Health bosses in Lancashire warn GPs are 'burnt out' as PM due to announce covid winter plan
Boris Johnson is expected to reveal his plan for dealing with coronavirus this winter
Health bosses in Lancashire are warning GPs will struggle to make it through the coming months if the Prime Minister doesn't announce enough support in his covid winter plan.
The government is due to set out how they'll tackle a possible rise in cases and pressures faced by the backlog of patients waiting for treatment this winter later.
Peter Higgins, Chief Executive and Secretary to Lancashire and Cumbria's Local Medical Committees, said: "I struggle to see how we can continue with the pressure that we're under without some relief.
"Winters are always difficult for the NHS, but put covid on top of that, and put an exhausted work force into the equation as well and I think it's going to be a real challenge.
The Chief Executive said without support doctors will be too stressed to carry on: "I think you'll see further loss of morale, I think you'll see doctors and practice staff getting exhausted. I think you'll see them going off sick themselves and you'll see people burning out.
"There does need to be recognition that GPs and practice staff are working way beyond their call, they're working beyond what would normally be expected of them, they're working longer hours, and some recognition of that would be very useful.
Peter added that because of myths around GPs not doing to face-to-face appointments, they're facing a huge amount of abuse as a result: "That's causing a lot of anxiety amongst GPs than anything...in July 2021, there were 14.6m face to face contacts which is 57% of all GP appointments, so they are seeing patients face-to-face. Yes, they're not seeing as many face-to-face as they did, but in all honestly they didn't all need to be seen face-to-face and also it minimises risk.
"Someone once asked why we weren't open when pubs and clubs are...pubs don't see vulnerable elderly patients , patients with illnesses, which practices are and we really need to work to protect those patients from exposure to infection."