I’m a GP who does see my patients

I HaVE been a GP for 20 years and work in a rural practice with close links to the community. In all that time, I’ve never before seen this demand on our services and such a highly stressful working environment. Understandably, depression, stress and anxiety among patients is at an all-time high. Combine this with the peak in viruses we usually see in winter, not autumn, a mass vaccination programme, keeping patients safe through social distancing and staff shortages due to isolation, the result is an unprecedented demand on primary care. Despite claims, GPs and nurses are seeing patients face to face and have done so throughout the pandemic. To help manage this demand and continue to provide care to those who need it, we have to triage to utilise an array of appointment types. not all consultations require a physical examination and many can be dealt with safely over the phone, which is more convenient for many patients and helps avoid unnecessarily crowded waiting rooms during a pandemic. This certainly does not mean GPs are sitting idle. We are carrying out more consultations each day than we ever have and are working longer hours.

Bashing primary care only demoralises and undermines doctors and nurses working hard in such challenging times. as a result, many are leaving the profession and recruitment is challenging, further exacerbating the problem. We are all in this together.

Dr PAUL DANIEL, Warwick.

THE Health Secretary is right to ditch the social distancing rules that have been clogging up our GP surgeries for too long. People should be able to see their doctor in person if they feel the need. The overwhelming majority of adults are jabbed and we have a flu and Covid booster jab campaign in full flow, so it is only right that normal service should resume in healthcare centres.

GEOFFREY BROOKING, Havant, Hants.

HaS anyone given any thought to what is going to happen if we scrap social distancing and rigorous cleaning in GP practices? Covid has not disappeared and we have to accept we have to change how we live and work to cope with this virus. not so long ago the biggest complaint from patients was that they were being kept waiting too long in a crowded waiting room surrounded by sick people. are we heading back to this scenario, but with Covid in the mix?