Plus: Online GP appointments hit all time high
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Thursday, October 3, 2024 |
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| | Written by Rebecca Thomas |
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Access to GP services was a major focus in this year's election, with the Labour Party making several promises to increase the workforce and eliminate the "8am scramble" for appointments. This week, a report revealed that online GP appointments have reached an all-time high, with one in 20 consultations now taking place online. While this might seem concerning, it's important to note that face-to-face appointments remain the primary method of contact. The more pressing concerns are the long waiting times, driven by workforce shortages, and the inconsistent availability of services across the country. In particular, those in deprived areas and communities with higher ethnic minority populations face the greatest difficulties accessing GP services. A study by Dr. Alexis Paton of Aston University found that residents in Birmingham's most deprived areas struggle to access GPs due to factors like digital poverty, exclusion, and language barriers. Four out of five patient groups surveyed cited language as a significant barrier, with long waits for interpreters causing delays and cancellations. One case involved a patient being assigned a Punjabi interpreter instead of one who spoke Urdu, leaving her with limited understanding of her GP's advice. She also worried her GP might not have fully understood her concerns due to the language mismatch. Some patients reported feeling unwelcome or burdensome. In another common scenario, mothers described queuing outside their GP surgery as early as 7am in hopes of securing an appointment, only to leave unsuccessful due to the school run. |
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Will you be doing "Sober October" this year? |
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It's October and public health campaigns advertising "Sober October" will be kicking off, encouraging people to stop or cut back on their alcohol consumption. Will you be giving it a go? Take part in the poll above. Two weeks ago, we asked Health Check readers if they trusted Labour to save the NHS from 'critical condition', following damning comments in the Darzi report. There was palpable uncertainty, with 60 per cent saying no. |
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Your gut does more than digest – it impacts your mood, immunity, and wellbeing. Boost its health with these six easy, delicious recipes, designed to help you hit your 30 plant points target and keep your gut thriving, says Hannah Twiggs. |
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