GP surgeries ‘close to breaking point’

This was the key finding from a British Medical Association survey to which more than 15,500 UK GPs responded, and shows how practices are “close to breaking point”.

Among the findinhs are:

94% do not want their practices to open seven days a week.

8% feel the standard 10-minute consultation is adequate.

56% reported working out-of-hours services makes them feel that, at times, their workload is having a detrimental effect on the care they provide.

21% suggesting they could provide extended hours by working in networks with other GPs through shared facilities.

67% felt there should be longer consultations for certain groups of patients, including those with long-term conditions.

25% believe all patients need more time.

93% said their heavy workload has negatively impacted on the quality of patient services.

68% said they believe it is better to provide longer consultations of greater quality, even if it means waiting longer to see a GP for a routine appointment.

What do you think of the findings? How do you think your GP rates? Let us know ...