GPs in Cornwall are on the brink of a crisis - that’s the warning from Kernow Local Medical Committee (LMC) which represents the profession in the county.

Increased workload, including delivering the majority of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, is threatening to overwhelm GP surgeries and staff, says the LMC.

Exceptionally long waits for ambulance transfers by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWAST) from community settings to hospitals mean GPs are also having to manage acutely unwell patients in need of hospital care for longer.

And due to the Covid-19 pandemic, hospitals in Cornwall and Plymouth are also struggling with outpatient capacity issues, leaving longer waiting times for patients to be seen or reviewed, leading to GPs spending more time and appointments fielding patient enquiries.

In the background to this are longstanding shortages of GPs and practice nurses, which the committee says have been brought about by under-resourcing nationally.

“Despite grappling with the challenges faced, local general practice remains open and has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to its clinicians and staff,” said a spokesperson for the LMC.

“Across Cornwall in July, GPs provided 326,570 appointments and 59% of patients were seen face to face in GP surgeries.

“But fears are growing that later in the year many local GP surgeries won’t have the resources or resilience to deal with the existing challenges, plus additional pressures like a huge increase in Covid-19 numbers, a significant rise in respiratory virus cases and a predicted hike in flu cases of at least 50%.”

Dr Nick Rogers, the LMC’s new chairman, said: “The LMC is supporting increasing numbers of GP practices and GPs across Cornwall with issues like resilience, workforce and workload.

“The LMC is calling for urgent support from our local health system partners to help manage demand, stabilise the workforce and release capacity for the emerging work associated with Covid-19 and flu and to find ways to plan ahead for crisis points.”

Dr Rogers, who is also a GP Partner at Falmouth Health Centre, added: “This is a very serious situation – but I would like to reassure patients that general practice in Cornwall is open, is seeing patients face to face and has been throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and will continue to do so.

“We are working as hard, fast and safely as possible to deliver the best outcomes for our patients, set against the challenges faced.”

Nationally, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has warned an emergency rescue package is needed for general practice if patients are to receive the care they need once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.

The RCGP has issued a report, General Practice in Crisis: An Action Plan for Recovery, with priority actions for the Government to take to improve care for patients in general practice – including recruiting thousands of additional GPs and practice staff.

Despite the pressure on local GP practices, results from the recent national 2021 GP Patient Survey show:

• 87% of patients in Cornwall rated their overall experience of their GP practice as ‘good’ – 4% higher than the national average.

• 87% of patients in Cornwall were satisfied with the appointment (or appointments) they were offered – 5% more than the national average.

• 73% of patients in Cornwall found it easy to get through to someone at their GP practice on the phone – 5% better than the national average.

• 92% of patients in Cornwall found the receptionists at their GP practice helpful – 3% above the national average.

• 79% of patients in Cornwall found it easy to use their GP practice’s website to look for information or access services – 4% greater than the national average.

Patients are also asked to help their GP practice deliver effective, safe and timely care by:

• Considering whether you need to consult the GP practice. Some issues can be addressed through simple remedies and first aid, self-care at home, a visit to a pharmacy or a call to 111.

• Being aware that the busiest time on GP practice telephone systems is 8am-10am. We suggest that, if you are contacting your GP surgery for a routine enquiry or are not seeking an appointment, they will be able to address your concern more quickly outside times of peak demand.

• Respecting your GP practice’s frontline staff. We know that queuing on the phone is incredibly frustrating but frontline staff, including receptionists, are here to help.

• Making your views known by joining a Patient Participation Group which allows for constructive feedback between your GP surgery and its patients in an official and regulated capacity.