Practice activity up on pre-pandemic period

In April, practices in England delivered 30.5 million appointments, according to NHS England. This was six million more than in April 2019. The organisation reported that 98% of practices in England have now successfully upgraded their phone services, putting an end to the ‘engaged’ signal for most patients. In April, two thirds of appointments (nearly 20 million) took place in person.

The NHS National Director for Primary Care, Dr Amanda Doyle, said: “We know there is more to do to make it easier for patients to access GP services and that’s why, building on the successes so far of the primary care access recovery plan, we continue to expand pharmacy services and offer patients more choice in how they access care.”

Drive to complete Covid boosters

Half of England’s over-75s have yet to have their spring Covid booster vaccine and there are only a few weeks to go as the programme finishes at the end of June. So far, more than 3.6 million people have been vaccinated, including two-thirds of the residents of care homes.

NHS organisations say Covid remains a real threat. The UK Health Security Agency said in mid-May that rates of infection seem to be increasing, based on most indicators, and hospitals still regularly admit infected patients. The virus is affecting the over-85s worst, with dozens needing hospital treatment.

GPs set out hopes for next Government

Warning against parties making unrealistic promises, GP leaders have set out their hopes for practices after the general election.

Royal College of GPs Chair, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, said: “Everyone should be able to see a GP when they need to but too many patients are facing untenable and totally unacceptable waits, and it’s our hard-pressed GPs and their teams who are taking the blame. Without immediate action, the future of general practice is at risk. For whoever forms the next government this must be a ‘day one’ issue.”

The BMA also set out its proposals, calling for an end to restrictions in the GP contract that prevent practices using funding to hire more doctors. The BMA also wants “urgent action” to end the recruitment and expansion of physician associate roles.

Scots to have conversation about future of general practice

The Scottish Government has promised a “national conversation” over the next year about the future of general practice. They particularly want to discuss maximising access and improving prevention, early intervention and the quality of services.

Dr Chris Provan, Chair of the Royal College of GPs in Scotland, said: “General practice in Scotland is in crisis. We have a shrinking GP workforce trying to deal with increasing demand for healthcare. Practice premises and IT infrastructure are not fit for purpose.  Without a major shift to prioritise primary care in the Scottish Government’s long-term strategy, policy planning, and resource allocation, this vision will not be achieved.”

Conservatives pledge new surgery buildings

A new Conservative Government would focus on modernising GP surgeries, the party has announced. The Conservatives want to build 100 new surgeries and modernise another 150. The party has promised £1 billion to its new programme for general practice and community health, partly funded by a levy on new housing developments. The party says it wants to divert 20 million appointments from practices to pharmacies, expanding Pharmacy First.

NHS Confederation Chief Executive Matthew Taylor said: “Overall, this is the right direction of travel, but it requires more support and investment for primary care, community and social care services – and successive governments have rarely delivered on this ambition.”

Hospital IT failures hit practices

The BBC has found that patients are facing harm because of regular IT failures that affect communication with practices. 50% of NHS trusts reported having experienced issues of potential patient harm. Its Freedom of Information request found that at least 200,000 letters have gone astray because of problems. 116 NHS trusts responded. Among the responses, it was revealed that 30,000 letters to practices from emergency departments in Surrey went astray at the beginning of the year.

This week a ransomware attack hit London hospitals and practices in six London boroughs.

Royal College of GPs Chair, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, said: “GPs will be deeply concerned by the scale of the issue revealed here, especially when a significant number of Trusts are reporting incidents of potential harm as a result. The health and wellbeing of our patients is our number one priority, and it is distressing to think their care is being undermined by issues with IT infrastructure.”