The data show that half of UK small primary care practices have been closed in less than a decade and more patients are forced into ‘soulless’ mega clinics.
Health leaders have warned that the move threatens the beloved doctor-patient relationship, as patients are less likely to see the same doctor.
Since the 2015 general election, the number of cases has dropped from 7,816 to 6,522, with the average list increasing from 7,294 to 9,441.
Minor surgeries are preferred as they provide continuity of care and reduce premature deaths (file image)
Clinics with fewer than 5,000 patients have halved during this time, while clinics with more than 20,000 patients have more than tripled.
Some of them were closed completely, leaving the patients with no choice but to travel, while others were combined with another surgery.
According to surveys, small GP practices are more popular among patients.
They are also associated with increased continuity of care, which has been shown to reduce the risk of premature death and hospitalization.
Family doctors warned last night that the rapid transition to “large-scale work” puts the profession at risk of “losing its soul.”
Dr. Lizzie Toberty of the UK Physicians Association told GP Online: “Smaller studios have historically been very successful at this and if we lose continuity we lose the spirit of GP practice.
“Our concern is that there is tremendous pressure to work on a large scale, which causes us to overlook what patients believe is really important in their care.”
Cancer patients waiting twice as long as expected now higher compared to Covid period (file image)
The NHS listed 7,816 general practice practices in April 2015. Of these, about 1,375 are no longer listed and only 80 new apps have been installed.
The average size of the missing practice list since April 2015 is 4,607, indicating that mergers and closures have disproportionately affected smaller GP practices.
Yet studies with more than 2,000 patients jumped from 86 in 2015 to 317 in 2022.
Dr. “We don’t have enough doctors to meet demand and many of those left behind are tired and thinking about leaving,” said Kieran Sharrock of the British Medical Association’s GPs Committee.
Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The real challenge is to have enough primary care doctors…so the government urgently needs to deliver on its promise of 6,000 additional doctors and 26,000 additional practice team members by 2024”.
The number of cancer patients waiting nearly twice the time it takes to start treatment is worse than at any point in the pandemic.
The Health Service Journal revealed in February that 10.7 percent of the 15,178 first-treated people waited more than 104 days after being referred.
The goal is for 85% to start within 62 days.
An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS is taking steps to clean up the Covid-19 backlog.”
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
