Numbers of patients contacting an MP over problems accessing face to face GP appointments is continuing to grow, despite the country easing restrictions.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said people who want to see a GP face to face should be allowed, but is being told by some of his constituents, many still face barriers.
He said: “Covid led to backlogs in appointments at hospitals with many routine operations and appointments having to be cancelled. It cannot be allowed to create another health crisis in GP practice. We know GPs are doing an excellent job rolling out the vaccine programme but I am repeatedly being told accessing face to face appointments is a struggle.
“Many people prefer speaking to a GP in person as they can guarantee confidentiality, and others are saying they believe they need to be examined and should not be being diagnosed via a telephone consultation or video appointment.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has urged GPs to increase the number of patients they see face to face and extra funding for this has been made available. Nationally pre-Covid about 80 per cent of appointments were face to face compared with about two-thirds now.
Mr Davies added: “The change to remote consulting was based on Government’s instructions for infection control purposes and to keep patients safe at the start of the pandemic. As we move through it and learn to live with it, my constituents are frustrated the service they were used to has not resumed.
“While I understand many routine issues can be dealt with on the phone, there will be things being missed or not picked up on because a patient is not directly in front of that GP. Doctors themselves have told me how important non-verbal cues are.”
Doctors point to an increase in workload, delivering both Covid-19 vaccines and flu jabs on top of their normal appointments and the fact there is an ongoing shortage of GPs.
Mr Davies said the problem did not refer to one specific practice in the constituency but correspondence related to numerous practices. He will be speaking with ministers at the Department of Health and health officials in the area to discuss the issues raised.