Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, General Practice had to adapt virtually overnight to ensure patient services could continue safely. Despite the restrictions imposed, GP surgeries have provided more appointments, face-to-face and virtually, for patients nationally this past year than in the equivalent period beforehand. In addition to their existing workload, GPs have administered millions of vaccinations.
GPs have had to adopt a hybrid model of consultation - combining face-to-face appointments with telephone consultations. Dr Richard Wood, CEO of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Local Medical Committees, recently provided me with a local update which shows that 56% of current general practice appointments are face-to-face, with 45% booked and attended on the same day. There have certainly been benefits from this hybrid approach. Many patients favour telephone consultations as they allow people to get on with their day. Telephone consultations take on average eight minutes, whereas the average face-to-face consultation for the same problem takes fourteen minutes. This has improved access and patient safety during a time of unprecedented demand.
I’m aware that some hospital departments, such as routine ENT and cataracts clinics, remained closed in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Much of the demand for primary care has been to relieve the capacity issues from hospitals which has been met by GPs. Patients’ ability to access primary care services is not what it should be and I understand the frustration of constituents who have not been able to access appropriate care when they need it. I know the Care Quality Commission have recorded a rising number of concerns and complaints surrounding appointment availability, waiting times, and the ability to see a GP face-to-face. Ensuring good access to GPs has been a challenging issue for many years and has unfortunately only been exacerbated during the pandemic.
I therefore welcome that the Government has announced a plan for improving access for patients and supporting GPs, not just for this winter but over the years to come. Between November and March, a new £250 million Winter Access Fund will help to improve appointment availability and increase the number of face-to-face consultations. It will also help to improve access to urgent, same day primary care; increase overall capacity; and encourage good practice. It is worth remembering that prior to the pandemic, winter seasonal flu viruses have affected in-patient numbers, and unfortunately the cold weather does affect older, and more vulnerable people.
It is important that we continue to support General Practice teams to provide the best possible care as we recover from the pandemic. My fortnightly meetings with local public health officials will continue throughout the autumn and beyond. These provide a regular opportunity to examine local data and trends. I will continue to report back to my ministerial colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care to relay GP’s concerns, feedback, and suggestions where possible.
