Fresh calls for the scrapping of mandatory vaccination have been made amid concerns that practice teams could be decimated because of the large numbers of unvaccinated staff. The Royal College of GPs joined others in calling for the policy to be axed amid concern that 10% of practice staff may not be vaccinated. Those opposed…

Practices have faced a huge increase in serious complaints in the last year – and also in praise, it has been revealed. The increase in complaints to the Care Quality Commission reflects the controversy about the switch to phone consultations. The Commission reported that 8,267 patients contacted it to lodge complaints about practices in the…

Practices led by ethnic minority GPs are not “operating on a level playing field,” inspectors admitted yesterday. The conclusion came after the publication by the Care Quality Commission of an investigation into claims that these practices face unfair discrimination. These practices are most likely to be operating in communities with high levels of deprivation and…

Practices risk losing staff because of the mandatory vaccination rules, GP leaders warned today. It came as one GP announced she is leaving practice because she has refused to undergo COVID vaccination.Dr Fui Mee Quek announced her plans as GP leaders warned that the impact on practices of mandatory vaccination rules is a “significant concern.”…

Many patients have found remote general practice consultations more convenient and easier than face to face meetings, according to a new study. Some patients have found themselves “empowered” to express themselves more clearly than they would in person, according to a University of Surrey study. Researchers from the University of Surrey, UK, collated previous findings…

Practices in a region of Scotland have been ordered to suspend all routine services and concentrate on the most serious cases. The “black alert” will remain in place in NHS Lanarkshire for up to four weeks, it was announced. Practices will focus on the most urgent and “time critical” care, the organisation said. It said…

GP locums are more likely to be young males and work in underperforming practices or in rural areas, according to a new study. Analysis by researchers at the University of Manchester found that although the proportion of locums has not changed significantly between 2017 and 2020 – at 3% – usage of locums varied significantly…