GP leaders have reacted in dismay to a Scottish parliamentary report pressing for extended opening hours for practices. Scottish parliamentarians said they were calling for a “radical revision” of primary care – but their proposals reopened the long-running controversy from the last decade about claims that practice opening times are unfriendly for patients. The report…

Doctors are facing a wave of complaints coming in from patients who are frustrated about treatment and diagnostic delays during the pandemic, a survey has revealed. The Medical Defence Union (MDU) and GPonline found that two thirds of the 1,203 respondents (67%) to a questionnaire said they feared facing a complaint related to the pandemic.…

The UK has achieved 15 million first dose vaccinations, it has been announced – with 25 million more to be achieved by the end of April. There was widespread praise for the NHS and for GP practices as the programme of vaccinating over-65s begins today. GP leaders, however, warned of the impact of pressure to…

Sweeping changes to the NHS were due to be announced today – with the practice-led clinical commissioning groups being abolished. Doctors’ leaders, who welcome many aspects of the changes, called for caution as exhausted health workers come to terms with the legacy of the pandemic. The government is to seek to take back control over…

Remote GP consultations during the first COVID-19 lockdown have been deemed a success – but may need to change in a post-pandemic environment, according to a new study. Researchers from the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) found 90% of GP consultations were via…

The government is set to press on with controversial and wide-ranging reforms of primary care, it has been reported. The proposals, expected to be published later this month, would see the abolition of clinical commissioning groups and their replacement by Integrated Care Systems, covering wide geographical areas. The new systems will have a role similar…

Practices could charge up to £30 a time to issue patients with vaccine certificates to enable international travel, it was reported today. The certificates would not have the status of “vaccine passports” as they cannot guarantee immunity, a government minister. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said patients could ask their practice for written proof of vaccination.…