Many of us are familiar with the challenge of securing a GP appointment. An average GP practice will receive about 100 calls in the first hour of opening and being kept on hold at 8am to speak to a GP receptionist can be a frustrating experience.
To tackle this issue, the Government announced the primary care recovery plan earlier this month. This plan recognises the pressure that GPs are under. GPs carry out about 1 million appointments every day, and the number of monthly appointments has increased by 10% since the pandemic. It is clear that something needs to be done to ease the pressure on GPs and make it easier for patients to get a GP appointment when they need one.
The plan focuses on three key areas. Firstly, the 8 am rush will be tackled by improving the ‘digital front door’ for patients by investing in better technology such as modern phone systems and using online requests through the NHS app. Patients should no longer be asked to ring back another day to book an appointment.
Secondly, the plan introduces a new NHS service, Pharmacy First. Pharmacists and medical professionals have a wealth of knowledge and skills that we need to make better use of. 90% of people feel comfortable seeing a pharmacist for minor illnesses, so pharmacies are an invaluable service that can be better used to reduce pressure on GPs. The Pharmacy First service will expand the abilities of pharmacies and the £645 million investment will enable them to supply prescription-only medications for seven common conditions without requiring a GP prescription. Additionally, the number of local pharmacies able to provide blood pressure checks will be doubled. This plan is expected to release up to ten million appointments by 2024-25.
Pharmacies will also benefit from improving digital infrastructure between general practice and community pharmacy, such as sharing structured updates following a pharmacy consultation into the GP patient record. Any medication or blood pressure checks done by a pharmacist will be accessible for the patient’s GP to see.
Lastly, an extra £385 million investment will be directed to employ 26,000 more primary care staff by next March. This will also mean extending visas for newly trained international GPs to remain in the UK. Keeping experienced GPs is just as vital as hiring new GPs, so we are reforming pension rules to lift 9,000 GPs out of annual tax changes. This includes increasing the annual allowance from £40,000 to £60,000 to encourage GPs to continue to work their existing hours.
In Cornwall, a Walk-In Consultation Service (WICS) was introduced by Cornwall LPC with funding from Kernow CCG. The service is the first of its kind in England and provides face-to-face consultations for a wide range of minor issues and treatment if needed. This service has been effective at relieving the pressure on GPs, as 6,000 GP appointments have been averted through these consultations. There are ambitions to roll out WICS nationwide.
We will all rely on the NHS at some point in our lives and it is a key priority of the Government to have an NHS that is effective for all. Reducing the pressures on GPs and directing patients to pharmacies where appropriate, improving the digital infrastructure of the NHS, and working to recruit and retain more medical professionals will all make a difference in improving our NHS.
