Fears GP appointment changes could add 'pressure'

Dr Elpitha Bruce believed striking a balance between the needs of patients and staff was important

Doctors and patients have raised concerns about all GP practices in England being made to offer online booking systems.

As part of the move which was ordered by the government and started on Wednesday, surgeries will have to provide the service from 08:00 to 18:30 Monday to Friday.

GPs in Devon and Cornwall said the system could put extra pressure on staff while patient groups said there was a concern some people might not be able to access the system and potentially "left to die".

The government said the move was aimed at reducing the so-called "08:00 am scramble" to get appointments on the phone and to move health services into "the digital era".

Alongside requesting appointments, patients would also be able to ask questions, describe symptoms and request a call back.

The British Medical Association (BMA) had called for a halt to the rolling out of the plans due to concerns about potentially serious health problems could be missed by some GPs.

'Big concerns'

Dr Elpitha Bruce, a GP at the Adelaide Street Surgery in Plymouth, said it was important to find a balance between demand, meeting patients' needs and staff wellbeing.

She added: "It could put unnecessary extra pressure on already overworked staff that are doing their best."

Cornish-based GP Dr Hugh Savage, chairman of the Kernow Local Medical Committee, said access to services had always been the "biggest challenge".

He added online access was only meant to be for "routine problems", but felt the government had not put in the relevant safeguards to ensure this remained the case.

Dr Savage said: "That's where the big concerns have come in and that's why practices are thinking 'we're going to have to monitor this all day'."

Simon Culley from patients feedback group Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay said some people had issues booking GP appointments online.

Simon Culley from Healthwatch in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay said traditional appointment booking methods should be kept

Mr Culley said while an increase in online provision was a good move, it should be "an option for everybody rather than just a mandate for a few lucky people" and traditional booking services must be maintained.

"Many people are worried they could be left to die and that's so disheartening and heart-breaking to hear that from patients," he said.

Healthwatch Cornwall said a recent survey of more than 2,200 people showed 77% still preferred face-to-face services over online, which was the preferred choice of 7.2%.

Debbie Gilbert, the group's chief executive, said: "It shouldn't matter where you live, we all should have the same standardised level of care across Cornwall."

'Greater choice'

Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said the government wanted to make it easier for patients to access their GP practice.

He said the move on online appointment services would help deliver this.

Mr Kinnock said: "We are bringing our analogue health service into the digital era, giving patients greater choice and convenience.

"We've learned from GPs who are already offering this service and reaping the rewards."