BMA spoke person warned the government that surgery closure is now at a critical stage that would affect patients’ health. Reasons behind closures are varied. But main reasons are Government underfunding, strict CQC inspection and ever increasing demand from ageing population.
Air pollution, junk food, obesity, lack of exercise, as well as smoking and drinking all play their part in putting more stress on GPs, A & E, as well as hospital admissions. The closure has steeply accelerated during last three years, as those GPs, who came from India and British colonies of East Africa are retiring, while newly qualified GPs prefer working part-time. Many single handed surgeries are closing down, as these GPs who worked independently all their lives may not feel at ease in “Group Practice” government advocates, so often for right reasons, as Surgeries are obliged to provide ancillary services like haematology, physiotherapy, diabetic, diet clinic, even minor surgeries to ease pressure on A & E, as more and more patients visit A & E for minor ailments that could be treated by GPs, thus increasing hospital waiting time to unacceptable level. There is also wide spread misuse of GP time, as many patients fail to turn-up. No wonder telephone consultation precedes appointments to weed out time wasting patients. It is time to introduce £10 charge for GP appointment, as we pay heavy prescription and costly dental charges without question.
Kumudini Valambia
By email
