BMA warns of longer GP waits for patients

The British Medical Association is warning that it is now “becoming the norm” for patients to wait longer to see a GP, often having to wait one or two weeks for an appointment, blaming “chronic underfunding” for the current situation.

Chaand Nagpaul, BMA’s GP leader, will highlight the issue at the BMA’s annual conference on Wednesday.

Since 2008, annual consultations in England have risen by 40 million, reaching 340 million a year.  This increase has come at a time when the total spent on general practice has fallen as a share of the NHS budget.

Dr Nagpaul told the BBC “Demand is outstripping supply.  The patients we are seeing have more complex conditions and yet we still only have 10 minutes for each consultation – that is woefully inadequate.

“General practice is chronically under-funded and that is beginning to have an impact on the patient experience.”

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said “We hear daily from patients that they can’t get appointments.  It’s even worse for those who want a named doctor for continuity of care.  They are having to wait two or three weeks.  It’s becoming a real issue.

“We need more investment in general practice, but I think we also need greater flexibility from doctors – it can no longer be a nine to five service.”

Andy Burnham, Labour shadow health secretary, said “It is getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment under David Cameron’s government.

“The lack of access to GPs is forcing many people to use much more expensive A&E departments.

“The next Labour government will invest £100m to help patients to get a GP appointment – either within 48 hours or a same-day consultation with a doctor or nurse for those who need it.”

The Department of Health has set up a £50m Challenge Fund, and over 1,100 practices have signed up to the initiative, to extend opening hours and make greater use of email and Skype.  A spokesman has said that this should make access “more convenient” for patients.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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