The NHS, working closely with the Department of Health and Social
Care, has today published a blueprint for improving access to GP
appointments for patients alongside supporting GPs and their
teams.
Surgeries will be provided with additional funding to boost their
capacity to increase the proportion of appointments delivered
face to face, as part of a major drive to support general
practice and level up performance, including additional efforts
to tackle abuse against staff.
The measures, including a £250 million winter access fund from
NHS England, will enable GP practices to improve availability so
that patients who need care can get it, often on the same day if
needed. The investment will fund locums and support from other
health professionals such as physiotherapists and podiatrists,
with a focus on increasing capacity to boost urgent same-day
care. This is in addition to £270 million invested over the
previous 11 months to expand capacity and support GPs.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, said:
Improving access to high quality general practice is essential
for our patients and for the rest of the NHS too.
It is a personal priority and today NHS England is taking both
urgent and longer term action to back GPs and their teams with
additional investment and support.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said:
I am determined to ensure patients can see their GP in the way
they want, no matter where they live. I also want to thank GPs
and their teams for their enormous efforts in the most
challenging times in living memory.
Our new plan provides general practice teams with investment and
targeted support. This will tackle underperformance, taking
pressure off staff so they can spend more time with patients and
increase the number of face-to-face appointments.
Alongside this we are setting out more measures to tackle abuse
and harassment so staff at GP surgeries who work so tirelessly to
care for patients can do so without having to fear for their
safety.
The NHS England document makes clear that every GP practice must
seek patients’ input and respect preferences for face to face
care unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.
The extra investment will help to increase the number of
appointments delivered, while local health systems will be free
to determine how best to tackle particular challenges to access
and provision of care in their own community, which could include
putting in place additional resource for walk-in consultations.
Local plans will need to deliver these improvements in access,
with practices that do not provide appropriate levels of face to
face care not able to access the additional funding, and instead
offered support to improve.
Under the plan, the NHS will also support upgrades to telephone
systems, ensuring that more patients can quickly and easily speak
to general practice staff, and help the public avoid long waits
when contacting a surgery by phone.
The government will also reduce administrative burdens on GPs by
reforming who can provide medical evidence and certificates such
as FIT notes and DVLA checks – freeing up time for more
appointments.
UKHSA will complete its review of infection prevention and
control (IPC) guidance in general practice and set out practical
steps on IPC measures in GP settings which could increase the
number of patients that can be seen.
As part of this package, the NHS will increase its oversight of
practices with the most acute issues in relation to access, and
GP appointment data will be published at practice level by spring
next year. This will enhance transparency and accountability, as
monthly data is currently only published by clinical
commissioning group.
In addition, patients will get the opportunity to rate their
practice’s performance, via text message, based on their most
recent experience of accessing support. This survey, which has
been previously agreed with the profession, is being piloted in
around 60 practices and will be rolled out next year.
Together with the government and Academy of Medical Royal
Colleges, the NHS will also develop a zero-tolerance campaign on
abuse of NHS staff, including GP teams.
General practice teams have delivered more than 300 million
appointments over the last year as well as delivering the vast
majority of Covid vaccinations, saving lives and protecting
millions of people against the virus at speed.
Health Minister said:
As a nurse on the frontline during the pandemic I know how hard
GPs and their teams have worked, while recognising how badly so
many people want to see their GPs in person.
This plan will give our dedicated general practices the support
needed to increase capacity, boosting the number of appointments
for patients to see and speak to their GP practice.
I look forward to continuing to work with the sector to ensure
patients can get the care they need.
Patients will also be able to see different types of clinicians
in general practice, who can best meet their needs and
conditions, including pharmacists, paramedics, advanced nurse
practitioners and nursing associates.
NHS England will also work with the government to consider how
far and fast the role of pharmacists can be increased in the
supply of medication, as part of relieving workload on GPs.
