It’s no secret that with better healthcare, living conditions and growing population, there has been a strain on the NHS due to the increase in necessary resources. As a result, GP’s are constantly busy and inundated with patients, making the practice change massively over the last 50 years.
These changes have been creeping in for some time, and as a result, GPs are busier, making mistakes more likely and making the requirement to have indemnity stronger. GPs have introduced services such as the Medical Defence Society to make things a little easier on practices – but there are more changes than just an increase in appointments and constant stress.
1948 saw the birth of the NHS, with everyone in the UK becoming eligible for free healthcare, and many GP’s were over the moon knowing they’d be able to treat their patients without worrying about whether they could pay for their treatments.
While doctors are still stressed in their profession, there was a turning point for them in 1966, with the NHS funding staff and premises costs. It gave GP’s the ability to improve their practices, employ secretaries and delegate work to nurses.
One of the biggest changes in legislation was in 2004, which abolished the duty of GP’s to provide night and weekend service. Instead, patients usually go to the walk-in centre if they feel it’s necessary. There have been changes over the years to attempt to relieve stress from GP’s, and although they still face endless mounds of pressure, it’s taken off the added stress of working unsociable hours.
Speaking from a personal experience, a GP who followed in her father’s footsteps explained the difference in practices to The Guardian. She spoke about how the influx of work results in healthcare that isn’t as strong as it was years previously. Explaining how her father didn’t need to provide routine health checks, nor meet unrealistic targets or document achievements, she stated it was better for the patients because they would be taken care of instead of just a target to hit.
According to the NHS Confederation, the NHS deals with over one million patients every 36 hours, with an increase of 40% more operations in the last ten years. The high number is likely to keep increasing, with life expectancy for men in the UK being around 79.4 years old, while women live to around 83.1 years old.
Not only is the life expectancy increasing, but the UK population is estimated to increase to 69million by 2024. At the moment, GP’s are dealing with all sorts of struggles, with stress being a large aspect of their day to day routine. It’s likely to continue increasing with a surge in patients – and there have been plans to increase services to a 7-day clinic. Although there’s no confirmation of that just yet, MP’s have been making plans to kick it into action.
GP’s won’t be expected to work unsociable hours, but adding in an extra two days is likely to be implemented in the next few years.