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GPs urged to commit to seven-day service or lose funding | GPs urged to commit to seven-day service or lose funding |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Some GPs in England have been warned they could lose extra funding if they fail to meet their commitments to keeping surgeries open for longer. | |
The government wants surgeries to open between 08:00 and 20:00, seven days a week, unless they can prove the demand is not there. | The government wants surgeries to open between 08:00 and 20:00, seven days a week, unless they can prove the demand is not there. |
It said many patients were going to under-pressure A&E departments because they could not get GP appointments. | It said many patients were going to under-pressure A&E departments because they could not get GP appointments. |
The British Medical Association accused ministers of "scapegoating" doctors. | The British Medical Association accused ministers of "scapegoating" doctors. |
Surgeries are currently expected to open between the core hours of 08:00 and 18:30, Monday to Friday. | Surgeries are currently expected to open between the core hours of 08:00 and 18:30, Monday to Friday. |
Extra funding is available to those offering appointments outside those hours. | Extra funding is available to those offering appointments outside those hours. |
Downing Street said surgeries should do more to ensure they offered appointments in the evening and at weekends. | Downing Street said surgeries should do more to ensure they offered appointments in the evening and at weekends. |
'Bad for hospitals' | 'Bad for hospitals' |
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." |
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' |
Leak shows full extent of NHS crisis | Leak shows full extent of NHS crisis |
The government highlighted October 2015 figures from the National Audit Office (NAO), which showed that 46% of GP surgeries closed at some point during core hours, and 18% closed at or before 15:00 on at least one weekday. | The government highlighted October 2015 figures from the National Audit Office (NAO), which showed that 46% of GP surgeries closed at some point during core hours, and 18% closed at or before 15:00 on at least one weekday. |
Three-quarters of those that closed early were receiving extra funding in 2015-16 to provide access outside of core hours, the NAO said. | Three-quarters of those that closed early were receiving extra funding in 2015-16 to provide access outside of core hours, the NAO said. |
Number 10 also said ministers had been shown evidence that some GP surgeries were failing to tell patients about extending hours for appointments or ensuring they were at convenient times. | Number 10 also said ministers had been shown evidence that some GP surgeries were failing to tell patients about extending hours for appointments or ensuring they were at convenient times. |
It said patients not seen outside working hours were "left with little option" but to go to A&E. | It said patients not seen outside working hours were "left with little option" but to go to A&E. |
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. |
The director of acute care for NHS England, Professor Keith Willett, has estimated that 30% of patients attending A&E would be better cared for elsewhere in the system, the government said. | The director of acute care for NHS England, Professor Keith Willett, has estimated that 30% of patients attending A&E would be better cared for elsewhere in the system, the government said. |
Downing Street said the prime minister wanted to help reduce pressures on hospitals in a number of ways: | Downing Street said the prime minister wanted to help reduce pressures on hospitals in a number of ways: |
'Close to the precipice' | 'Close to the precipice' |
The British Medical Association (BMA) accused ministers of trying to "deflect blame" on to doctors rather than address the NHS funding crisis. | 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." |
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the prime minister of being in denial about the state of the NHS. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the prime minister of being in denial about the state of the NHS. |
In a speech in central London, he said Theresa May was blaming the "crisis" on "hard-pressed and under-pressure GPs", not underfunding by the government. | In a speech in central London, he said Theresa May was blaming the "crisis" on "hard-pressed and under-pressure GPs", not underfunding by the government. |
Later, shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth told the BBC that the Conservatives had been promising a seven-day GP service for more than six years. | |
He said Mrs May's response to the "crisis" in the NHS was "increasingly incompetent and floundering", and urged her to "get a grip of the situation". | |
Hospital hub | Hospital hub |
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 government said ministers believed GP surgeries had a "vital role" to play in alleviating pressure on A&E. | The government said ministers believed GP surgeries had a "vital role" to play in alleviating pressure on A&E. |
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 |