Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
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Survey Shows High Level Of Dissatisfaction Amongst Local GPs
A survey carried out by local MP Norman Baker has highlighted the increasing administrative burden faced by GPs and their concern about targets set by central government.
The survey covered all GPs in the constituency and achieved a response rate of over 60%. Key findings include:
- 81% of local GPs say that unnecessary bureaucracy impedes their work.
- 77% GPs do not believe that NHS Direct has improved services for their patients. A further 10% are undecided on the issue.
- 74% of GPs do not approve of target payments for immunisations.
- 74% of GPs think that charges for eye and dental check ups should be abolished.
- 71% say they have difficulty arranging for patients to be sent to hospitals other than local ones. Over half (58%) of these blame administrative difficulties for this.
- Whilst the majority (78%) of local doctors say that the average length of their patient consultations is 10 minutes, the vast majority of GPs think it should be longer (58% = 10-15 mins and 26% = 20 mins).
- Over 15% of practices currently have vacancies for either practice or district nurses and over half (55%) are experiencing some sort of difficulty in recruiting new staff.
- 55% of local GPs describe their workload as either stressful or, in some cases, unmanageable.
Commenting on the results, Norman Baker said:
“This survey has shone a light on a corner of the NHS that gets insufficient attention, namely the pressure on GPs and their view of the health service.
“The answers throw up some worrying statistics. I am particularly concerned about the level of bureaucracy GPs are facing, but also surprised about the views on NHS Direct.
“I am however pleased that our local GPs agree with the Lib Dem policy of restoring free eye and dental checks. This is not only good for health, but can save the NHS money in the long run.
“I shall now be writing to the Health Secretary with the results of my survey and asking for a direct response on each point”
ENDS [Constituency, 17.05.04]
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Quotes included in survey responses:
NHS Direct
“Complete waste of money”
“Very expensive. Money would have much better spent [on] out of hours co-operatives”
“SUSDOC much better. They [NHS Direct] panic and tell people to urgently see a doctor for e.g. a minor injury”
Target payments for immunisations:
“We are doctors not state policemen. We give advice – parents make the decision.”
“Gives the wrong impression of why we are recommending immunisations”
“Patients think we have an alternative agenda for pushing them”
Administrative burden:
“I spend three hours per day on paperwork – rather than face to face contact”
“Meeting computer requirements for new contract takes up valuable patient time”
“Moronic incessant targets for everything …. Seeing patients the way we used to is almost incidental to filling in the disease templates”