3 in 5 GPs work at 'unsafe level' as some see 40 patients a day, survey finds

20 August 2023 , 23:01

1034     0

Just 40% say practice has daily patient limit (Image: PA)

Three-fifths of GPs are seeing more patients per day than the recommended safe level, a survey suggests.

The British Medical Association and European Union of General Practitioners have recommended GPs should not see more than 25 patients each day in order to deliver what they call safe care. But 60% of family doctors see 26 to 40 patients daily, according to a poll by GP publication Pulse.

The 860 UK GPs surveyed are in contact with an average of 37 patients each shift. Only 40% of 408 GP partners polled said their surgery had a daily limit on patients per doctor.

The poll was run by GP publication Pulse (Mail News and Media)

A GP partner in North East London, whose practice has a 25 patient a day policy, told Pulse that general practice is seen as a “limitless resource”. The doctor, who chose to remain anonymous, said: “The thing we need to emphasise is that this is not about sloth, this is not about keeping things under control. “It’s about keeping things safe. You need to be 100% sharp, you need to be picking up on cues, you need to be very, very alert.”

GPs said they see an average of 37 patients per day (PA Archive/PA Images)

Dr Samira Anane, of the BMA, said: “If we’re serious about improving access, we need the help of the Government to address the huge shortfall in GPs, so we can keep up with growing demand.”

UK and EU reach customs deal that could end Northern Ireland logjam, says report

The Department of Health said the “small” sample size made the poll misleading. A spokesman added: “There are 10% more appointments available than before the pandemic and we have set an expectation that urgent appointments take place on the day they are booked.”

* After publication, Pulse updated their website to say: The survey was advertised to our readers via our website and email newsletter, with a prize draw for a £250 John Lewis voucher as an incentive to complete the survey. The survey is unweighted, and we do not claim this to be scientific – only a snapshot of the GP population.

Dan Warburton