www.mddus.com


GP COMMUNICATION KEY TO PATIENT SATISFACTION


GOOD communication is the most important factor for patients in overall satisfaction with their GP, according to a recent survey. The findings of the English


General Practice Patient Survey contrast with the primary care priorities set by the government which focus on measures of access such as the ability to book appointments in advance and continuity of care.


Almost 2,170,000 people


registered with more than 8,300 primary care practices responded to the 2009/2010 patient survey. Researchers from the University of Cambridge analysed the data and published their results in Health Expectations journal. They reported their findings on a scale of 0 to 1 and good doctor-patient communication showed the


strongest relationship with overall satisfaction at 0.48, followed by helpfulness of reception staff at 0.22. Quick appointments scored 0.11, phone access 0.09 and advance booking was last at 0.06. The paper states: “Despite being a policy priority for government, measures of access, including the ability to obtain appointments, were poorly related to overall satisfaction.” It also highlights the importance of communication skills education, adding: “Teaching new doctors how to communicate well with their patients is one part of improving physician communication. At least as important may be identifying existing doctors with poor communication skills and developing effective means to improve them.”


NEARLY HALF OF GPs RISK BURNOUT


‘VIRTUAL CLINICS’ PART OF FUTURE VISION FOR GPs


GPs WILL soon be running virtual clinics and routinely consulting with patients online, according to the RCGP’s vision of general practice in 2022. Patients will also have electronic access to their medical records,


A RECENT survey carried out by Pulse has revealed that 43 per cent of GPs are at a high risk of suffering burnout. Over 1,700 GPs were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory tool which was adapted with input from the Royal College of General Practitioners. It contained questions assessing three key areas signalling a high risk of burnout – emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and a low level of personal accomplishment. The survey found that 43 per


cent of GPs showed a high risk in all three areas and 99 per cent in at least one. Of particular concern was the finding that 97 per cent of GPs do not believe they are “positively


influencing other people’s lives or accomplishing much in their role”. Doctors who suffer from burnout should seek help before patient safety is compromised, says MDDUS medical adviser Dr Barry Parker. “While doctors are caring for


patients, they can sometimes neglect to care for themselves,” says Dr Parker. “Speaking to a colleague or their


own GP about these issues should not be seen as a sign of weakness. More and more doctors are suffering from stress or health problems as workload increases. Doctors who are concerned about a colleague’s wellbeing are advised to be sensitive and encourage them to seek help.”


prescriptions and the referral system, and be more involved with shared decision-making about their care. Consultation times will be more flexible while GPs will undergo enhanced training for their role as “expert” generalist physicians. These are just some of the goals set out in The 2022 GP – A Vision


for General Practice in the Future NHS, by the RCGP. It outlines the future role of GPs, including the challenges they will face, and sets a number of key priorities for the profession. The use of technology features heavily in the document with the


prediction that consultations using Skype or similar means will become more common and that patients will expect to be able to communicate remotely with their GP, attending virtual clinics and making contact via social media or text message. The report also says at least 10,000 new GPs will be needed


across the UK. But the RCGP makes clear that its vision can only be achieved with major investment in general practice that will enable GPs “to move from an outdated 20th century model of fragmented primary and secondary, health and social care to a modern and efficient 21st century model of integrated ‘person-centred’ care, based within local communities.” RCGP chair Dr Clare Gerada said: “If GPs, who do 90 per cent of


NHS work for nine per cent of the budget, are not properly funded then much of this new vision will not be achievable.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16