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Seeing a GP 'getting more difficult' | |
(34 minutes later) | |
Getting to see a GP in England is getting more difficult, the official patient survey shows. | Getting to see a GP in England is getting more difficult, the official patient survey shows. |
The poll of more than 900,000 patients found that, in the last two years, the proportion saying it was not easy to get through on the phone rose from 18% to 24%. | The poll of more than 900,000 patients found that, in the last two years, the proportion saying it was not easy to get through on the phone rose from 18% to 24%. |
When they did get through 11% were unable to get an appointment, the Ipsos MORI poll for NHS England showed. | |
But overall 75% rated the experience of making an appointment as good. | But overall 75% rated the experience of making an appointment as good. |
When they did get to see a doctor, or for some a practice nurse, 86% said their overall experience was good. | |
'Waits will become normal' | |
It comes after the British Medical Association (BMA) warned last week that patients would face longer waits to see a GP because of a shortage of doctors and squeeze on funding. | |
Speaking at the BMA's annual conference, BMA GP leader, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said waits of one or two weeks would "become the norm". | |
This survey does not measure that, but it does show that access is becoming a problem for a growing minority. | |
As well as 11% not being able to make an appointment, 8% of those getting an appointment felt it was at an inconvenient time. | |
GPs argue the problem is caused by rising demands not being matched with by a corresponding rise in resources. | |
The number of annual consultations carried out by general practice has risen by 40 million since 2008, hitting 340 million at the last count. | |
Meanwhile, figures from the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) show the amount spent of practices has fallen by £400m in real terms over the last three years. | |
In 2012-13, £8.5bn was invested in general practice, when everything from spending on pay, IT, tests and drugs was taken into account, the RCGP research found. | |
That compared with £8.3bn in 2009-10, which is the equivalent of £8.9bn in 2012-13 prices. | |
'Majority positive' | |
The Department of Health has already recognised access to GPs is an issue. | |
It has launched a £50m Challenge Fund to extend opening hours and make greater use of technologies such as Skype and email. | |
More than 1,100 practices - one in eight of those in England - have signed up. | |
Dr David Geddes, from NHS England, said: "Overall, these results show that the majority of patients are positive about their GP services, which is testament to the hard work of GPs and their staff. | |
"But we need to recognise the continuing trend in what patients are telling us about access to services." | |
However, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham warned: "It is getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment under David Cameron. | |
"The next Labour Government will invest £100m to help patients to get appointments within 48 hours or on the same day for those who need it." |