Extra work and fewer resources stressing GPs

GENERAL practitioners say their workload has increased so much in the past five years that it impinges on their quality of life.

One of the largest ever surveys of GPs across the UK showed that 92 per cent believed their workload had increased in the past five years, while 87 per cent said the complexity of their consultations had also gone up.

More than a quarter told the survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) their workload impinged on their quality of life to a great extent, and another 53 per cent said it impinged to some extent.

One in seven GPs are considering a career change and more than a quarter would like to retire in the next five years.

Dr Dean Marshall, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish committee, said morale among GPs was low and would be likely to get worse in the coming years, due to increased workload and fewer resources.

He said: “GPs were given a new contract in 2004 because of this very problem and what’s happened is we have gone back to where we started, with GPs struggling to cope.

“A significant amount of work is shoved out to GPs without any transfer of resources. With funding cuts year-on-year, that’s fewer resources and more work, and we don’t have the ability to employ more people.”

The survey, which had the biggest response rate ever for the BMA at 40 per cent of all GPs, found that a majority would continue to recommend a career in medicine and remained satisfied with their jobs, despite the pressure.

Dr Marshall said that was the basis for much of the frustration – a passion for the job, but with limited resources to carry it out.He said: “I think it’s the best job in the world, but the reality is in the current climate, the resources are preventing us doing our jobs properly.

“We are completely committed to the job. But GPs are feeling frustration. This is only the beginning.”

Results from English GPs found serious concerns and opposition to proposals for overhauling the NHS south of the Border.

Seven out of ten GPs in England are concerned about conflicts of interest resulting from the reforms, while three quarters of family doctors do not agree with proposals to link practice income to the performance of its commissioning group.

Some 68 per cent are concerned about the impact the Health and Social Care Bill could have on the patient-doctor relationship, and 69 per cent are worried about their proposed role as both the commissioners and providers of care.

Dr Marshall said while the changes did not affect Scottish GPs and were generally in line with Scottish Government thinking on the NHS, the power being offered to GPs in England was appealing.

He said: “There is a very clear view in Scotland that we are glad we are not getting the changes of England. But our frustration here is that we have no ability to influence anything as GPs.

“We are controled completely by managers. In England, depending on who you believe, GPs are about to be handed the reins of power.

“That’s one thing the Scottish Government should look at: that we have no influence of what services we deliver and what resources hospitals provide.”

A postal questionnaire was sent to 46,700 GPs in April and 18,757 responded in the subsequent two months.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “While this survey relates to the UK as a whole, we recognise the excellent job carried out by GPs in Scotland and are doing everything we can to support the NHS and those who work in it.

“Despite swingeing Westminster- imposed budget cuts, we have fulfilled our commitment to pass on the health Barnett consequentials to the NHS in Scotland in full.

“Over the next three years, health board budgets will rise in real terms, reflecting our commitment to frontline services.”