Challenges Faced by Willingham Medical Practice and Longstanton Branch Surgery
Backlog of COVID reintroduction, routine procedures, and minor surgery, high COVID transmission within the community, staff illness and isolation, increase in mental health issues, vaccination program challenges, secondary care backlog, patient expectations vs. reality. Misinformation and misconceptions around COVID passes and vaccinations, staffing shortages and lack of experience are key struggles faced by the practice.
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WILLINGHAM MEDICAL PRACTICE AND LONGSTANTON BRANCH SURGERY
NORTHSTOWE Overall patient population 10,841 Patients registered from Northstowe 2257 Percentage of total population 20.7% Occupancies 1188 (as of June 2022) Demographic split: Age 0-17 752 Age18-65 1462 Age 66+ 43 Percentage of appointments for Northstowe residents w/c 7thMarch 164 patients out of 1036 appointments (this is 15.8 %) Figures correct as of 25/07/2022 unless otherwise stated
PRACTICE EXPANSION 7THMarch 2019 25thJuly 2022 TOTAL POPULATION 8,761 TOTAL POPULATION 10,841 TOTAL LONGSTANTON 2648 (31%) TOTAL LONGSTANTON 3098 (29%) TOTAL WILLINGHAM 3711 (43%) TOTAL WILLINGHAM 4380 (40%) TOTAL NORTHSTOWE 510 (5%) TOTAL NORTHSTOWE 2257 (21%) OTHER 1892 (21%) OTHER 1106 (10%) Approx 20% increase in practice population Staffing increase from 25 to 31 (24%) In 2016 we were offering 29 GP sessions (1 GP for 275 registered patients) Currently we offer 38 GP sessions (1 GP sessions per 285 patients)
PRACTICE WORKLOAD W/C 7TH MARCH 2022 MON 7THMARCH GP APPOINTMENTS W/c 7THMARCH GP APPOINTMENTS 112 618 TOTAL APPOINTMENTS 185 TOTAL APPOINTMENTS 977 TOTAL PRESCRIPTIONS 440 TOTAL PRESRIPTIONS 1500 TOTAL PROCESSED DOCUMENTS 322 TOTAL PROCESSED DOCUMENTS 1015 PATHOLOGY RESULTS PER DAY 51 PATHOLOGY RESULTS PER WEEK 421 TOTAL TASKS PER WEEK 782 TOTAL REFERRALS MADE IN MARCH 351
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? BACKLOG OF COVID RE INTRODUCTION OF ROUTINE PROCEDURES AND MINOR SURGERY HIGH TRANMISSION OF COVID WITHIN THE COMMUNITY (NOT REQUIRING HOSPITALISATION) STAFF ILLNESS AND ISOLATION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS INCREASE IN MENTAL HEALTH DUE TO THE PANDEMIC & ECONOMIC PRESSURE VACCINATION PROGRAMME COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SECONDARY CARE BACKLOG INCREASE TRANSFER OF WORK FROM SECONDARY CARE SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND SAFEGUARDING PATIENT EXPECTATION AND THE REALITY
WHAT DO WE STRUGGLE WITH? MISINFORMATION Particularly in relation to Covid passes and vaccinations MISCONCEPTIONS - Willingham is not unique. The PCN, CCG and the whole of Primary Care is struggling. We are facing the same challenges following the pandemic as everyone else. Recovery is expected to take years. STAFFING & EXPERIENCE Sickness and isolation of staff. Retirement of experienced staff. VOLUME OF CALLS Week commencing 7thMarch we dealt with 1977 inbound calls. WINTER PRESSURES Experienced a very busy winter after previous lockdown, and lots of viral illness still in circulation. INFECTION CONTROL some restrictions are still in place FUNDING Why can t we just employ another GP? ABUSIVE PATIENTS TO STAFF Threats and personal insults almost daily towards staff.
WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW? Continued focus on reducing waiting times. Adjusting GP rotas to suit demand. More Face to face consultations re-introduced in March as patient choice. Introduction of the 48 hr appointments (less urgent on the day offered) Re-direction from the phone advertising and encouraging use of System Online. Sending SMS pathology results etc. Education and communication with the patient population via Newsletters and Social Media. New website. Patient engagement and awareness. Through public forums and PPG. Social Prescriber and Clinical Pharmacist employment (PCN). Dispensary expansion and additional phone lines.
SUMMARY This is a practice that does not sit still and accept the waiting times are ok . We manage with the resources we have and always have the patient needs in our minds, ensuring we are there for those who need us most urgently. We continue to trial new appointment formats and initiatives with a dynamic and fluid approach. Results are never instant. The practice is responsive and proactive to all complaints and feedback. There needs to be an acknowledgement that this is a national problem across Primary care and the whole country. We are not unique and face the same challenges as everywhere else. We are at the tail end of a pandemic which will have an impact on the NHS for years, this includes primary care where we continue to try and support patients that are waiting for specialist treatments as best we can. Please be kind and respectful to our staff, particularly our receptionists who really do try their best to help everyone.
