GPs: at the heart and soul of the NHS.
Why we need to look after the heart of the NHS
by Matt Mckeever.
GPs are the heart and soul of the NHS. They've never had more power and are now not only responsible for the clinical delivery of front line services but must also balance the books by commissioning effectively and efficiently.
In theory the changes (brought about by the Health and Social Care Reform Bill) should be celebrated; cheers of "reducing bureaucracy", "cutting red tape", "power to the people" (doctors and patients) undoubtedly echoed through Westminster, or certain parts of it. However, the increase in workload can’t be overlooked or underestimated. It's hard to imagine what equivalent examples would look like, but perhaps expecting your accountant to become your hairdresser or asking your psychotherapist to double up as a car mechanic come close. The saying goes that with great power comes great responsibility but in this case it seems as if another truism is emerging, good work often goes unnoticed. GPs across the country are working harder than ever and many feel undervalued, unsupported and unconfident. Let's hope this doesn't affect their ability to deliver great care to patients.
Accountability is important, but improvement is essential. Yes, it has been all too easy for senior members of the NHS to dodge or deflect bullets, but instead of responding in kind it seems wise for the medical profession to pause and reflect. Problems are inevitable in an organisation the size of the NHS, which is not only the fifth largest employer in the world, but deals with the most important commodity on the planet, health.
The real question is how can family doctors respond when problems arise? When people experience pain or stress they can act irrationally and forget basic manners and courtesy. The "blame game" is childish and denial is dangerous because it often leads to bigger problems further down the line. Truth, positivity and perseverance are surely the right medicine.
Responsibility to lead lies not only with the experienced and wise but the young and energetic. In most large organisations there are longstanding hierarchies that must be adhered to, but this doesn’t mean innovation and change can’t occur in unlikely places.
One of the missing pieces of the jigsaw that is the future of the NHS, is to positively reinforce GPs for all the great work they do and the results they've delivered. It's reassuring to see the Londonwide LMC has been making themselves heard by announcing that they're wanting to promote how hard GPs work as publicly as possible. This is fantastic and rather than a one off campaign I for one hope this turns into a constant channel of good news. We can all learn something from our American allies in some respects, don't worry I wasn't meaning the P word (privatization) but refer to optimism, positivity and celebrating success.
Encouragement and appreciation for GPs is like exercise for the heart; free, sometimes hard work, often uncomfortable but absolutely vital for growth and longevity.
Matt is Head of Corporate Services at Network Locum (now Lantum).
