General practice faces the “real threat” of becoming “like dentistry”

As reported by the Daily Mail, the chairman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGPs) has warned of the risks facing general practice

The fear is that pressures, fuelled by a staffing crisis, will push GPs out of the health service and into private. 

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of RCGPs, said the NHS needs a “significant” cash injection and is at risk of becoming difficult to access “like dentistry” or the “very worst of the US healthcare system”.

The comments come amid calls for fewer working hours for GPs.

Avon Local Medical Committee (LMC) will table a motion next month and doctors will vote over changing GPs daily work schedule to a 9 to 5.

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the over-60s, described the proposals as “unacceptable”.

“We hear every day from patients who are struggling to see their GP or can only secure and appointment for a few weeks’ time.

“Further reducing access in this way will drive more patients to A&E, which are already overstretched, or leave people without the care they need.”

Complaints over working hours has driven family doctors out of the profession. Former chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee, Dr Richard Vautrey, believes reducing hours could help encourage retention.

“What we really need is more GPs in order to improve patient access” Dr Vautery concluded.

Dr Rachel Ward, of the Rebuild General Practice campaign, commented “GP workload is at an unmanageable and unsafe level. 

“GPs and patients want the same thing – to give and receive the best healthcare – and to do that we need more GPs so we have more time to care.”