WORKLOAD
Copy of letter sent to all PCT Chief Executives in North Staffordshire. (Dec 2002)
The committee has been concerned for some time over the excessive workload experienced by local General Practitioners. We are concerned that list sizes in North Staffordshire have been above average for many years and the situation is poised to get worse rather than better. We have one of the lowest ratios of GPs per 100,000 population in the country.
We have recently taken advice of the defence organisations over the increasing workload and the increasing number of allocations in the area. We have been advised to formally write to you with our concerns.
We are concerned that this crisis means that:
1) General Practice will no longer be able to provide very high quality medical service
2) General Practice will not be able to achieve DoH targets on access to primary care
3) General Practice will not be able to implement National Service Frameworks
4) Chronic disease management will suffer in order to maintain an acute service.
5) There will be an adverse effect on clinical governance issues and an increased risk of mistakes being made.
6) There will be increased stress and ill health both in the GP workforce and their staff, leading to early retirements and exacerbation of the problem.
7) Moral among GPs is extremely low.
The committee also feels that PCTs could help improve moral among GPs by:
i) Being open about the problems faced by the health service and by stating publicly that certain government targets relating to health care cannot be achieved in the foreseeable future. We particularly have in mind, 48-hour access and NSF targets.
ii) Supporting General Practice by implementing government policy designed to help the profession, i.e. the provision of a first class occupational health service, provision of secure facilities for the care of “violent” patients
iii) By investing in Primary Care, e.g.
(1) the resourcing of pro-active care for patients in Nursing Homes:
(2) adequately resourcing care of asylum seekers
(3) resourcing day-time triage
(4) ensuring that any impact of “intermediate care” on primary care is appropriate and adequately resourced
(5) forming and resourcing a “locum bank”.
(6) increased investment in practice staff.
(7) Support for the implementation of “visiting” guidelines
iv) By being sensitive to the workload issues in General Practice.
Yours sincerely