A major shortage of GP's alongside the global pandemic have led to frustrated patients unable to get the care they want.
That is what last night’s meeting of Wirral Council’s Partnerships Committee heard.
Councillors asked Dr Rob Barnett, a Liverpool-based GP for over 30 years, what can be done to deal with the problem?
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Liberal Democrat councillor Dave Mitchell said it was taking people an average of two or three days to see a GP and that with surgeries open 12 hours per day seven days per week, are there enough GP's?
Dr Barnett said that the government is 6,500 GP's short of the target it set itself.
He added that this shortage is partly down to some GP's wishing to retire earlier and others choosing to leave for countries such as New Zealand where it was felt conditions were better.
For Dr Barnett, this meant the country has not got enough GP's and was struggling to keep the ones it had, however there was some positive news as he reported figures which showed that between 47% and 50% of GP consultations were now taking place face-to-face as people wished.
But Conservative councillor Jenny Johnson said she felt more could be done to get people seen in person.
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She added that although surgeries would not want a waiting room full of people due to the pandemic, there were things that could be done, such as texting people to come in from their cars, which would improve the situation.
Dr Barnett said that IPC (infection, prevention and control) measures were still in place and that although rules were being relaxed surgeries had to make sure there was a space between those who may be infected and those who are potentially vulnerable to Covid-19.
He added that if everyone was seen in person there would be a week-long wait within a fortnight, given current restrictions.
The GP suggested some major changes which could help to deal with the problem.
Dr Barnett said that he was “knackered” after a full day of work and that burnout was causing many to leave their roles.
Therefore, he thought more GP's should be able to work part-time in order to keep them on and that problems could sometimes be dealt with by someone else, such as a pharmacist or paramedic depending on their nature, rather than a GP.
