Majority of GPs say patient’s appointments should be at least 20 minutes but 46% are only able to spend 10 minutes or less with them in surgeries
The majority of GPs do not have the time they would like to be able to support their patients who have a terminal illness, according to a new UK-wide survey.
Marie Curie and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) found that 86% of routine GP appointments in surgeries were 20 minutes or less despite 71% of those surveyed saying they thought that over 20 minutes should ideally be allocated.
Shockingly, nearly half (46%) of GPs are only able to spend 10 minutes or less with patients.
The charity and professional membership body are calling for a UK-wide commission to be set up to develop recommendations on how primary care will ensure that GPs and their practices have the time and resources to provide high-quality end of life care.
Seven out of 10 people with a terminal illness don’t get all the care and support they need
One GP told researchers special provisions need to be made as currently terminal ill patients are just “squeezed in” among all the acute care and paperwork in an already full day making it “impossible” to give the best possible care.
Richard Meade, head of policy and public affairs Scotland for Marie Curie, said creating a commission should be a priority to avoid an “all-out crisis”.
“The unprecedented demand for primary care services is one of the biggest issues facing our healthcare system today and has specific consequences for those who are nearing the end of their lives.
“Indeed, carers tell us that seven out of 10 people with a terminal illness don’t get all the care and support they need.
“If we are to avoid an all-out crisis, it is essential that we make this an area of priority and establish a UK-wide commission to ensure that we understand the level of resources that are needed for GP practices to be able to provide the holistic care that people being cared for in their communities so desperately require.”
The survey involved 184 GP practices across the UK. On average GPs spent longer on home visits with terminally ill patients but a third said they would ideally like to spend more than 40 minutes with patients, only 14% were able to.
Dr Catherine Millington-Sanders, a practising GP and RCGP/Marie Curie national end of life care clinical champion, said GPs and community care services are coming under increasing pressure.
“We urgently need to consider how we can continue to provide appropriate care to the growing number of people who need our care and support,” she said.
“Having limited time with terminally ill patients’ means we are less able to provide continuity of care, have sensitive care planning discussions and make arrangements that will improve the patient’s quality of life.
“Families will also miss out on vital information and practical support they will need as their loved one’s condition deteriorates.”
Dr Miles Mack, chair of RCGP Scotland, called on the additional funding promised by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her closing speech of the SNP conference to be used to increase GP workforce.
At the conference, last month, Sturgeon said that by the end of this parliament in 2021, 11% of NHS Scotland's budget would be spent in general practices and health centres – the same as what RCGP Scotland’s 'Put patients first: Back general practice' campaign has been calling for since November 2013.
Mack said: "GPs find caring for people at the end of their life to be one of the most rewarding and appreciated parts of our job.
“We do our best to prioritise the time to provide this service but as demands on us increase and funding is restricted this has become ever more difficult.
“This is the time to see the additional funding promised by the first minister be directed to increase GP workforce to enhance our ability to do this important work."
