26.01.18
Exhaustion stopping 64% of GPs providing out-of-hours service
Exhaustion is having a major effect on the ability of GPs to provide out-of-hours service, as 64% of practitioners cite it as a central issue.
The news comes as the latest BMA survey into day-to-day GP pressures, which also found that 38% of doctors felt pay rates were not sufficient enough to attract them to do further work.
Along with other pressures across the NHS system, out-of-hours systems have become a major concern for health bosses, who believe it could be close to damaging patient care.
In addition to general inquiries about GP issues, the survey also took into account the problems of Welsh practitioners who have lost certain benefits, such as annual leave and sick leave, because of changes to HMRC guidance in Wales.
Responding to the survey results Dr Charlotte Jones, chair of GPC Wales said: “These results aren’t surprising and confirm what we have known for some time. The pressures that GPs face day in, day out are leaving them exhausted. This exhaustion can ultimately lead to burn out and GPs leaving the profession early, further compounding the problem.
“The system as a whole is under a sustained amount of intense pressure, brought about by an increase in workload and inadequate resources due to years of underinvestment.
“This is a significant problem facing in-hours services but is particularly acute for out-of-hours services, meaning out of hours is viewed as an unattractive place for GPs – who despite everything continue to provide high quality services for their patients – to work.”
She went on to criticises the Welsh HMRC changes, suggesting that, if staff are considered as employed for taxation purposes, they should receive the same benefits.
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