St Helens GPs treating more patients despite demand for services

With increasing pressures facing the NHS, a common cause of concern for residents is the length of time it takes to get a face-to-face appointment with a GP.

As general practices were shut during periods of the pandemic and the number of GPs has declined, this has created a huge backlog of patients as well as forced changes to the way they operate.

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While this backlog has created further pressures within the health service, doctors are able to see more patients via a mix of telephone, online and face-to-face consultations.

The changing way of general practice means that non-urgent medical enquiries can be dealt with quicker and directed to further services if appropriate.

GPs have faced a huge backlog of patients since the pandemic

Julie Ashurst, Associate Director of Transformation and Partnerships for St Helens, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, has explained the changes in GP surgeries.

She said: "The way general practice has evolved and increased demand now operates means that more patients are being dealt with than ever before via a mix of telephone, online and face-to-face consultations.

"Our GPs are now dealing with many more people online and via video call than before the pandemic – and numbers of face to face appointments with all healthcare professionals have risen across all practices in the borough.

“Once the GP or healthcare professional has triaged your condition by e-consult online or phone, you will receive an appointment but that may be with another healthcare professional – such as a physiotherapist, nurse practitioner or social prescriber – depending on your health need. 

"This frees up doctors to treat those who most require their expertise.  Patients who do need to be seen face to face  will be asked to come in.”

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While the results of the recent GP patient survey shows the scale of the challenges the NHS is facing, Ms Ashurst said that local practices are doing all they can to ensure people can access the services they need.

She added: "Cheshire and Merseyside performed better than the national average in many areas of the survey including high levels of patient satisfaction when consulting their GP, but we remain committed to doing more. 

"Everyone in general practice in St Helens is working incredibly hard to meet the demand and we are working to ensure additional appointments are available at evening and weekends.”