Crisis as 'unprecedented' demand forces GPs to turn patients away

An "unprecedented" demand on the local health service has forced some local GP surgeries to turn patients away without help.

Callers are advised that no appointments are available – either face-to-face or via telephone – and are urged to seek help elsewhere.

At least two surgeries have told patients they are operating beyond "safe operating limits" for what is thought to be the first time in living memory.

The health service is battling a perfect storm of Covid, flu and Strep A infections.

A message at The Burdwood Surgery in Thatcham tells callers: "The surgery is currently experiencing unprecedented demand from patients.

"This means we have reached our safe operating limits.

"For the time being we are asking patients to please telephone 111 rather than the surgery.

"We will revert to our usual service as soon as possible."

The Thatcham Medical Practice had a similar message as this newspaper went to press.

Callers to 111 have told the Newbury Today they have spent hours on the phone, unable to reach the service.

In addition, the online service does not deal with requests for many services, including prescriptions for antibiotics, leaving patients unable to get treatment anywhere.

A spokesman for the BMA (British Medical Association), told the Newbury Today: "There’s a limit to what general practice can safely deliver with such a depleted workforce."

Health consultant and former chief officer of Healthwatch West Berkshire, Andrew Sharp, blamed "years of underinvestment" in the NHS by the Government and said the issue could last all winter.

He said: "We also have not trained enough doctors, nurses, pharmacists or paramedics – the workforce issue is key to this.

“What we ideally need is the Government to stop messing around and invest properly in the NHS and less in corrupt PPE manufacturers, and to start training the appropriate number of doctors, nurses and paramedics – making sure they get paid properly.”

But Newbury MP Laura Farris countered claims that more investment was needed from the Government and said: "Overall NHS investment is higher in real terms than it has been at any point in our history.

"We are spending £181 billion on the NHS – not only is that the highest on record but it is about a fifth of all Government spending.

"So 20 per cent of tax payers' spending goes on the NHS."

She added: "Something that I find very challenging is that we spend so much money on [the NHS] yet there are so many problems in the service."

Mrs Farris commented on a recent round table meeting she held in September with "every GP surgery" in her constituency and said the issues raised were a backlog from Covid, patients wanting face to face appointments for conditions that could be handled remotely and recruitment issues.

GPs also told Mrs Farris that they are faced with a number of preventable conditions and believe that pharmacists should have increased responsibilities.

The conservative MP also said charging for missed appointments – a campaign pledge dropped by the now Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October – was still "something to consider".

In a recent West Berkshire Council health scrutiny panel, lead director for Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, Sarah Webster said: “111 services are seeing about 150 per cent of normal levels and there is also significant pressure on primary care [GPs].

“Whilst Strep A, which affects young children particularly, it is only in rare cases that it becomes a serious health issue.

"We have had some feedback that it has been challenging to access the right antibiotics. But the message we have from NHS England is that there is enough supply.

"We just need to make sure it is in the right place."

Medical practices further afield have been feeling the pressure in other areas with Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) department experiencing a high demand on Tuesday.

At 2pm on Tuesday, December 13, RBH reported 160 patients in its A&E and requested that those with urgent care needs use the Reading Urgent Care Centre (UCC) in the Broad Street Mall.