Norfolk GPs call for support as they predict "worst winter in years"
They want the Government to honour prior commitments and the public to understand that General Practice has changed
Last updated 19th Oct 2021
Norfolk's GP needs support and understanding from the Government and public, more than ever.
That's according to Dr Tim Morton, the Chair of Norfolk and Waveney's Local Medical Committee.
He told us they need the Government to honour previous commitments:
"Since 2015, we've lost just short of 2,000 GPs. In the same year, the Government recognised that we didn't have enough GPs and promised 5,000 more".
"This promise has not been kept and this is why we have a diminished workforce working ever harder and harder, and at risk of burnout"
He went on to say that the pandemic has really stretched health-care professionals across the county:
"The workforce is basically on it's knees. We've provided Covid vaccines, Flu vaccines and we're continuing to deal with hospital patients, that our colleagues have been unable to care for while they have been facing the increase Covid pressures in secondary care".
He says GPs in our area are already seeing more people in person than many practices around the country:
"Face to Face consultation current stand at 69%, compared with national average of 58%. Of course they are nowhere near pre-pandemic levels, but General Practice is working at full capacity".
He says they need support from the Government, not added pressure to hit targets:
"We're facing the worst winter in years, with combined Covid and Flu, yet there seems to be no end in sight to this pre-occupation with face-to-face appointments".
"We feel that more intelligent conversation about the variety of appointments and the care available to patients, to meet their needs in the winter, would be much more sensible".
He concluded by telling us that General Practices have now evolved for the better:
"We'd call upon the public to understand that General Practice is a different type of organisation now moving forwards. Much of the work can be done safely via telephones or via remote consultations"