Q&A
Tat is undoubtedly the case – the most highly valued public service by far. But we are also an easy target and certainly the media in recent years has really jumped on the GP-bashing bandwagon. No denying there are problems – one of the issues they get very agitated about is access and that is a legitimate problem. Tere is more demand than there is supply when it comes to GP appointments. I think recently the media have maybe started to realise that the issues around access are not because GPs aren’t working flat out; it’s just that there aren’t enough of us.
What is your take on Brexit and the implications for healthcare in the UK? Certainly the most immediate implications are on the wider NHS workforce – EU nationals who work with us in general practice or in the wider NHS or in nursing or care homes. Te next thing I would say is economic stability. It’s hard enough in the NHS without more economic difficulties and this will undoubtedly add more pressure on the NHS and general practice.
“I think we always need to come back to GPs being hugely valued by the public”
well integrated and could be very much more streamlined, and I think we could support people through it much better. We are keeping the pressure on NHS England and HEE to try and do that.
Do you worry that recruiting physician associates and similar initiatives to address GP shortages could undermine the profession? I do think there is a case for extending the workforce in general practice and for introducing additional skills; for instance, having practice-based pharmacists is a very good example of this. In terms of physician
AUTUMN 2016
associates in general practice, we’re neutral. Tey have never really taken off in general practice and I’m not sure why that is. On the other hand, if practices feel that having a PA works for them and that they are valuable members of the team – that’s great. Why would you stop that? But I think the jury is out in that we haven’t yet had much experience of this role in general practice to determine whether it’s useful or not.
Are GPs misunderstood in general and more particularly by the media? I think we always need to come back to GPs being hugely valued by the public.
What do you feel was the high point of your time as Chair? Publication of the GP Forward View. We’ve been campaigning for the best part of three years and this is the response to just about everything we have been asking for in our Put patients first: Back general practice campaign. It was a really important moment.
What has caused you most frustration? It’s very frustrating to get lots of grief for things you have no responsibility for or remit in. As an example, we get quite a lot of criticism when there are problems with pensions. We’ve got nothing to do with pensions; it’s not our remit. It’s nothing to do with patient care. Tat’s just one example.
What would be your one piece of advice to your successor in the job? It’s a marathon not a sprint. Te term is three years and you have to pace yourself and give time for things: work something up, sell the idea, get it rolled out, get it evaluated and start seeing it take root. You can’t expect to change the world of general practice in three months, six months or a year.
n Interview by Jim Killgore 11
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