Dr Nick Rogers, Chair of Kernow Local Medical Committee – which represents general practice – said: “The LMC has just launched its General Practice Alert State (GPAS) to highlight the pressure on local GP surgeries in Cornwall and demonstrate the need for support from local health system partners.
“Eight local GP practices declared a Black Alert – the highest indicator of pressure – in the most recent results and some of these requested support and are receiving it. Overall, Kernow declared a Red Alert.
“Local GP practices and their hard-working teams are grappling with a perfect storm of challenges including very high demand for services, increased GP and staff sickness, recruitment shortages, years of under-investment nationally, and problems across the health and social care system.
“I would like to reassure patients that general practice in Cornwall is open and patients continue to be prioritised according to their clinical needs. We are working as hard, fast and safely as possible to deliver the best outcomes for our patients.
“Despite the challenges faced, the latest independent GP Patient Survey released recently confirms that Cornwall is among the best places in the country for satisfaction with general practice services, including the types of appointment offered to patients, their needs being met, trust and confidence in the healthcare professional who saw them, and the amount of time spent with them.”
Cornwall’s GP leader has urged people to have a potentially life-saving free flu vaccination – which is now available at local GP practices.
Flu is a highly contagious virus, which anyone can catch, and takes hold very quickly.
This year it’s even more important to get the flu vaccine to protect yourself, others and to help the NHS avoid the pressure that a spike in seasonal flu could bring, in addition to Covid-19 and a large rise in Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections predicted in children.
Some groups are more susceptible to flu and its effects, so it is particularly important that they are vaccinated. These groups – who can have the vaccine free – are:
If you’re in an eligible group for the Covid-19 booster vaccination, you may be able to have it at the same time as the flu vaccination at your GP practice.
Dr Nick Rogers, Chair of Kernow Local Medical Committee, which represents general practice in the county, said: “The vaccination is our first line of defence against flu, which is unpleasant at best and a potential killer at worst. Flu can exacerbate existing medical conditions, lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and be deadly for older and more vulnerable people.
“I recommend that people in the ‘at risk’ groups and their carers have the vaccine at their local GP practice before the virus starts to circulate in the community as it gets colder and winter approaches.
“Having the flu vaccine at your GP practice is the most convenient way to be immunised as we ensure continuity of care as we already know our patients, we have fully trained medical staff on site and have full registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulator. We can also provide you with other vaccinations you may be eligible for at the same time.
“The vaccine is free for eligible groups and quick to administer. People should have the flu vaccine annually, as it protects against different strains which are likely to be around in high numbers this year.”
Dr Rogers, also a GP partner at Falmouth Health Centre, added: “By having the flu vaccine, we can help to protect each other from the virus and reduce the spread.
“Having the flu vaccine also helps to ease pressure on local health services, by leading to fewer avoidable GP appointments, less people needing hospital care and fewer deaths from flu.”
Many GP surgeries will already be in contact with their most ‘at risk’ patients to arrange suitable appointments and some will also be running special flu clinics during evenings and weekends so people can fit having the vaccine around their everyday lives.
The vaccine is administered by either a GP or a trained member of the healthcare team at the surgery, who can also offer aftercare, where necessary. Young children are vaccinated via a nasal spray – everyone else receives a quick injection. Vaccinating children has a double benefit: as well as protecting them from flu, it also protects others, such as grandparents and siblings, as children are much more likely to infect others.
Expectant mums should have the vaccine whatever stage of pregnancy they are in. Those who are pregnant could become very ill if they get flu, which could also be bad for their baby. Having the vaccine can also protect their baby against flu after they’re born and during the early months of life. Your GP or midwife will advise you.
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include a fever, chills, cough, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness.
People who are otherwise fit and healthy usually don’t need to see a doctor if they have flu-like symptoms and should self-care. At risk groups who display flu-like symptoms may wish to consider calling NHS 111 or their GP.
For more information on flu, visit the NHS website at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu
General practice in Cornwall is on the brink of a crisis.
That’s the warning from Kernow Local Medical Committee (LMC) which represents the profession.
The LMC says local GP surgeries have been overwhelmed by issues such as increased workload – including delivering the majority of the Covid-19 vaccination programme on top of the day job.
Exceptionally long waits for ambulance transfers by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST) from community settings to hospitals mean GPs are also having to manage acutely unwell patients in need of hospital care for longer.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) are also struggling with outpatient capacity issues, leaving longer waiting times for patients to be seen or reviewed, leading to GPs spending more time and appointments fielding patient enquiries.
These issues are compounded by longstanding GP and practice nurse shortages after years of under-resourcing nationally.
Despite grappling with the challenges faced, local general practice remains open and has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to its clinicians and staff.
National figures confirm general practice is offering more appointments than ever. Across Cornwall in July, GPs provided 326,570 appointments and 59% of patients were seen face to face in GP surgeries.
But fears are growing that later in the year many local GP surgeries won’t have the resources or resilience to deal with the existing challenges, plus additional pressures like a huge increase in Covid-19 numbers, a significant rise in respiratory virus cases and a predicted hike in flu cases of at least 50%.
Dr Nick Rogers, the LMC’s new Chair, said: “The LMC is supporting increasing numbers of GP practices and GPs across Cornwall with issues like resilience, workforce and workload.
“The LMC is calling for urgent support from our local health system partners to help manage demand, stabilise the workforce and release capacity for the emerging work associated with Covid-19 and flu and to find ways to plan ahead for crisis points.”
Dr Rogers, also a GP Partner at Falmouth Health Centre, added: “This is a very serious situation – but I would like to reassure patients that general practice in Cornwall is open, is seeing patients face to face and has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and will continue to do so.
“We are working as hard, fast and safely as possible to deliver the best outcomes for our patients, set against the challenges faced.”
Despite the overwhelming pressure on local GP practices, results from the recent national 2021 GP Patient Survey show:
The LMC would like to reassure the public that:
Patients are also asked to help their GP practice deliver effective, safe and timely care by:
Nationally, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has warned an emergency rescue package is needed for general practice if patients are to receive the care they need once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
The RCGP has issued a report, General Practice in Crisis: An Action Plan for Recovery, with priority actions for the Government to take to improve care for patients in general practice – including recruiting thousands of additional GPs and practice staff.
General practice in Cornwall and Devon is open for patients and has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
That’s the message from the organisations which represent the profession in the two counties.
During the pandemic, GP practices have been extremely busy, remained accessible and have offered face to face appointments to patients based on clinical need.
Additionally, general practice has been at the core of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, delivering the majority of doses to hundreds of thousands of patients across Cornwall and Devon.
General practice has also worked with hospitals to try to ease pressures on their Emergency Departments.
Now that the national lockdown is easing, Kernow Local Medical Committee and Devon Local Medical Committee would like to reassure the public that:
Dr Will Hynds, Chair at Kernow LMC, said: “As the bedrock of the NHS, with 90 per cent of healthcare starting and finishing in general practice, we are open and have been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“During the pandemic general practice has rapidly changed how it delivers services to keep patients, their family and carers, and our staff safe, without ever pausing. Sometimes this has meant using the phone or video calls more – but those who need to be seen in person will still be seen, based on their clinical needs.
“Your GP practice will be experiencing high demand at the moment and staff are tired after their massive efforts during the pandemic and the vaccination programme. Bear in mind that due to the additional burdens of Covid there is a lot to catch up on and it will be quite a while before things are back to normal.”
Dr Bruce Hughes, Chair at Devon LMC, said: “There is a misguided perception that GP surgeries are closed – that is not the case.
“If a patient thinks that they need treatment, advice or support from general practice then they should contact their GP surgery as usual. We are open, we are here and we have been working consistently throughout the pandemic to deliver safe and effective care.
“This has been achieved at a time when demand for general practice services has reached an unprecedented level, against the backdrop of a national workforce shortage in the profession and years of under-resourcing.”
People can find the most appropriate healthcare service to meet their needs by looking online at NHS Service Finder. If you need help now, and you're not sure what to do go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. If you think it's an emergency call 999.
Joint statement from Dr Will Hynds and Dr Bruce Hughes, respective Chairs of Kernow Local Medical Committee and Devon Local Medical Committee
Kernow Local Medical Committee and Devon Local Medical Committee (LMC) have serious concerns about coronavirus testing capacity across our counties.
It has come to our attention that for several weeks there have been either few testing slots available a long way from sick patients – for example Aberdeen or Cardiff – or next to no tests available at all.
This situation is unacceptable for patients and healthcare workers for several reasons.
Kernow and Devon LMCs feel that they have a duty of care to make the local population aware of this situation and urge the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to rectify this immediately.
We recognise and appreciate the efforts of the local health system to deliver Covid testing, despite being severely hindered by national issues outside its control.
The local laboratory teams and their swabbing partners continue to offer Covid testing to health and care workers with the limited spare capacity available. The Peninsula Pathology NHS Network is actively working with local Public Health teams to set up local testing on a prioritised basis to ensure that swabbing and testing is available as soon as possible.
Kernow and Devon LMCs are the only independent statutory representatives of GPs in the two counties.
A spokesperson for Kernow Local Medical Committee said:
“We are aware of a motion at the forthcoming Conference of England LMCs to end home visits by GPs. Home visits are vital in rural counties such as Cornwall, which are characterised by elderly populations, and we believe that they are best allocated to the most suitable healthcare professional depending on the clinical needs of the patient.”
Flu is highly contagious and can strike anyone. Flu is caused by a virus, not bacteria, so antibiotics won’t treat it. People are encouraged to get protected and have the vaccination, which is available in local GP practices.
Some groups – including pregnant women, young children aged two to four, carers, those with long-term health conditions like heart disease or breathing problems, and people aged over 65 – are more susceptible to flu and its effects, so it is particularly important that they are vaccinated. They can have the vaccine free of charge.
Dr Will Hynds, Chair at Kernow Local Medical Committee, which represents and supports GPs in the county, said: “The vaccination is our first line of defence against flu, which is unpleasant at best and a potential killer at worst. Flu can exacerbate existing medical conditions, lead to serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and be deadly for older and more vulnerable people.
“I recommend that people in the ‘at risk’ groups and their carers have the vaccine at their local GP practice before the virus starts to circulate in the community as it gets colder and winter approaches.
Dr Hynds, a GP partner at Roseland Surgeries, added: “Studies have shown that the flu vaccine does work and will help prevent you getting the flu. It won’t stop all flu viruses and the level of protection may vary between people, so it’s not a 100% guarantee that you’ll be flu-free, but even if you do get flu after vaccination it’s likely to be milder and shorter-lived than it would otherwise have been. The flu vaccines used in the national programme also have a good safety record.”
People should speak to their GP practice about how to access the vaccine there. Some surgeries offer dedicated flu clinics – often during evenings and weekends so people can fit having the vaccine around their everyday lives
The vaccine is administered by either a GP or a trained member of the healthcare team at the surgery, who can also offer aftercare, where necessary. Young children are vaccinated via a nasal spray – everyone else receives a quick injection. Vaccinating children has a double benefit: as well as protecting them from flu, it also protects others, such as grandparents and siblings, as children are much more likely to infect others.
Expectant mums should have the vaccine whatever stage of pregnancy they are in. Those who are pregnant could become very ill if they get flu, which could also be bad for their baby. Having the vaccine can also protect their baby against flu after they’re born and during the early months of life. Your GP or midwife will advise you.
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include a fever, chills, cough, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness.
People who are otherwise fit and healthy usually don’t need to see a doctor if they have flu-like symptoms and should self-care. At risk groups who display flu-like symptoms may wish to consider calling NHS 111 or their GP.
