Senior GP warns of capacity over Covid booster rollout

A senior doctor has warned that GPs are already at “full capacity”, following the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that the planned Covid booster vaccine would be offered to everyone in England who is eligible by the end of January.

 

Dr Gary Howsam, vice chairman of the Royal College of GPs, warned that choices would have to be made “as to where we add most clinical value”.

 

Dr Howsam, who is also the clinical chair of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, said “GPs are already working at full capacity”, adding that doctors are “currently under immense pressure” with 34 million consultations taking place in October.

 

He said “We need to understand what we are going to be allowed to stop doing.  We did it last year, we’ll do it this year but it is about focusing in the right areas.”

 

NHS England said there was nothing to add following Tuesday’s press conference, but noted GP-led sites delivered 3,536,808 Covid vaccinations in October, compared to 960,893 in September.  A spokesperson said “That is a good example of how GPs have delivered more of both routine care and vaccinations at the same time.”

 

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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