Practices are struggling to recruit staff amid growing abuse from the public and the media over the difficulty in obtaining appointments, it has been reported. The growing crisis has led the British Medical Association to launch a survey of GPs about how they might respond. The media storm over allegations that practices are avoiding face…

Practices delivered three million more face to face appointments in August than a year earlier – representing the majority of appointments, according to new data. However, in a statistic that provided fuel to critics of the move to phone triage, the number of face to face appointments was also five million less than in August…

The first edition of the CQC (Care Quality Commission) Handbook [PLUS] is now available to download. This is a must-have document, packed with information and links to additional resources. It is THE ultimate guide to understanding the CQC and how your practice can be CQC compliant. The handbook covers: An overview of the CQC Registering…

The government was under growing pressure today to designate special fuel stations for key health workers – after most garages ran dry yesterday. One county council, Surrey, says it may declare an emergency and take its own steps to provide dedicated services for key workers. It came as reports grew of doctors and other staff…

Practices have been promised a new drive to cut red tape to help resolve the growing pressure for improved patient access to appointments. The promise proved a point of agreement between health secretary Sajid Javid and GP leaders after they met at the end of last week. The meeting followed a week during which the…

Social prescribing is unlikely to reduce health inequalities, according to a study published today. Researchers in Scotland completed a two-year evaluation of the Deep End Links Worker Programme (LWP), which was set up as part of a key health policy in primary care practices to reduce health inequalities. The Scottish Government is promoting social prescribing…

GP leaders have called on the government to step into defend practices after four staff were injured in an incident in Manchester. The British Medical Association warned of a “terrible trend of growing abuse, vitriol and violence” directed towards GPs and their staff. The incident came as the BMA announced it had achieved 10,000 signatures…