Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, is set to address General Practitioners (GPs) in England, urging them to cease collective action which he believes will negatively impact patients. Streeting is scheduled to deliver his speech at the Royal College of GPs conference in Liverpool on Friday,
In his upcoming address, Streeting is expected to acknowledge the frustrations of GPs after years of neglect but will caution against actions that could harm patients. He emphasises the current government’s efforts to address the GP shortage by hiring 1,000 additional GPs and increasing resources allocated to primary care. Streeting encourages collaboration between GPs and the government to rebuild the National Health Service (NHS) collectively.
Earlier this year, the British Medical Association (BMA) conducted a ballot in which 98.3% of participating GPs voted in favour of collective action. The BMA proposed various measures for surgeries to consider, such as limiting patient consultations per day and prioritising essential work. Streeting stresses the need for GPs to embrace healthcare reform that focuses on digitalisation, community care, and preventive health strategies.
Furthermore, Streeting unveils plans to streamline administrative tasks for GPs to enhance patient-doctor interaction. The ‘Red Tape Challenge’ will involve gathering feedback from healthcare professionals to identify bureaucratic barriers and improve efficiency within the NHS. Streeting aims to reduce paperwork burdens on GPs, enabling them to allocate more time to patient care.
NHS England’s chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, echoes Streeting’s sentiments, acknowledging the challenges faced by GPs and emphasising the importance of prioritising patient care over administrative tasks. Pritchard highlights the need for shared initiatives to improve primary care accessibility.
Streeting concludes by affirming the government’s commitment to collaborating with GPs to address the systemic challenges within the NHS. He reassures GPs that the government will work alongside them to restore the NHS’s efficacy and ensure timely healthcare services for all patients.