GPs in the South West want to provide the best care to their patients – but a new BMA survey lays bare the crisis that is preventing them from delivering enough appointments and services to the public.
According to our poll of over 5,000 GPs, an alarming 83% of GPs in the South West felt that their workload was so excessive that it prevented them from being able to deliver safe, high-quality care to their community. While this is worrying it is, sadly, unsurprising. General practice is being overwhelmed by chronic underfunding, staff shortages and rising patient demand, especially from an ageing population. There are around 40 million more GP consultations taking place each year in England than there were a decade ago.
GPs are listening to their patients and suggesting solutions: in this survey they call for more nurses to treat housebound patients and more staff to help those with mental illnesses with better information for patients about how to safely self-care. The government needs to listen to these calls and implement their promises to provide more resources for the services patients really need. Failure to do so will plunge general practice deeper into crisis and it is patients who will ultimately pay the price.
DR MARK SANFORD-WOOD
GP and BMA rep for the South West