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| Patients 'facing longer GP waits', warns BMA | Patients 'facing longer GP waits', warns BMA |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Longer waits to see a GP in the UK are "becoming the norm", the British Medical Association is warning. | Longer waits to see a GP in the UK are "becoming the norm", the British Medical Association is warning. |
| BMA GP leader Dr Chaand Nagpaul said "chronic underfunding" meant patients were often having to wait one or two weeks for an appointment. | BMA GP leader Dr Chaand Nagpaul said "chronic underfunding" meant patients were often having to wait one or two weeks for an appointment. |
| Some patients struggled to get an appointment, he said. Data from the GP patient survey in England shows one in 10 could not last time they tried. | Some patients struggled to get an appointment, he said. Data from the GP patient survey in England shows one in 10 could not last time they tried. |
| The government said measures addressing the issue were already in place. | The government said measures addressing the issue were already in place. |
| Dr Nagpaul will highlight the issue of funding coupled with rising demand in a speech at the BMA's annual conference on Wednesday. | Dr Nagpaul will highlight the issue of funding coupled with rising demand in a speech at the BMA's annual conference on Wednesday. |
| He will point out that annual consultations have risen by 40 million in England alone since 2008, hitting 340 million a year at the last count. | He will point out that annual consultations have risen by 40 million in England alone since 2008, hitting 340 million a year at the last count. |
| But he will tell delegates in Harrogate that the increase has come at a time when the amount spent on general practice as a share of the NHS budget has been falling. | But he will tell delegates in Harrogate that the increase has come at a time when the amount spent on general practice as a share of the NHS budget has been falling. |
| Complex conditions | Complex conditions |
| Figures from the Royal College of GPs show that in 2005-6 it stood at 10.7% of NHS spending, but by 2011-12 it had dropped to 8.4%. | Figures from the Royal College of GPs show that in 2005-6 it stood at 10.7% of NHS spending, but by 2011-12 it had dropped to 8.4%. |
| Ahead of the speech Dr Nagpaul told the BBC: "Demand is outstripping supply. The patients we are seeing have more complex conditions and yet we still only have 10 minutes for each consultation - that is woefully inadequate. | Ahead of the speech Dr Nagpaul told the BBC: "Demand is outstripping supply. The patients we are seeing have more complex conditions and yet we still only have 10 minutes for each consultation - that is woefully inadequate. |
| "General practice is chronically under-funded and that is beginning to have an impact on the patient experience." | "General practice is chronically under-funded and that is beginning to have an impact on the patient experience." |
| He added waits of "one or two weeks were becoming the norm" for patients, although he said those needing urgent appointments would always be seen quickly. | He added waits of "one or two weeks were becoming the norm" for patients, although he said those needing urgent appointments would always be seen quickly. |
| His warning was backed up by the Patients Association. | His warning was backed up by the Patients Association. |
| Its chief executive, Katherine Murphy, said: "We hear daily from patients that they can't get appointments. It's even worse for those who want a named doctor for continuity of care. They are having to wait two or three weeks. It is becoming a real issue. | Its chief executive, Katherine Murphy, said: "We hear daily from patients that they can't get appointments. It's even worse for those who want a named doctor for continuity of care. They are having to wait two or three weeks. It is becoming a real issue. |
| "We need more investment in general practice, but I think we also need greater flexibility from doctors - it can no longer be a nine to five service." | "We need more investment in general practice, but I think we also need greater flexibility from doctors - it can no longer be a nine to five service." |
| The Department of Health said this was already happening via its £50m Challenge Fund. | The Department of Health said this was already happening via its £50m Challenge Fund. |
| 'Not affordable' | 'Not affordable' |
| More than 1,100 practices - one in eight of those in England - have signed up to the initiative to extend opening hours and make greater use of technologies such as Skype and e-mail. | More than 1,100 practices - one in eight of those in England - have signed up to the initiative to extend opening hours and make greater use of technologies such as Skype and e-mail. |
| A spokesman added the measures should make access "more convenient" for patients. | A spokesman added the measures should make access "more convenient" for patients. |
| "People need to see a GP at a time to suit them," he said. | "People need to see a GP at a time to suit them," he said. |
| But Dr Beth McCarron-Nash, a GP based in Truro, said: "There is a drive towards convenience general practice, and actually we do need an open and honest debate with the public about what general practice is actually funded for. | But Dr Beth McCarron-Nash, a GP based in Truro, said: "There is a drive towards convenience general practice, and actually we do need an open and honest debate with the public about what general practice is actually funded for. |
| "We're struggling to cope with providing the need, let alone the convenience of what I call the Martini practice - seven days a week, any time, any place, anywhere. That, unfortunately, is not affordable." | "We're struggling to cope with providing the need, let alone the convenience of what I call the Martini practice - seven days a week, any time, any place, anywhere. That, unfortunately, is not affordable." |
| Dr McCarron-Nash also said many practices were failing to recruit doctors. | Dr McCarron-Nash also said many practices were failing to recruit doctors. |
| "Why would you want to be a partner when actually [there is] liability in owning a practice, employing the staff, all the extra work that actually comes with being an employer, along with the workload demands? | "Why would you want to be a partner when actually [there is] liability in owning a practice, employing the staff, all the extra work that actually comes with being an employer, along with the workload demands? |
| "Young doctors are leaving the UK, they're deciding not to be GPs." | "Young doctors are leaving the UK, they're deciding not to be GPs." |
| Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "It is getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment under David Cameron's government. | Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said: "It is getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment under David Cameron's government. |
| "The lack of access to GPs is forcing many people to use much more expensive A&E departments. | "The lack of access to GPs is forcing many people to use much more expensive A&E departments. |
| "The next Labour government will invest £100m to help patients to get a GP appointment - either within 48 hours or a same-day consultation with a doctor or nurse for those who need it." | "The next Labour government will invest £100m to help patients to get a GP appointment - either within 48 hours or a same-day consultation with a doctor or nurse for those who need it." |