Leading doctor warns patients not to expect to see a GP every time

A leading doctor has warned patients shouldn't expect to see their GP every time they call the surgery. Dr Tom Tasker, co-chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board in Salford, said patients should lower their expectations.

It comes as staff and patients are growing frustrated with the impacts the coronavirus pandemic had on primary care services such as GP and dentists surgeries. While some see the blend of face-to-face, online and telephone consultations and the flexibility more beneficial, others say they are fed-up by the time they are waiting for GP appointments.

And Dr Tasker said: “I recognise a lot of the issues raised here as a GP. We somehow have to work with our public and reduce expectations that when they contact their local surgery they will end up meeting the GP for everything.”

Read more: Midwives across Greater Manchester and the rest of the UK are quitting profession due to 'pressures' and 'low pay'

He went on to say how this differs case by case but many phone up expecting to see a GP every time, which is not always possible. Dr Tasker suggested more needs to be done to manage that expectation and change public perception.

There have also been increased reports over how staff in primary care are growing continuously dissatisfied with excessive workloads, complaints, unhelpful interactions and abuse. Some staff are experiencing fatigue, ‘burnout’ or mental distress as a result.

Chris Dabbs, chief executive at Unlimited Potential, explained to the board at Salford Civic Centre on May 10 that these frustrations are born out of the same issue - high demand and pressure. He went on to say how these problems can be sorted through tackling systemic causes for the demand and how best to respond to non-clinical