Editor Jaimie Kaffash looks for a glimmer of hope amid another year of worrying developments for general practice in the final editorial of the year
I’ve never known the announcement of a new health secretary to be met with such little excitement. But the collective shrug at the replacement of Steve Barclay with Victoria Atkins was probably indicative of a year of nothingness, especially in England.
We’ve had a GP recovery plan and a workforce report mapping out how to increase the number of GPs over the next couple of decades. But they have both been hugely underwhelming, albeit for different reasons.
The recovery plan was only seven months ago, but I can barely remember a thing about it. I’m sure there was something about telephones. But I only remember that because it led to shadow health secretary Wes Streeting’s one good line of the year – that we need more doctors, ‘not better hold music’.
The workforce report at least had some substance, with an actual target to increase GP training places by 50% and a pledge to boost the number of medical students. But it didn’t explain how we will convince graduates to pursue a career in general practice or – more importantly – how exactly we will train this new influx when the training capacity struggles with current numbers.
Beyond that, there has barely even been a symbolic attempt to improve general practice. The only developments have been pretty worrying: more advice and guidance in lieu of referrals; the contract imposition; no winter funding; and a growing reliance on other healthcare professionals.
Thanks to our short-term political system and a lame-duck Government, there is no appetite for improving general practice in any meaningful way. And I’m afraid next year will be the same. We already know the 2024 contract negotiations will bring only minimal changes, and we’re just waiting for the Government to be voted out of office, although I’m hardly enthused by Labour’s plans either.
So, at this time of Christmas cheer, are there any glad tidings to be found? Well, yes. It might sound strange, but last month’s Pulse survey – which revealed that there is a cohort of GPs looking for jobs – does offer a positive spin. GP vacancies have plummeted in the past year, although the reasons are not exactly grounds for celebration – a lack of funding to recruit GPs, the reliance on other healthcare staff and, in some cases, practices simply giving up on trying to hire a GP.
But what it does show is that I was wrong to think throwing money at the problem won’t work. Because now I think it will. Practices have been forced to find ways to make the additional roles reimbursement scheme work for them. If they were given the money to recruit the GPs now becoming available, there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, that ‘if’ is in flashing neon that puts Oxford Street’s festive display to shame, but it is at least possible.
There’ll be another bittersweet moment in the new year when Pulse publishes its final print issue. It will be very different to your usual print issues, as we are returning to our broadsheet roots to review 64 years in print, look at the current state of general practice and speculate about the future of the profession. You will, of course, continue to get all the usual news, views, analysis, clinical features and investigations for free here on PulseToday. But make sure you get your hands on the final issue, which we promise will be a collector’s item!
Merry Christmas all!
Jaimie Kaffash is editor of Pulse. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @jkaffash or email him at editor@pulsetoday.co.uk
