A tax loophole could be used to fund the training of more GPs, Labour has said as the party highlighted growing waits for appointments. The party stressed it wanted to recruit more doctors after medical organisations criticised an earlier version of its statement, alleging patients were being “denied” appointments. The party’s analysis found that in…

The NHS mid-life MOT could be moved on-line to help reduce pressure on practices, it was reported today. Under a pilot scheme being launched in Cornwall, patients get a kit to take a blood sample at home and visit a pharmacy for their blood pressure check. The remainder of the health check up would be…

Scotland may have lost the equivalent of one in 30 of its GPs in three years, according to a major new analysis. Public Health Scotland published the results of its primary care workforce survey, showing a reduction in whole time equivalent GPs from 3,613 to 3,494. The Royal College of GPs said the data was…

A controversial project aiming to give patients access to their GP records has been halted amid concerns that practices are not ready. The British Medical Association has been urging practices to opt out of the scheme and yesterday it announced that NHS England has agreed to delay its roll-out, due today. The BMA said many…

A controversial plan to publish practice waiting times gets under way today with headlines claiming it is a “naming and shaming” exercise. Last year proposals to “name and shame”, using the league tables, pushed GPs to vote in favour of some kind of industrial action. The tables will show that about 10% of the population…

GP leaders want to make the job “manageable, stimulating and fulfilling once again,” one of the profession’s most prominent doctors has stated. Speaking on the 70th anniversary of the Royal College of GPs, its outgoing chair Professor Martin Marshall told how its role had changed in the last few years – as the workload “crisis”…

A charity that supports UK Forces veterans is encouraging healthcare professionals in primary and secondary care to prescribe the employment support it provides. The Poppy Factory is hoping to generate more engagement from doctors following a positive evaluation of one of its employment programmes for ex-Forces patients. Between 2021 and 2022, nearly 200 ex-Forces patients…