This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38620935
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
GPs urged to commit to seven day service or lose funding | GPs urged to commit to seven day service or lose funding |
(about 1 hour later) | |
GPs in England must keep their surgeries open for longer to meet demand from patients, or risk losing funding, Downing Street has warned. | GPs in England must keep their surgeries open for longer to meet demand from patients, or risk losing funding, Downing Street has warned. |
It said many patients were going to under pressure A&E departments because they could not get appointments. | It said many patients were going to under pressure A&E departments because they could not get appointments. |
The government wants to see surgeries open between 08:00 and 20:00, seven days a week, unless they can prove the demand is not there. | The government wants to see surgeries open between 08:00 and 20:00, seven days a week, unless they can prove the demand is not there. |
The British Medical Association accused ministers of "scapegoating" doctors. | The British Medical Association accused ministers of "scapegoating" doctors. |
Downing Street said surgeries should do more to ensure they offer appointments in the evening and at weekends. | Downing Street said surgeries should do more to ensure they offer appointments in the evening and at weekends. |
It said: "Most GPs do a fantastic job, and have their patients' interests firmly at heart. | It said: "Most GPs do a fantastic job, and have their patients' interests firmly at heart. |
"However, it is increasingly clear that a large number of surgeries are not providing the access that patients need - and that patients are suffering as a result because they are then forced to go to A&E to seek care. | "However, it is increasingly clear that a large number of surgeries are not providing the access that patients need - and that patients are suffering as a result because they are then forced to go to A&E to seek care. |
"It's also bad for hospitals, who then face additional pressure on their services." | "It's also bad for hospitals, who then face additional pressure on their services." |
It comes as figures show more than four in 10 hospitals in England declared a major alert in the first week of the new year as they faced unprecedented pressures. | It comes as figures show more than four in 10 hospitals in England declared a major alert in the first week of the new year as they faced unprecedented pressures. |
Why bother with seven-day GP opening? | Why bother with seven-day GP opening? |
Patient films A&E corridor bed 'chaos' | Patient films A&E corridor bed 'chaos' |
Number 10 said ministers had been shown evidence that some GP surgeries were failing to tell patients about extending hours appointments or ensure they were at convenient times. | Number 10 said ministers had been shown evidence that some GP surgeries were failing to tell patients about extending hours appointments or ensure they were at convenient times. |
It said those who were not seen outside working hours were "left with little option" but to go to A&E. | It said those who were not seen outside working hours were "left with little option" but to go to A&E. |
Downing Street said the prime minister wanted to help reduce pressures on hospitals by: | Downing Street said the prime minister wanted to help reduce pressures on hospitals by: |
Figures from the National Audit Office show 46% of GP surgeries closed at some point during core hours - with 18% closing at or before 15:00 on at least one weekday. | Figures from the National Audit Office show 46% of GP surgeries closed at some point during core hours - with 18% closing at or before 15:00 on at least one weekday. |
Three-quarters of those received extra funding in 2015-16 to provide access outside of core hours, the government said. | Three-quarters of those received extra funding in 2015-16 to provide access outside of core hours, the government said. |
The director of acute care for NHS England, Professor Keith Willett, has estimated 30% of patients attending A&E would be better cared for elsewhere in the system. | |
'Close to the precipice' | 'Close to the precipice' |
But the British Medical Association (BMA) accused ministers of trying to "deflect blame" on to doctors rather than address the NHS funding crisis. | But the British Medical Association (BMA) accused ministers of trying to "deflect blame" on to doctors rather than address the NHS funding crisis. |
GP committee chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said pressure on A&E services was down to seriously ill patients for whom seeing a GP would not prevent a hospital admission. | GP committee chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said pressure on A&E services was down to seriously ill patients for whom seeing a GP would not prevent a hospital admission. |
The government must "take responsibility" and outline an emergency plan to tackle NHS under-resourcing, he said. | The government must "take responsibility" and outline an emergency plan to tackle NHS under-resourcing, he said. |
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs said the "whole of general practice and primary care" was "close to the precipice" after being "under-funded and under-resourced for a decade". | Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs said the "whole of general practice and primary care" was "close to the precipice" after being "under-funded and under-resourced for a decade". |
Promises of more staff and resources had yet to reach the front line, she said, "So to put pressure on a system that's already cracking is unhelpful and it's going to demoralise GPs further." | Promises of more staff and resources had yet to reach the front line, she said, "So to put pressure on a system that's already cracking is unhelpful and it's going to demoralise GPs further." |
Commuters' view | Commuters' view |
Health think tank the Nuffield Trust's chief executive Nigel Edwards said the problem was capacity, not timing. | Health think tank the Nuffield Trust's chief executive Nigel Edwards said the problem was capacity, not timing. |
"If you haven't got more GPs and more practice nurses to do it, you haven't increased the number of appointments, you've just put additional pressure on a service that's already under a very severe level of pressure," he said. | "If you haven't got more GPs and more practice nurses to do it, you haven't increased the number of appointments, you've just put additional pressure on a service that's already under a very severe level of pressure," he said. |
The A&E issue was more down to patients waiting to be admitted, while the NHS had been "plagued by single-initiative ideas rather than trying to think systemically about how to solve its problems", he said. | The A&E issue was more down to patients waiting to be admitted, while the NHS had been "plagued by single-initiative ideas rather than trying to think systemically about how to solve its problems", he said. |
He said policy makers, who tended to commute, wanted to see their GP in the evening but a lot of the people actually calling on the capacity were young children and older people. | He said policy makers, who tended to commute, wanted to see their GP in the evening but a lot of the people actually calling on the capacity were young children and older people. |
The GP controversy follows a National Audit Office report which this week said plans to increase access to GPs had not been weighed up for their cost-effectiveness. | The GP controversy follows a National Audit Office report which this week said plans to increase access to GPs had not been weighed up for their cost-effectiveness. |
Hospital hub | Hospital hub |
The government said ministers believe GP surgeries have a "vital role" to play in alleviating pressure on A&E. | The government said ministers believe GP surgeries have a "vital role" to play in alleviating pressure on A&E. |
It pointed to schemes such as the Integrated South Kent Coast pilot where 110,000 patients registered with 18 practices around a local hospital hub can book appointments from 8am-8pm seven days a week. | It pointed to schemes such as the Integrated South Kent Coast pilot where 110,000 patients registered with 18 practices around a local hospital hub can book appointments from 8am-8pm seven days a week. |
A 14% increase in funding to general practice will ensure there will be about 5,000 more doctors by 2020, it added. | A 14% increase in funding to general practice will ensure there will be about 5,000 more doctors by 2020, it added. |
Are you a GP? What is your reaction to the issues raised in this story? You can share your comments and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a GP? What is your reaction to the issues raised in this story? You can share your comments and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |