Government to stop 8am scramble for doctors in the UK
The government has pledged to make it far easier to book and see a doctor in the UK as part of its new 10-year health plan.
The status quo of ‘hospital by default’ will end, with a new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can: digital-by-default, in a patient’s home where possible, in a neighbourhood health centre when needed, in a hospital if necessary.
This approach will make access to healthcare more convenient for patients and easier to fit around their day-to-day lives, rather than disrupting people’s work and personal lives, the Department of Health and Social Care said.
To address this shift, thousands more GPs will be trained under the plan as the government aims to bring back the family doctor, end the 08h00 scramble for appointments, and make it easier to see your GP when you need to, instead of having to turn to A&E.
“The government inherited an analogue NHS, reliant on paper and fax machines and out of step with modern technology. The government’s plan will bring it into the digital age, making sure staff benefit from the advantages and efficiencies available from new technology,” the department said.
“This includes rolling out groundbreaking new tools over the next two years to support GPs. AI scribes will end the need for clinical notetaking, letter drafting, and manual data entry to free up clinicians’ time to focus on treating patients. Saving just 90 seconds on each GP appointment can save the same time as adding 2,000 more doctors into general practice.”
The department said it also plans to use digital telephony so all phone calls to GP practices are answered quickly. For those who need it, they will get a digital or telephone consultation the same day they request it.
“As it stands, some practices are struggling to keep up with an ageing population and 21st-century health needs. New contracts will be introduced which encourage and allow practices to cover a wider geographical area,” it said.
“It means smaller practices in the catchment area will get more support to ensure the right access is in place so that everyone can access their GP when they need to.”
