With family doctors under serious pressure, a senior Gateshead GP has spoken of how the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath has left her burnt out - and said the 10-minute GP's appointment is "not fit for purpose".
Dr Dawn Turner, a GP at the Bridges Medical Practice in Gateshead also plays a leading role in managing older people's health for the Newcastle Gateshead NHS CCG. She told ChronicleLive how rising demand - in particular when it comes to mental health and older people with complex needs - was leaving doctors struggling and considering the future.
Dr Turner - who has worked at the practice since 2005 - said: "On average I'm doing 10-hour days. It's hard and I'm in the process of reducing my hours. I'm really quite burnt out. The bottom line is we need more people.
