GP availability

Latest reports from both the Nuffield Trust and Healthwatch England reveal what we've all known for some time-the unacceptable waiting times to see GPs and the uneven-ness of waiting times and availability across the country. Much of this is due to lack of GPs with fewer going into the profession and many current ones either retiring or cutting back their hours. Apparently less than two thirds of GPs now work full time. I appreciate that their job might be stressful but surely they can only afford to retire early or drop hours because they are also so well paid (be interesting to see how many Practice Nurses took early retirement or dropped hours in comparison). About time the government began to deal with this issue that is affecting so many.

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Originally Posted by Omegstrat6

Latest reports from both the Nuffield Trust and Healthwatch England reveal what we've all known for some time-the unacceptable waiting times to see GPs and the uneven-ness of waiting times and availability across the country. Much of this is due to lack of GPs with fewer going into the profession and many current ones either retiring or cutting back their hours. Apparently less than two thirds of GPs now work full time. I appreciate that their job might be stressful but surely they can only afford to retire early or drop hours because they are also so well paid (be interesting to see how many Practice Nurses took early retirement or dropped hours in comparison). About time the government began to deal with this issue that is affecting so many.

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Complete and utter w ankers the lot of them! With our surgery you are grilled about why you want to see a GP and if in the receptionist view ( not medically trained ) you are worthy to see a GP you could face a wait of two weeks. When you then see the GP it's like entering a COVID ward as they are all masked up with aprons even though teachers etc have to face hundreds of kids without masks!

A complete and utter shambles! We all know the NHS will finish as a freebie in the not to distant future and the pension age will increase again for 68 to 78! Free prescriptions and bus passes will be the next to go! Someone has to pay for all these illegal dinghies arriving and then the small matter of the flights to Rwanda!. You can't make it up! XD

Sunak says don't worry and keep the faith!

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Originally Posted by Omegstrat6

Latest reports from both the Nuffield Trust and Healthwatch England reveal what we've all known for some time-the unacceptable waiting times to see GPs and the uneven-ness of waiting times and availability across the country. Much of this is due to lack of GPs with fewer going into the profession and many current ones either retiring or cutting back their hours. Apparently less than two thirds of GPs now work full time. I appreciate that their job might be stressful but surely they can only afford to retire early or drop hours because they are also so well paid (be interesting to see how many Practice Nurses took early retirement or dropped hours in comparison). About time the government began to deal with this issue that is affecting so many.

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In 2015, the Tory Government said they would train and hire 5000 new GPs by 2020 (I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was an election pledge in that years GE)

By 2020, GP numbers did not increase by 5000, but the 2015 number had fallen by 4.5%.

The vast majority of GPs are well into their 50s, I've read somewhere that only 1% of GPs are aged 30 or under. Health funding cuts by the Tories have exasperated the situation. An ageing workforce, who probably didn't want to be around ill people during the pandemic too. And if you speak to a GP or listen to their Union reps, they say they are burned out and overworked.

I can only see this issue getting worse.

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Originally Posted by WBA123

In 2015, the Tory Government said they would train and hire 5000 new GPs by 2020 (I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was an election pledge in that years GE)

By 2020, GP numbers did not increase by 5000, but the 2015 number had fallen by 4.5%.

The vast majority of GPs are well into their 50s, I've read somewhere that only 1% of GPs are aged 30 or under. Health funding cuts by the Tories have exasperated the situation. An ageing workforce, who probably didn't want to be around ill people during the pandemic too. And if you speak to a GP or listen to their Union reps, they say they are burned out and overworked.

I can only see this issue getting worse.

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By the way, in 2020 the Tories said they were aiming for 6000 new GPs by 2024.

Let's see how this one ends up. I don't hold out much hope considering they also said we would have an oven ready Brexit deal, 40 new hospitals and that there were no parties during lockdown.

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Originally Posted by WBA123

In 2015, the Tory Government said they would train and hire 5000 new GPs by 2020 (I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was an election pledge in that years GE)

By 2020, GP numbers did not increase by 5000, but the 2015 number had fallen by 4.5%.

The vast majority of GPs are well into their 50s, I've read somewhere that only 1% of GPs are aged 30 or under. Health funding cuts by the Tories have exasperated the situation. An ageing workforce, who probably didn't want to be around ill people during the pandemic too. And if you speak to a GP or listen to their Union reps, they say they are burned out and overworked.

I can only see this issue getting worse.

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I get where you are coming from but figures are mildly misleading. It takes 10 years to become a GP post college. 5 years med school, 2 Foundation years and then 3 years GP trainee scheme. Lots take a year out either before or after medical school so I would expect only 1% being under thirty.

There has been a shift in healthcare strategy since 2015 with more practices recruiting Physician Associates and Nurse Practitioners. Very capable of diagnosis but often easier to recruit.

I’m not mad on the Tories given behavioural issues but the NHS is a mess regardless of who is in charge. It is purely too big and complicated to be fully nationalised in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by baggiematt

I get where you are coming from but figures are mildly misleading. It takes 10 years to become a GP post college. 5 years med school, 2 Foundation years and then 3 years GP trainee scheme. Lots take a year out either before or after medical school so I would expect only 1% being under thirty.

There has been a shift in healthcare strategy since 2015 with more practices recruiting Physician Associates and Nurse Practitioners. Very capable of diagnosis but often easier to recruit.

I’m not mad on the Tories given behavioural issues but the NHS is a mess regardless of who is in charge. It is purely too big and complicated to be fully nationalised in my opinion.

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I take the 1% under 30, would be interesting to know how many under 35 or 40 though..

But the main thing is, we had record low waiting lists and patient satisfaction levels in 2010. So what changed?

This is a crisis that’s been long in the making.

Considering the time it takes to go from university up until becoming a GP it’s just stupid to lay all of this at the door of the Tory Party.

Our local GP’s in their 50’s were bailing out like rats from a sinking ship during Covid, it was pathetic to watch.

It should’ve been stopped considering the international plight taking place.

I had a full blood test last week and received a message telling me I needed to arrange a phone appointment with my GP to discuss.

Popped in today to collect a prescription and thought I’d book my appointment slot.

I was then informed that Dr Al was “off for a few weeks” so it’d be 17th of June at the earliest before I could see him!!!

She was not impressed when I replied.....”I could be dead by then”.

Abysmal levels of GP service yet our practice nurses have been fantastic over the last 2 1/2 years.

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Originally Posted by WBA123

I take the 1% under 30, would be interesting to know how many under 35 or 40 though..

But the main thing is, we had record low waiting lists and patient satisfaction levels in 2010. So what changed?

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It’s underfunded 123. Trouble is, can the country afford the service that was previously available? Gross debt at £2,200 billion, you would expect that to impact govt spend no matter who is in charge.

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Originally Posted by WBA123

In 2015, the Tory Government said they would train and hire 5000 new GPs by 2020 (I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was an election pledge in that years GE)

By 2020, GP numbers did not increase by 5000, but the 2015 number had fallen by 4.5%.

The vast majority of GPs are well into their 50s, I've read somewhere that only 1% of GPs are aged 30 or under. Health funding cuts by the Tories have exasperated the situation. An ageing workforce, who probably didn't want to be around ill people during the pandemic too. And if you speak to a GP or listen to their Union reps, they say they are burned out and overworked.

I can only see this issue getting worse.

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I agree! University Students who study medicine on a five year course can’t make ends meet! Even a student grant plus allowance falls short of the funds needed! Great incentive of a s hit government to recruit future skilled medical staff!

In Scotland it’s free to obtain a good degree so where does the money go outside of Scotland?

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Originally Posted by baggieal

I agree! University Students who study medicine on a five year course can’t make ends meet! Even a student grant plus allowance falls short of the funds needed! Great incentive of a s hit government to recruit future skilled medical staff!

In Scotland it’s free to obtain a good degree so where does the money go outside of Scotland?

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Yeah.......and remember who funds Scotland, it’s US Al, with the added subsidy we have the pay the Scots.

Left to their own resources they’d be on the bones of their a r s e.

The sooner Scotland f u c k s off and becomes independent the better.

Wee Krankie couldn’t manage a whelk stall let alone a county that had to survive on its own.