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NEWS: GPs ready for return to face to face consultations

Most GPs are keen to return to seeing more patients face to face, according to the profession’s leader.

Many doctors feel like they are working in a “call centre” because about half of consultations are now by telephone, according to Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs. Professor Marshall speaks to The Guardian today following last week’s data showing a slight decline in recorded practice consultations. The college says the data fails to reflect the massive effort by practices to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Professor Marshall said: “This way of working has been frustrating for some GPs, particularly when most consultations were being delivered remotely, who have felt like they’ve been delivering care via a call centre, which isn’t the job they signed up for.Remote consultations have advantages, particularly in terms of access and convenience for patients. But we know that patients prefer to see their GP face to face. Remote working has been challenging for many GPs, particularly when delivering care to patients with complex health needs. It can also make it harder to pick up on soft cues, which can be helpful for making diagnoses.”

The paper quotes research from the King’s Fund showing that GP trainees do not support continued use of remote appointments, preferring to see patients in person. A study of 810 trainees found a lack of enthusiasm for remote working and working from home. 74% said they would want to work no more than two sessions a week from home.

GP trainee Dr Aamena Bharmal, who undertook the survey for the King’s Fund, said: “Working from home is not why I want to be a GP. I want to be a GP that is providing healthcare for my local community and working with a team to do that in the best possible way. Primary care is about giving the right care for their local population and offering remote consultation for some patients is the right thing – but that is not the case for all.”

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