GP union calls for GPs to have similar healthcare to Sweden

Amid claims some GPs carry out as many as 70 consultations a day, the GPs’ union is calling for a cap on the number of consultations which will allow doctors to turn patients away. They went on to say the safety of patients and the ‘sanity’ of doctors is at risk with the high number of consultations having to be carried out.

The British Medical Association’s Dr Satish Narang, said at the BMA conference that consultation times in Sweden typically last 30 minutes, enabling doctors to spend more time with patients. He went on to say that over-stretched doctors in the UK risked misdiagnosing patients due to the pressure they were under and the short time allowed for consultations.

Dr Narang said “The day has limited hours and only so much can be managed without compromising safety.

“For the sake of quality and safety of patient care and the sanity of its troops, we urge the BMA to take a fresh approach by defining and agreeing what is a safe workload, and this should put a stop to more patients being dumped on practices due to closure of other practices in the area.”

Chief executive of the Patients’ Association Rachel Power, said “That general practice is under immense pressure is beyond doubt, but imposing a crude, fixed cap on the number of appointments available to patients surely isn’t the answer.”

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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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