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Statement on ‘New Deal for GPs’ speech 2015

PRESS STATEMENT FROM LONDONWIDE LMCs

19 June 2015

Statement on ‘New Deal for GPs’ speech 2015

 

Written statement on the Jeremy Hunt’s ‘New Deal for GPs’ speech from Dr Michelle Drage, CEO of Londonwide LMCs:

Next day appointments, named GPs and seven day access are great ideas but alone will not deliver improved patient care. Another 5,000 GPs over five years will just about keep pace with current demand.

To be meaningful and have an impact, finance must first be made available up-front to allow GPs to manage existing workload. A recruitment campaign and targeted funding may help in part, but GPs are frustrated by increasing administrative burdens which limit and reduce their clinical time with patients. Our recent survey of London GPs shows significant numbers of practices anticipate early retirement of key staff within the next three years.

Each year in London the equivalent of fewer than 5,000 GPs handle over 50 million consultations and we need over 1.5 million more GP hours to deal with current demand. The government needs to properly fund existing services, cut red tape and manage patient expectation before pushing GPs to deliver even more with less. 

The biggest challenge GPs and their teams in London face is declining morale resulting from increasing workload not matched by increases in workforce. We have seen massively increased demand at the doors of all our general practices as community, social and mental health services which used to support GPs have been dramatically reduced, and as we try to handle all the multiple conditions that accompany our diverse, often deprived, highly mobile and ageing society in the face of a diminishing workforce.

 

Ends

                                                                                                                                  

Notes to editors: 

1. For further information please contact Alex Orton, Londonwide LMCs Media Manager: 020 3818 6239 / 07768 139 704 / alex.orton@lmc.org.uk
2. Londonwide LMCs is the only independent body in London representing over 7,000 GPs and over 1400 Practice Managers and the wider practice team across London.
3. Local medical committees are the statutory body representing GPs and practices; every London borough has a local medical committee, supported by Medical Directors working for the umbrella organisation (Londonwide LMCs) covering NW, NCE and South London.
4. Further information on Londonwide LMCs can be found on our website lmc.org.uk ; via Twitter @londonwidelmcs ; or on our campaigning website www.GPResilience.org.uk.

Last updated : 19 Jun 2015

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