PATIENTS of GP practices are being warned they may see changes to appointments and services as a result of a work to rule by doctors.
A letter was sent to all patients of Downend Health Group, which runs the Willow Surgery and Christchurch Family Medical Centre, in late November informing them of ‘GP collective action’ being taken by all practices in the area.
The changes include capping the number of patients each doctor will see every day at 25, to ensure GPs have a “safe workload”. This means “there will probably be longer waits for routine appointments,” according to the letter.
Patients have also been told GPs will return work to other healthcare providers, including from the private sector, if they “should have completed” it themselves, will not take over prescribing medications started by specialists unless there is extra funding, and will not provide monitoring for conditions which hospitals or specialists should be carrying out, including following weight loss surgery and mental health treatment.
The letter tells patients the actions are not a strike but are “permanent measures being taken to ensure that general practice is safe”.
It urges patients to contact their community pharmacy for help with minor ailments and NHS 111 to check symptoms.
More than 8,500 family doctors voted on the action earlier in the year, with 98.3% in favour.
It is in response to a new contract offered by the last Conservative government giving a rise of 1.9% funding for services, which doctors’ union the BMA said would leave many practices struggling to remain financially viable.
Avon Local Medical Committee chair Dr Shaba Nabi said the action was not a breach of contract and represented a “permanent re-set as opposed to temporary action”.
She said: “GP practices no longer have the capacity to undertake work which has
historically been carried out in the name of goodwill.”
Patients who received the letter have shared concerns on social media about whether it will affect some repeat prescriptions and check-ups on long-term health conditions.
The NHS has urged patients to continue to come forward when they need care.
A spokesperson for NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire said: “We are working closely with GPs and our wider health and care partners to ensure the best possible care can continue to be delivered with minimal disruption.
“Repeat prescriptions for long-term conditions should not be impacted and routine long term condition reviews will continue. Please be assured that GP services remain open, and you should continue to contact your practice as normal if you have a healthcare need.”
The action was discussed at a recent meeting of Downend Health Group’s Patient Participation Group.
Group chair Gaynor Woolley said: “At the meeting the action was explained more fully and we left feeling less anxious.
“Please be aware that most referrals will still go through without any problem.
“More complicated situations may remain the responsibility of the hospitals but we were assured that if this is the case, the surgery will help with ensuring you have that support.
“This action needs to be taken in order to keep our doctors fit and healthy to continue to do this very stressful job.”