One in six GP surgeries in the UK have suspended non-emergency appointments because of staff shortages, according to a survey by Pulse magazine. The survey, which was carried out last month, found that more than half (57%) of GPs said they had been forced to cancel or delay elective surgery due to staffing shortages at their local hospital. GP Dr Jennifer Lyall said her own practice had been forced to resort to a telephone triage system at one point. ' Of the GPs surveyed, 16.5% admitted to cancelling routine appointment in the last 12 months. Patients Association's Rachel Power blamed long-term failure in workforce management; the UK government pledged to recruit 5,000 more GPs by 2020 however the NHS has lost 1,300 doctors since 2015 with more leaving the profession than joining.
One in six GP surgeries in the UK have suspended non-emergency appointments because of staff shortages, according to a survey by Pulse magazine. The survey, which was carried out last month, found that more than half (57%) of GPs said they had been forced to cancel or delay elective surgery due to staffing shortages at their local hospital. Of the GPs surveyed, 16.5% admitted to cancelling routine appointment in the last 12 months. Patients Association's Rachel Power blamed long-term failure in workforce management; the UK government pledged to recruit 5,000 more GPs by 2020 however the NHS has lost 1,300 doctors since 2015 with more leaving the profession than joining.