NHS blueprint aims to improve access to GP appointments

The NHS has published new plans in a bid to improve access to general practice (GP) appointments for NHS patients, while also supporting GPs and their teams.

Under the blueprint plans, GP surgeries will be given additional funding to increase capacity and the proportion of face-to-face appointments.

The measures include a £250m winter access fund from NHS England, which will help GP practices to improve availability for patient care. The investment will also go toward funding locums and support from additional healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists and podiatrists – with a ‘focus on increasing capacity to boost urgent same-day care’.

“Improving access to high quality general practice is essential for our patients and for the rest of the NHS too,” said Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS.
“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,” she added.

The NHS England document also outlines plans to support upgrades to telephone systems and aim to reduce administrative burdens on GPs by reforming who can provide medical evidence and certificates (e.g. fit notes and DVLA checks).

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will also completes it review of infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance in general practice, outlining practical steps on IPC measures in this setting to increase the number of face-to-face appointments for patients.

“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,” said Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

“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,” he added.

The plans will see the NHS increase its oversight of practices with the most acute issues relating to access – GP appointment data will begin to be published at practice level by next spring, in an effort to ‘enhance transparency and accountability’.

On top of that, patients will also be given the opportunity to rate their GP surgery’s performance via text message based on the most recent experience of accessing support.

This survey is already being piloted in approximately 60 practices and will also be launched next year.

Commenting on the plans, Dan Bunstone, NHS GP and chief medical officer at Pulse Doctor said: “Primary care is in a staffing crisis. There aren’t enough GPs to see every patient face-to-face, and nor is this necessary. While we welcome the government’s increased funding to boost the number of clinicians available to patients, the focus on face-to-face care alone is misplaced.

“Face-to-face care is, and always will be, an important part of the equation. However, demand is exponentially outstripping supply so we must work smarter. Remote options like video consultations allow flexible, fast access to the right clinician in the first instance, without having to travel or take time off work, while also increasing capacity at NHS GP surgeries at a time of crucial need.”