A crisis in General Practice

The job has become much busier, with less time to spend with each patient due to the sheer volume of people needing care. We always have full lists, and with fewer GPs to share the load, the pressure is immense. It’s not just about seeing patients; the administrative work has also grown significantly. Referring patients to services has become increasingly difficult, with tighter restrictions and longer waiting lists.

Increased demand and expectations

Demand has grown substantially, with the public seeking more help for a variety of issues, including physical and mental health. People are more aware of what can be done for their health, but delivering on these expectations is challenging. The gap between what patients expect and what we can provide is widening.

Unsustainable workload

The current level of workload is unsustainable. We desperately need more GPs. While we’ve had help from other clinicians, it’s not the same as having more GPs. The frustration of not being able to deliver the level of care we believe patients deserve is disheartening. We’re fighting for resources and services that were once readily available, and the quality of healthcare we provide has diminished.

Financial and staffing challenges

Financial pressures are significant. We’re competing with jobs elsewhere and in secondary care, which offer better pay and employment packages. This makes it difficult to retain skilled staff, including practice nurses, healthcare assistants, and admin staff. Larger organisations can offer perks that we cannot, despite being part of the NHS. This disparity affects our ability to provide competitive employment conditions.

Emotional impact on staff

The emotional toll on staff is considerable. Many colleagues have retired early due to the stress, taking with them invaluable experience and expertise. The loss of seasoned professionals who can manage patients efficiently and safely is a significant blow. Retaining GPs and encouraging their retention is crucial. We need to make the profession more attractive and less stressful, especially for those nearing the end of their careers.

Lack of support from Health Boards

We feel unsupported by the Health Boards. The lack of available services and the bureaucratic hurdles we face in referring patients are frustrating. Patients are not getting the care they need, and much of the work is being pushed back to GPs, who lack the capacity to handle it safely.

In conclusion

The BMA Wales Cymru’s Save Our Surgeries campaign highlights the urgent need for systemic changes to support us in General Practice and ensure the sustainability of our healthcare services. Attracting retired doctors back into the workforce could be a potential solution to help rebuild the knowledge base as younger doctors come through the system, but it would require significant financial incentives and flexible, part-time opportunities, as the current environment is far from appealing for returning professionals.

These issues not only hinder the ability of GPs to provide quality care but also contribute to the growing dissatisfaction and burnout among healthcare professionals.

To truly save our surgeries, we must address these systemic problems and create a supportive, efficient, and safe working environment for all GPs.

Rebekah Price is a GP at Newtown Medical Practice, Powys