Hospital tasks dumped on over half of GPs as COVID-19 creates 'tsunami of extra work'

[Northerner]

GPs are facing a 'tsunami of extra work' because the COVID-19 pandemic has forced them to deliver care, tests and prescribing that would usually be carried out in hospitals, the BMA has warned.

A BMA poll of more than 7,000 doctors found 52% of GPs reported that since the pandemic started they have had to provide more patient care that would normally be delivered in hospitals.

The BMA said family doctors were being expected to perform blood tests for hospital outpatients, prescribe medication that would normally be given in secondary care, and complete tests before making a possible cancer referral, which could lead to delays in treatment.

Among GPs who said the care they were expected to provide had changed during the pandemic, 81% said they had been asked to carry out new investigations and manage ongoing care that would normally have been done in hospitals. A total of 74% said they had been asked to re-refer patients who are yet to be seen in hospital due to the pandemic.

Hospital tasks dumped on over half of GPs as COVID-19 creates 'tsunami of extra work'

GPs are facing a 'tsunami of extra work' because the COVID-19 pandemic has forced them to deliver care, tests and prescribing that would usually be carried out in hospitals, the BMA has warned.

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[grovesy]

I don't know how they managed to do blood tests for hospitals as round here many GP's surgeries don't do blood tests at all, and mine not as many as they used to.

 

[Felinia]

I can verify that. The surgery is operating with minimal staff to maintain social distancing, and yesterday my GP did the blood tests herself. She said normally I would have been sent to hospital, for testing and medication. Fortunately it seems I don't have pancreatitis and/or a gall bladder infection, as I feel very much better today after 3 days pain.

 

[Northerner]

I can verify that. The surgery is operating with minimal staff to maintain social distancing, and yesterday my GP did the blood tests herself. She said normally I would have been sent to hospital, for testing and medication. Fortunately it seems I don't have pancreatitis and/or a gall bladder infection, as I feel very much better today after 3 days pain.

Glad you are feeling better @Felinia 🙂

My surgery has a very good blood testing service - I was amazed when I moved here! Just take a ticket and sit down, usually 5 minutes, if that 🙂 I haven't needed any since Christmas (well, apart from my 6-month diabetes review, but they never sent me a form from the clinic), so not sure how they have managed. They normally have a couple of nurses doing it every day 🙂 So convenient, in normal times 🙂

 

[Robin]

A few weeks ago, my GP rang me, and said they’d been reviewing patient records while they were less busy during the lockdown, and noticed I wasn’t on Statins, and would I consider them? Didn’t sound to me as if they were rushed off their feet.

 

[trophywench]

Have to say, my hospital clinic always send us away with the forms to get the next lot done !