than 1,000 councillors, the Prime Minister is hoping plans to improve the NHS and free up appointments will lead to a turnaround in the party’s fortunes.
Mr Sunak has faced a backlash within the party over the results with defeated councillors blaming government failures and problems with the health service for the losses. Alan Jarrett, the defeated Tory leader of Medway council in Kent, said the Government had to “get their act together on a number of fronts” and “a really big issue here is access to GP provision”.
The move is part of a mini-relaunch to demonstrate that the Prime Minister is focused on delivering on the public’s priorities. It comes as the health issue develops into a key political battleground with Labour pledging to train 7,500 more doctors each year.
Under Tory plans, GPS will be given their share of £240million to help modernise surgeries. The Government says the scheme will mean patients can contact doctors faster but Labour said the move would simply give patients “better hold music” and was not a substitute for training more doctors.
An average GP practice often receives more than 100 calls in the first hour every Monday. Care navigators will help “assess, prioritise, respond and assist” but the Government insisted those who want to see a named GP will still be able to do so. The Government will fund 6,500 care navigator places, one per GP practice, and says these staff can pass training on to colleagues.
Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary, said that the plans would mean less paperwork and less of a “scramble” for appointments when surgeries open at 8am. “We are already making real progress with 10 per cent more GP appointments happening every month compared to before the pandemic,” he said. “I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice.”
However, Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said that the only way people could see GPS more quickly was for the Government to hire more doctors. “The reason people can’t get a GP appointment is the Conservatives have cut 2,000 GPS,” he said. “Better hold music isn’t going to change that.”