Under pressure GPs need more time to treat their patients, warns
biggest ever BMA survey of 15,000 GPs
GPs need to be freed from the constraints of the ten minute consultation to help meet their patients’ needs
according to a major new BMA survey.
The poll also found that almost all GPs feel that their heavy workload is having a negative impact on the quality
of patient services and many GP practices doubted they had the ability to provide blanket seven day
opening1.The survey heard from 15,560 grassroots GPs and is one of the largest recent tests of opinion of the
profession.
The BMA will be releasing answers from the survey over the next three weeks as part of the No More
Games campaign2, which calls on politicians of all parties to have an honest and open debate about the future
of the NHS. Key findings from the survey about the current state of GP services and patient care include:

Only around one in ten GPs (8%) feel that the standard ten minute consultation is adequate.

Two thirds of GPs (67%) feel there should be longer consultations for certain groups of patients,
including those with long term conditions, with one in four (25%) feeling all patients need increased
time with their GP.

Two-thirds (68%) of GPs believe that it is preferable to provide longer consultations of greater quality,
even if it means waiting longer to see a GP for a routine appointment.

More than nine in ten GPs (93%) say that their heavy workload has negatively impacted on the quality
of patient services.

Almost six out of ten GPs (56%) working in out of hours services feel that at times their workload is
having a detrimental effect on the care they provide.

GPs are willing to explore options to improve access, with a slight majority of GPs (51%) feeling that
practices should offer some form of extended hours to patients.

However, almost all GPs (94%) do not feel practices should offer seven day opening in their own
practices.

GPs are willing to explore options to improve access, with a one in five GPs (21%) suggesting they
could provide extended hours by working in networks with other GPs through shared facilities.

GPs believe that factors that could help better deliver the essentials of general practice include
increased funding (76%), more GPs (74%), longer consultation times (70%) and a reduction in
bureaucracy (64%).
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA GP Committee chair, said:
“GPs want to provide better services and spend more time with their patients, especially the increasing
number of older people who often have a range of multiple health needs that require intensive, coordinated
care3.
"Unfortunately, this landmark poll highlights that GPs ability to care to patients is being seriously undermined
by escalating workload, inadequate resourcing and unnecessary paperwork. Many GPs do not feel they have
enough time to spend with their patients and that these intense pressures are beginning to damage local
services.
“While there is a willingness from GPs to look at offering extended hours, more than nine in ten GPs do not feel
that their practice can provide blanket seven day services when GPs are struggling to provide even basic care
to their patients. GPs also feel it is more important to provide longer consultations even if it means patients
waiting longer to see a GP. And this comes at a time when politicians from all sides are making hollow and
unsubstantiated pledges about dramatically increasing the number of GPs within five years4, offering
guaranteed appointments within 48 hours5 or funding Sunday opening when research shows those practices
open in this period saw few patients booking an appointment 6.
“We need politicians of all parties to stop playing games with the NHS and making glib promises to voters that
ignore the reality that many GP practices are close to breaking point. Centralised targets and headline grabbing
initiatives have the potential to do more harm to patients. Political parties instead must work with GPs and
patients on a long term, sustained plan that delivers high quality healthcare to the public. Better funding, more
GPs and improved facilities are important factors that need to be addressed.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
1.
A copy of the survey results relating to the pressures facing GP services and consultation times is
attached to this email.
2.
More details of the BMA’s No More Games campaign can be found here.
3.
Information about the pressures facing general practice can be found in the BMA’s media briefing
document here
4.
http://www.labour.org.uk/issues/detail/nhs-time-to-care-fund
5.
http://www.labour.org.uk/issues/detail/gp-48-hour-guarantee
6.
Information can be found here about the Challenge Fund pilots in the BMA’s response to the
announcement of the second wave of sites for the project.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is the voice of doctors and medical students in the UK. We are an
apolitical professional organisation and independent trade union, representing doctors and medical students
from all branches of medicine across the UK and supporting them to deliver the highest standards of care.
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Examples of regional breakdown of question responses
Level of GP workload
I have a low
workload
Generally
manageable
Generally
manageable,
too heavy at
times
London
2%
10%
48%
40%
South
1%
8%
52%
39%
Midlands
1%
8%
52%
39%
North
2%
9%
53%
37%
Unmanageable
Impact of GP workload on patient care
My workload has a
positive impact on
the quality of care
my patient receive
My workload at
times has a negative
impact on the
quality of care that
my patients receive
My workload
significantly
negatively impacts
on the quality of
care my patients
receive
London
9%
68%
24%
South
6%
70%
24%
Midlands
6%
69%
25%
North
7%
71%
22%
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