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Kettering GP 'breaches' NHS contract over new patient ban | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A doctor who stopped taking on new patients because of "safety" concerns is keeping the list closed despite it being a breach of his NHS contract. | A doctor who stopped taking on new patients because of "safety" concerns is keeping the list closed despite it being a breach of his NHS contract. |
Dr Hadrian Moss, of Dryland Surgery, Kettering, closed the list three weeks ago because of GP shortages. | Dr Hadrian Moss, of Dryland Surgery, Kettering, closed the list three weeks ago because of GP shortages. |
He followed British Medical Association (BMA) guidelines but NHS England said the move was not acceptable. | He followed British Medical Association (BMA) guidelines but NHS England said the move was not acceptable. |
Dr Moss said "safety and quality of service" at his practice would suffer if he took on more patients. | Dr Moss said "safety and quality of service" at his practice would suffer if he took on more patients. |
'Huge pressure' | |
Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the GP committee at the BMA, said the organisation "stands by" its guidance, issued in January after legal advice. | Dr Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the GP committee at the BMA, said the organisation "stands by" its guidance, issued in January after legal advice. |
He said practices nationally were struggling to recruit new GPs and those "left behind" were under "huge pressure". | He said practices nationally were struggling to recruit new GPs and those "left behind" were under "huge pressure". |
BMA guidelines suggest doctors can close their lists if they feel taking on more would affect the quality of care for patients. | BMA guidelines suggest doctors can close their lists if they feel taking on more would affect the quality of care for patients. |
"NHS England should work to solve the recruitment problem rather than questioning practices trying to deliver services," said Dr Vautrey. | "NHS England should work to solve the recruitment problem rather than questioning practices trying to deliver services," said Dr Vautrey. |
NHS England said contractual arrangements do not allow GPs to informally close their lists to new patients. | NHS England said contractual arrangements do not allow GPs to informally close their lists to new patients. |
A spokesman said doctors would have to apply to NHS England for permission. | A spokesman said doctors would have to apply to NHS England for permission. |
However, Dr Moss said: "They may bully us into reopening [the list], which would endanger patient safety." | |
Dryland Surgery's senior partner retired at the beginning of the year, reducing it to a five-partner practice. | Dryland Surgery's senior partner retired at the beginning of the year, reducing it to a five-partner practice. |
It meant the number of patients allocated to each doctor increased from 2,090 to 2,500. | It meant the number of patients allocated to each doctor increased from 2,090 to 2,500. |
GP Magazine figures show the average list size nationally is 1,600 to 1,800 patients per GP. In Northamptonshire, the ratio is between 1,900 and 2,200. | |
Dr Moss, who has worked at the surgery for 25 years, said despite trying to recruit a new GP, no applicants had come forward. | |
Mark Simmonds, from Healthwatch Northamptonshire, said he was "concerned" the closure of patient lists might "increase the pressure on hospitals". | Mark Simmonds, from Healthwatch Northamptonshire, said he was "concerned" the closure of patient lists might "increase the pressure on hospitals". |
He said a Healthwatch study showed one in five people in the county went to A&E because a GP appointment was not available. | |
On Monday, Northampton Hospital's A&E department declared an "internal incident" as it has been running at nearly double its patient capacity. | On Monday, Northampton Hospital's A&E department declared an "internal incident" as it has been running at nearly double its patient capacity. |
Hospital management said patients had faced a three-hour wait. | Hospital management said patients had faced a three-hour wait. |