GPs 'under so much pressure' - work-to-rule doctor

Dr Abbie Brooks says patients should expect doctors caring for them to be "on the ball"

Trying to provide a good service for patients is like "trudging through mud" due to a lack of funding, a GP in York has said.

Dr Abbie Brooks, a GP Partner at Park View Surgery, said she was taking part in an ongoing British Medical Association (BMA) work-to-rule as part of a dispute with the government over the issue.

She said daily appointments at her practice had been cut from 40 to 25 in a bid to highlight how stretched budgets had become, adding that patients wanted doctors who were "fresh" and "on the ball".

In a statement, NHS England said: "Changes have been introduced such as uplifting the practice contract by 6%, but general practice remains under huge pressure with record demand."

Members of the BMA began the action last month, with the union describing it as a "slow burn" policy to force the government into extra investment to transform general practice.

Dr Brooks said: "There are lots of reasons why GP practices are under so much pressure - long delays for tests and clinic appointments, you name it."

Cutting the number of appointments to 25 a day "feels like a safe, high quality number", she said.

"You don't want to be the 60th person the doctor has spoken to that day. Patients need a fresh doctor who's on the ball."

The work-to-rule was launched by the British Medical Association in August

Dr Brooks said all GP practices were trying to provide a good service for patients, but were restricted because the NHS did not pay doctors for routine services such as blood tests, dressings and stitch removal.

“Blood taking is a hot topic, but it’s really important patients know that for a long time we haven’t been funded to provide that service, we’ve been doing it for free. We pay for the nurses and the equipment," she said.

"If we want to save the future of general practice, we should be funded for every service, so we don’t collapse," Dr Brooks added.

Over the next few months, as part of the work-to-rule, some practices are expected to give notice on providing "enhanced services" such as blood tests, ECGs, coils, and stitch removal.

Instead, patients will be sent to community blood clinics, hospitals or sexual health centres.

Patient Helen Ripley says she "can't remember" the last time she easily got an appointment

Patient Helen Ripley, from York, who needs regular blood tests and GP appointments, said she found it "impossible to book in with a doctor".

However, she added that she did recognise how hard the staff at her local surgery worked.

"I hadn't realised they don't get paid for some services, I appreciate they've got more on their plate," Ms Ripley said.

"I do think there should be more appointments, though. I can't remember the last time I found it easy getting an appointment."

Ms Ripley said that while she did not mind going to the blood test service at the York Community Stadium at Monks Cross, "for those who are infirm and need care for a dressing, they should be able to get it done at their local surgery".

She added that she thought "the GPs should get the money they’re entitled to".

In its statement, NHS England said it was "vital that patients continue to come forward for care in the usual way - services are still running".

GPs taking part in the BMA work-to-rule said they would continue until there was more money to run "safe and sustainable" surgeries, but added that patient safety would always remain a top priority.

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