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More than half of patients are waiting two days to see GP, survey reveals More than half of patients are waiting two days to see GP, survey reveals
(6 months later)
Patients are having to wait more than 48 hours to see a GP and often take time off work when they do because appointments are hard to get and at inconvenient times, a new report warns.Patients are having to wait more than 48 hours to see a GP and often take time off work when they do because appointments are hard to get and at inconvenient times, a new report warns.
Research by the Patients Association also reveals deep dissatisfaction with out-of-hours care and widespread concern that weekend and overnight services may not deal with an urgent problem properly.Research by the Patients Association also reveals deep dissatisfaction with out-of-hours care and widespread concern that weekend and overnight services may not deal with an urgent problem properly.
Six in 10 people who took part in a survey (60.5%) said they could not get to see a GP for at least two days, while 83.8% had to wait for more than 24 hours.Six in 10 people who took part in a survey (60.5%) said they could not get to see a GP for at least two days, while 83.8% had to wait for more than 24 hours.
The research was published as MPs warned that patients who need access to treatments including cataract surgery and hip and knee replacements are facing a "rationing" of resources as the coalition government attempts to enforce the NHS's £20bn efficiency drive.The research was published as MPs warned that patients who need access to treatments including cataract surgery and hip and knee replacements are facing a "rationing" of resources as the coalition government attempts to enforce the NHS's £20bn efficiency drive.
In an analysis of savings in the NHS, the public accounts committee said that there are fears among health professionals that non-emergency procedures are being withheld, despite evidence that delays may lead to greater costs in the future.In an analysis of savings in the NHS, the public accounts committee said that there are fears among health professionals that non-emergency procedures are being withheld, despite evidence that delays may lead to greater costs in the future.
The findings were contained in an analysis by parliament's spending watchdog of the plan to make £20bn in efficiency savings in the four years to 2015, which has been set by Sir David Nicholson, the chief executive of the NHS. The so-called "Nicholson challenge" aimed to find better ways of working as a means of cutting costs, without affecting services.The findings were contained in an analysis by parliament's spending watchdog of the plan to make £20bn in efficiency savings in the four years to 2015, which has been set by Sir David Nicholson, the chief executive of the NHS. The so-called "Nicholson challenge" aimed to find better ways of working as a means of cutting costs, without affecting services.
Margaret Hodge, the chair of the committee, said the NHS had achieved initial targets, but that this had been achieved in large part by freezing wages. "We are concerned that other savings are being achieved by rationing patients' access to certain treatments.Margaret Hodge, the chair of the committee, said the NHS had achieved initial targets, but that this had been achieved in large part by freezing wages. "We are concerned that other savings are being achieved by rationing patients' access to certain treatments.
"These procedures are described as being 'of low clinical value', but people waiting for these operations suffer pain and a poorer quality of life," she said."These procedures are described as being 'of low clinical value', but people waiting for these operations suffer pain and a poorer quality of life," she said.
In addition more than one in three (37.6%) were unable to book an appointment for at least two days in advance and 57.4% said the process of booking an appointment was either "very difficult" or "could have been easier".In addition more than one in three (37.6%) were unable to book an appointment for at least two days in advance and 57.4% said the process of booking an appointment was either "very difficult" or "could have been easier".
One in five (21.7%) – including 38.2% of 16-to-64-year-olds – had had to take time off work to attend an appointment. Of those who did, almost six in 10 (58.2%) had to take a day or more off to do so.One in five (21.7%) – including 38.2% of 16-to-64-year-olds – had had to take time off work to attend an appointment. Of those who did, almost six in 10 (58.2%) had to take a day or more off to do so.
The Patients Association's findings showed that GPs were failing to provide services that suited the needs of patients, including those with busy lives and different working patterns. Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of Patients Association, said; "The difficulty of getting or attending an appointment is creating a system plagued by avoidable delays." She demanded faster access and urged GP surgeries to adjust their opening hours. "The traditional nine-to-five mentality and structure can no longer be held sacrosanct. Disease and health require constant vigilance and action to address and are not restricted to daylight hours, from Monday to Friday," she said.The Patients Association's findings showed that GPs were failing to provide services that suited the needs of patients, including those with busy lives and different working patterns. Katherine Murphy, the chief executive of Patients Association, said; "The difficulty of getting or attending an appointment is creating a system plagued by avoidable delays." She demanded faster access and urged GP surgeries to adjust their opening hours. "The traditional nine-to-five mentality and structure can no longer be held sacrosanct. Disease and health require constant vigilance and action to address and are not restricted to daylight hours, from Monday to Friday," she said.
A report, called Primary Care: Access Denied?, based on 3,076 responses to three separate surveys, also found that 79.2% of participants either would not feel safe, or did not know if they would, relying on NHS out-of-hours services if they had a potentially urgent medical problem. Over half (54.8%) were not satisfied with their experience of out-of-hours care in the previous two years, and over two-thirds would not feel confident using walk-in centres or the NHS Direct telephone advice line.A report, called Primary Care: Access Denied?, based on 3,076 responses to three separate surveys, also found that 79.2% of participants either would not feel safe, or did not know if they would, relying on NHS out-of-hours services if they had a potentially urgent medical problem. Over half (54.8%) were not satisfied with their experience of out-of-hours care in the previous two years, and over two-thirds would not feel confident using walk-in centres or the NHS Direct telephone advice line.
Dr Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of GPs, acknowledged that some patients have trouble booking an appointment with a family doctor and that GPs understood their frustrations. But she said the NHS needs 10,000 extra GPs and longer appointment times to meet their expectations because GPs are being hampered in their desire to give every patient the best care by "increasingly limited resources".Dr Clare Gerada, chair of the Royal College of GPs, acknowledged that some patients have trouble booking an appointment with a family doctor and that GPs understood their frustrations. But she said the NHS needs 10,000 extra GPs and longer appointment times to meet their expectations because GPs are being hampered in their desire to give every patient the best care by "increasingly limited resources".
Dr Laurence Buckman, chair of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said that, despite GPs working extremely hard, "Many GP practices are struggling to cope with a combination of government targets, falling resources and rising workloads. GPs will strive to see as many patients as possible, but the government needs to recognise that its ill-thought-out policies will have an impact on patient services," including changes to the GP contract in England starting on 1 April, he added.Dr Laurence Buckman, chair of the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said that, despite GPs working extremely hard, "Many GP practices are struggling to cope with a combination of government targets, falling resources and rising workloads. GPs will strive to see as many patients as possible, but the government needs to recognise that its ill-thought-out policies will have an impact on patient services," including changes to the GP contract in England starting on 1 April, he added.
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