One in six GP surgeries in the UK have suspended non-emergency appointments because of staff shortages, according to a survey by NHS magazine. During particularly busy periods, patients are quizzed over the phone to determine whether they are ill enough to see a doctor. 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 1,300 more GPs by 2020 however the Pulse has lost six doctors since the last 12 months 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. During particularly busy periods, patients are quizzed over the phone to determine whether they are ill enough to see a doctor. 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.