Top family doctor: GP system close to collapse

THE current system of primary healthcare is ‘not fit for purpose’ and needs urgent reform to prevent it collapsing, an NHS report warns.

A major review by a top family doctor found ‘genuine and growing discontent’ with services provided by GPs, dentists and pharmacists. It calls for immediate action to improve access, noting the 8am ‘scramble’ for appointments has become ‘synonymous with patient frustration’.

Public satisfaction in this regard is at an ‘all-time low’, while soaring demand has left staff ‘stretched beyond capacity’ and their morale at rock-bottom. The report, commissioned by NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard, says: ‘Left as it is, primary care as we know it will become unsustainable in a relatively short period of time.’

Dr Claire Fuller, the GP who led the review, suggests reorganising services so they are easier and quicker for patients to access and to ease pressure on GPs.

It could mean encouraging people who are rarely ill to make greater use of pharmacists, nurses and drop-in centres, so family doctors have more time to see those with complex or longer-term issues.

She suggests creating a single point of contact for GP surgeries, out-of-hours services, community pharmacies, urgent treatment centres and NHS 111 to replace the ‘fragmented’ system.

This would ensure patients are directed to the most suitable healthcare professional for their needs as quickly as possible, she adds. The process would be supported with the creation of new ‘integrated neighbourhood teams’ comprised of GPs, nurses, pharmacists, social carers and other health professionals, who would ideally offer care to 30,000 to 50,000 people.

They could help those with urgent needs or long-term illness and work with local councils to seek out elderly and vulnerable people who may need support before their health problems escalate.

Dr Fuller said: ‘There are real signs of genuine and growing discontent with primary care – both from the public who use it and the professionals who work within it.

‘Inadequate access to urgent care is having a direct impact on GPs’ ability to provide continuity of care to patients who need it most.’

Dr Fuller also says hospital doctors should be brought into the community to help patients with long-term conditions so they can avoid being admitted, easing pressure on bed numbers.

Mrs Pritchard will now work to implement the recommendations. She said: ‘General practice is the bedrock of the NHS. I commissioned this stocktake to ensure that as we join up services through integrated care systems, we make it as convenient as possible for everyone to get the right care for their needs at the right time.’

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘The report outlines a direction of travel that the college has long advocated.’

GP surgeries offered 5.7 million fewer appointments in April than in March, figures published yesterday reveal. Only 63 per cent were faceto-face compared with around 80 per cent before the pandemic.

‘Growing discontent’