BMA poll suggests heavy GP workload is damaging patient care

The survey of over 15,000 UK GPs conducted by the British Medical Association concluded that 93% of those surveyed thought that their workload impacted negatively on the quality of care.

Less than one in ten believed that the standard consultation time of ten minutes for each patient was adequate, and half thought that practices should offer extended opening.

The survey is the latest indication of the growing pressure that is being faced by GPs in the UK. An estimated one million patients are seen each day, which is an increase from 850,000 five years ago.

The chair of the BMA GP committee Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said “GPs want to provide better services and spend more time with their patients, especially the increasing number of older people who often have a range of multiple health needs that require intensive, coordinated care.

“Many GPs do not feel they have enough time to spend with their patients and that these intense pressures are beginning to damage local services.”

Dr Maureen Baker, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said “As our population ages, GPs are managing diseases and conditions that even a decade ago would have been automatically referred to hospital consultants, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet patients’ needs within the confines of the traditional 10 minute consultation.

“It is important that patients are able to see a GP when they need one – and that patients with complex and multiple illnesses are given the time that they need – but hard pressed family doctors are already working record hours to try and meet demand.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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