GPs told to hold more face-to-face consultations as A&E waits worsen

GPs in England are being told to see more patients in person as long waits in A&E rise to their worst level since records began.

 

The government has launched a £250m emergency rescue package so GP surgeries can take on more temporary staff.

 

The news comes amid increasing criticism about the reduction in face to face appointments since the start of the pandemic, with lack of access to GPs being cited as a key factor in growing pressures on A&E departments.

 

Last month, a quarter of patients admitted to A&E waited longer than four hours for treatment, the worst performance since 2004, when the four hour target was introduced.

 

In addition, those patients who then went on to be admitted to a ward also faced record-long waits for a bed, so-called “trolley waits”, these tending to be the most frail and seriously-ill patients.  Of the 386,000 who were admitted, over a quarter waited over four hours for a bed to become free, and over 5,000 had to wait for over 12 hours.

 

The £250m funding for GPs is part of the additional £5bn Covid fund announced last month to assist the NHS through the winter months, and comes on top of the £12bn set aside for GP services this year.

 

Dr Richard Vautrey of the BMA, said he was “hugely dismayed” with the package, adding that “It offers very little and shows a government out of touch with the scale of the crisis on the ground.”

 

He went on to say that patients would “continue to suffer” and find it harder to book appointments.

 

“It is disappointing to see there is no end in sight to the preoccupation with face to face appointments.”

 

He added that in-person appointments were still a key feature of GP care but the pandemic had shown that video or phone consultations sere “entirely appropriate and appreciated” by many.

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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