Bishop Auckland GP Dr Stewart Findlay is half way through his epic twelve-hour day. Two surgeries down, two to go...
Just finished morning surgery of 22 appointments, including the extended hours. I am 'on call' now for the rest of the day so I get off lightly with the visits and only have one to do.
The 22 appointments do not of course include disruptions for telephone advice, prescription requests and queries from nurses and receptionists which come through during and between consultations. Consultations now take up more time than ever before as we try to squeeze in missed QOF targets and opportunistically pick up patients that need vascular screening checks.
Practice meeting at 1.30pm and I restart the third of my four surgeries today at 3pm.
I don't think many people realise how packed our working day is now in general practice!
Dr Stewart Findlay
