We are close to breaking point

We are proud that the NHS is considered by international experts to still provide the highest quality and efficient healthcare, despite receiving almost the lowest level of funding. The bedrock of the NHS is general practice with 19 out of every 20 patient consultations being dealt with in general practice alone. 

However, general practices like ours are being frustrated by the rising number of factors which are impacting on services and undermining our ability to do our best for those who need us. We are unable to cope with the current pressure on the health service, and understand entirely why our patients are becoming frustrated at the lack of appointments and delays getting the treatment they need.

Demand is continuing to rise but the Government has failed to provide the support that local GP practices need to offer their patients the time and care they require. We desperately need more GPs, more practice staff and more nurses to meet demand and provide the care our patients deserve.

Despite the ever increasing workload in terms of both quantity and complexity, there has been year on year underinvestment in general practice and many practices no longer have enough staff, resources or adequate buildings to provide patients with the care that they need.

Because of these issues facing general practice, the British Medical Association (BMA) has launched the ‘Your GP Cares’ campaign. We can either face up to the realities facing GPs and make plans now to meet the growing challenges – or we can bury our heads in the sand and watch this key part of the NHS slide into permanent decline. We are asking the public to show their support by signing the epetition at http://bma.org.uk/working-for-change/your-gp-cares and by writing to their MP.

Warwickshire GPs and Practice Staff of the Warwickshire Local Medical Committee