Why Cant I See My GP?

The Past, Present and Future of General Practice

By (author) Ellen Welch

Publication date:

08 February 2024

Length of book:

176 pages

Publisher

Calon

Dimensions:

216x135mm

ISBN-13: 9781915279460

BOOK DESCRIPTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS

‘I tried to contact my own GP last week. I counted 19 redials and 20 minutes on hold before I was able to speak to a receptionist… only to be told that all the appointments for the day had gone. My experience echoes a familiar tale told up and down the country, but just why is it that you can’t see your GP anymore? This book provides some answers to that question…’

UK general practice has reached crisis point. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has placed a strain on an already crumbling primary care service, leaving both patients and NHS staff struggling.

Seventy-five years after the NHS was created, Dr Ellen Welch lifts the curtain on general practice. She looks back on the history of the profession exploring how the job has changed– particularly since the pandemic – then ahead to what the future of general practice might look like.

Why Can’t I See My GP features personal accounts from practicing GPs, including Dr Aman Amir, whose surgery was subject to an arson attack; GP leaders Dr David Wrigley, Dr Lizzie Toberty and Dr Paul Evans, alongside commentator Roy Lilley, and bereaved husband Chris Milligan. Those on the frontline try to answer the question: how did we get here? Is it better overseas? And what can be done to make things better for us all in the future?

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by the length of time it took to get a GP appointment, then this book is for you.

Foreword Dr Amir Khan Acknowledgements Introduction Dr Ellen Welch Chapter 1 A brief history of NHS general practice Ellie Philpotts with Dr Ellen Welch – A brief history of NHS general practice Roy Lilley – Gone 16 Dr Eric Rose – The history of out-of-hours GP services Dr David Wrigley – NHS GPs aren’t private companies Chapter 2 How the role has changed Dr Christine Hunter with Dr Ellen Welch – Thirty years as a Cornish GP Dr Louise Hyde – The magic of general practice Dr Ayan Panja – Expert generalism – the power, the magic and the pitfalls Chapter 3 GPs and the pandemic Dr Neena Jha – Being a GP during the pandemic Dr Aman Amir – Rising levels of abuse towards GPs Chris Milligan – The personal toll of being a GP Dr Elizabeth Croton – GPs are not lazy, we’re working harder than ever Chapter 4 What does a GP do in today’s Britain? Dr Lizzie Toberty – On the pressures Dr Catriona McNicol – On home visits Dr Ellen Welch – On remote working Dr Paul Evans – On workload caps Dr Lizzie Toberty – On pay restoration Dr Zainab Batool – On the 10-minute consult Ron Templeton – What do the patients think? Chapter 5 Does it work better elsewhere? Dr Neil Barnard with Dr Ellen Welch – Anywhere is better than the NHS Dr Sarah Rushworth – From Merseyside to Nova Scotia Dr Robin Kåss – General practice in Norway Dr Lois Mugleston – General practice in New Zealand and the UK Dr Ellen Welch – The American system – fees at sea Chapter 6 The future of general practice Anonymous GP – Are allied healthcare professionals a solution to the GP crisis? Dr Ellen Welch – Are part-time GPs the problem? Over to you – Solutions to the GP crisis in a nutshell You and your GP Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) List of contributors Glossary Help for GPs Further reading Endnotes About the author