Some interesting facts about General Practice

• • There are approximately 36,000 GPs in the UK
  • It takes 6 years to train as a doctor and then a further 3 years to train to become a GP.
  • Each patient on average sees their GP 4 times per year – this means, there are over 250,000,000 GP/Patient consultations per year; 15% of the entire population see a GP in a two week period.
  • The average practice in the UK has about 6,000 registered patients and 3 - 4 GPs. The average full time GP looks after 1,700 – 1,800 patients.
  • At  Eskdaill Medical we have 10833 Patients (as at 1st January 2009).  We have the equivalent of 5.5 full time GPs, which means each doctor looks after 19570 Patients – well above average!.
  • The average face to face contact with a GP costs £20, compared to £24 in a Walk in Centre, £27 for a telephone contact with NHS Direct, £75 for an attendance at A&E and between £100 – 300 for each attendance at a hospital Out Patient Department.
  • Our Surgery is open from 8.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Monday to Friday.  We have extended hours, by appointment only on Wednesday evenings from 6.30 - 8.00 p.m. and Saturday morning from 8.30 - 11.00 a.m.
  • Some of our GPs additionally provide care outside these times, via the locally based out of hours services.
  • GPs refer about 10% of patients seen to hospital specialties, which means that nearly 90% of all health needs of the British population are managed entirely in general practice.
  • In a recent Government survey it was found that patients were more satisfied with their GPs than they were with the hospital service.  General Practice in the NHS was the most popular of all public services.
  • In a recent Government White Paper, they stated that “by international standards general practice in England is efficient and of high quality. Indeed many countries view with envy our system of list based general practice”.
  • GPs are now paid differently in that nearly 50% of their income is via quality performance-related pay.
  • The performance-related pay is based on achievements made in the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF). This consists of over 100 targets of which 76 cover 10 important disease areas, measuring performance against proven standards.  It has been this measurable improvement in standards of primary health care that has contributed to the increased income to General Practice.
  • This work has also contributed to the largest and most admired clinical database in the world.
  • As a result of this QOF work, GPs will help an additional 7,000 patients avoid suffering from heart attacks or strokes EVERY YEAR.
  • The Government has transferred all its responsibility for funding part of GPs’ pensions to the GPs and then claimed this was a part of a pay rise.
  • In addition to our Contract to provide Standard Primary Care Services, this practice also holds contracts to provide the following additional services, for the convenience and best interests of our patients.
       o Improved patient access
       o Referral to Secondary Care using the Choose and Book System
       o Ensuring a high percentage of children 5 years and under receive
          appropriate immunisation
       o ECG Recording and interpretation
       o Implanon Contraceptive Services
       o IUCD Contraceptive Services
       o Influenza Vaccinations for those “at risk”
       o Pneumovax Vaccinations
       o Medicines Management
       o Minor Injury Services
       o Minor Surgery
       o MMR Vaccinations
       o Near Patient Testing – (monitoring of patients using drugs under a
          shared cared protocol with secondary care)
       o Phlebotomy
       o Spirometry
       o Weight Management