NHS Primary Care Service Updates and Challenges
Amid ongoing changes across the NHS and the impact of COVID-19, we wish to
keep our patients informed about the adjustments at your local GP surgery, the
challenges we face, and how you can assist us in serving you better.
Firstly, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our patients for their patience and
understanding during these trying times. Your cooperation in using new services like
Pharmacy First, Respiratory Hub, Social Prescribers, and our online GP services
through e-consult has been invaluable.
If you have a new medical condition or one that is worsening, please do not hesitate
to contact us for an appointment with one of our team members.
Rising Costs and Resource Limitations
We welcome the recent comments by the new Health Minister Wes Streeting (MP)
regards the importance of Primary Care to the health service and the investment
required to bring it up to standard.
The past few years have brought significant difficulties. Like many, we have faced
increased costs in heating, medical supplies, and equipment. Additionally, waiting
times for hospital treatments have lengthened. We are doing our best to support
more patients for extended periods and with complex conditions while they await
hospital care.
Despite our best efforts, booking an appointment at a convenient time can
sometimes be challenging. We strive to accommodate everyone, but there are
instances when we reach our capacity. This means that all available resources for
the day have been exhausted.
Financial Strain and Inflation
You might wonder why we can’t expand our resources to meet demand. The central
funding from the government provides only a 2% increase annually. However, with
inflation often exceeding this rate until quite recently, we face a shortfall. For
example, if a procedure costing £10 rises to £10.50 with 5% inflation, but with only a
2% funding increase, we lose 30p per procedure. If we perform this procedure 6,000 times over the year, this loss increases to £1,800, impacting other areas like staff
costs.
Moreover, some cost increases, such as the rise in the Living Wage, are not fully
funded, forcing us to reallocate funds from other critical areas.
Our Commitment to Quality Care
Despite these challenges, we are dedicated to making our surgery the best it can be.
We ask for your understanding as you might need to access clinicians differently or
visit different healthcare providers to receive timely care. Rest assured, we aim to
deliver the highest quality service to meet your clinical needs.
For more information or to learn how you can support us, please visit our website.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding