GP backlash over face-to-face target
GPS have reacted with fury to Government plans to name and shame them over access to care, as the Health Secretary failed to address the profession at its annual conference.
The head of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) described the attack on medics from some politicians and sections of the media as “abuse” and said it was “demoralising and indefensible”.
England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, also told delegates at the RCGP conference in Liverpool that the topic of faceto-face appointments had “got rather more heat than it needs”, although he suggested there could be more in-person consultations.
He urged GPs to ignore negative press, saying: “I would stick to the advice that is an old saying but it’s completely right, which is never worry about criticism from somebody you wouldn’t take advice from.” He called GPs “outstanding”, adding: “I’m massively admiring of what all you have done, and continue to do, in the biggest public health challenge in our professional careers.”
Professor Martin Marshall, head of the RCGP, told delegates that GPs had worked tirelessly to support patients through the pandemic, and are now helping all those with conditions like long Covid or patients on long NHS waiting lists.
On the “public storm over faceto-face appointments” he said “malicious criticism” of the profession by parts of the media and some politicians due to the shift towards remote working has been “the worst that I can remember in over 30 years as a GP”. He said: “This widespread vilification of hard working GPs and our teams is unfair, it’s demoralising and it’s indefensible. No-one working in general practice deserves this abuse.”
Prof Marshall criticised the move announced by Health Secretary Sajid Javid, adding: “The so-called support package for general practice in England announced this morning is most definitely not the answer”.
Under the new plans, GP surgeries that fail to provide an approprinate ate level of “access” will be named and shamed in league tables as patients are given a new right to demand face-to-face appointments.
The NHS is ploughing millions of pounds into new measures aimed at improving access to GPs, but practices which fail to provide an “appropriate” level of face-toface appointments will not be eligible for the new funding.
NHS England said the measures, including a £250 million winter access fund, will enable GP practices to improve availability and increase the number of face-to-face appointments and same-day care.
Earlier, Dr Michael Mulholland, vice chair for professional development at the RCGP, told the conference Mr Javid would not be addressing GPs. To laughter from the audience, he said: Mr Javid “is unable to join us today either in person or by video link. This is because, and I need to get this right, he had to ‘clear his diary to ensure he can fight for the NHS in the spending review, or be anywhere else you may have seen or heard him this morning’.”