GP Collective Action

Important Update for Our Patients – GP Collective Action

Dear Patients,

We want to address some recent media reports regarding GPs considering collective action. While it is true that GPs are taking steps to address current challenges, the specifics are crucial to understand.

Key Points:

GPs Are Here for You: We want to assure you that GPs are committed to your care and are not striking. General practice remains open, and we encourage you to contact us with any healthcare needs as usual. Depending on your symptoms, you may also be advised to contact NHS 111 or other local NHS services.

Changes in Our Practice: Due to increasing pressures and reduced funding, and with the support of the British Medical Association, we have been adjusting how we operate. As healthcare needs become more complex, we are committed to providing continuity of care and fair appointment times. This means longer appointments to ensure quality care for all patients.

Safe Working Guidelines: At Crouch Oak, we adopted the BMA Safe Working guidelines earlier this year due to the unmanageable workload affecting our ability to provide safe care. We cap appointments for each clinician per day, with an average appointment time of 15 minutes. This change is in line with efforts nationwide to protect both patients and practices.

Collaborative Efforts with Hospitals: To better manage our workload, we will be requesting that hospitals handle more of their own tasks, rather than passing them on to general practice. This will allow us to dedicate more time to you, our patients.

Reasons for Increased Pressure:

  • Aging Population: People are living longer, which leads to more patients with more medical problems and increased frailty.
  • Declining Public Health: Modern pressures make it harder for people to access healthy foods and engage in physical activity.
  • Growing Inequality: Increasing poverty creates barriers to good physical health.
  • Complex Care Requirements: GP teams are required to provide more complex care, including prescribing and monitoring complicated medications for specialist conditions.
  • Long Waiting Lists for Specialist Care: Hospitals and other services, such as mental health teams, have long waiting lists, so we continue to support patients who previously would have accessed specialist services.
  • Insufficient Funding: The funding awarded to practices has not kept pace with inflation or the increasingly complex care we provide.

Thank you for your understanding.  We are committed to providing the best possible care for our patients.

Dr Mary-Jo Sanchez, Dr Mohan Kanagasundaram, Dr N’Jaimeh Asamoah, Dr Maria Nyekiova, Dr Steven Bews and the Crouch Oak Practice Team

 

Published on 27 August 2024