‘Patients at risk as GPs under immense pressure’
ALACK of resources and staff shortages in general practice are putting patient care at risk, a new poll has revealed.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP), which represents a network of around 2,000 doctors in Wales, asked 100 GPs in March and April about the current state of the profession.
More than eight out of 10 GPs (84%) in Wales worry they may miss something serious with a patient due to their excessive workload.
And more than nine out of 10 (92%) say they are concerned that a lack of resources in general practice is putting patient care at risk.
In addition, 56% of respondents said they either planned on reducing the hours they work or leaving the profession entirely over the next five years.
Dr Rebecca Payne, chairman of RCGP Wales, said: “As GPs we work under immense pressure. Part of the reason we are seeing long waits for patients to see their GPs is because GPs are having to reduce their working hours.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to work five days a week in general practice and stay sane.
“Wales desperately needs more GPs to help alleviate the pressure and ahead of the Assembly election. We as a college in Wales are calling for 400 more GPs by 2020, as well as a rapid expansion in other professionals trained to work in primary care, such as nurses, pharmacists and paramedics.”
At present, general practice receives 7.8% of the total NHS Wales budget, a real-terms drop of £20m compared with four years ago.
The RCGP, in its Assembly election manifesto, has called for increased investment from 7.8% to 11% of the total Wales NHS budget by 2017.
“Wales is a great place to live and work and we welcome the recent focus on primary care,” added Dr Payne.
“However, historic policies and under-investment mean we are fast approaching tipping point, particularly in some rural parts of Wales where practices have been closing and GPs choosing to retire early due to mounting workloads.”
NHS chiefs in England announced a five-year plan last week to help GP surgeries “get back on their feet” and to improve access for patients.
The rescue package will see an extra £2.4bn a year ploughed into services by 2020 – a rise of 14% once inflation is taken into account.
Dr Payne added: “The commitment to an increase in investment of over 10% of the NHS England budget is perhaps the most significant development for general practice in England since the 1960s and is a clear recognition of its value for patients and the NHS. Now is the time for action.
“The college in Wales is calling on the next Welsh government to follow the lead of NHS England. A comparable investment to that seen in England would change the landscape of general practice in Wales. This would empower GPs to provide the standard of care that local communities and patients deserve.”