GP surgeries across the region are facing a "crisis" as residents say getting an appointment is "near impossible".
Face to face appointments have steadily returned to General Practices across the country following a halt during the covid-19 pandemic. But as covid still circulates in communities, many people have expressed concerns that there is a huge pressure on the primary service.
Families right across Merseyside, and the UK, have complained about long waiting times, struggling to get an appointment and a back log on vital services as some fear there is "no end point". One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she cannot get a GP appointment in Prescot.
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She told the ECHO: "It's near impossible. They say you need to call at 8.30am but you finally get through after being on hold and there's no appointments and you have to go through it all again. By the time you manage to get through you don't need them anymore.
"People moan at the staff but it's not their fault, they are getting the brunt of it but this is a crisis and more needs to be done to support our vital national health service and all those needing to use it."
Over recent weeks, some GP practices have taken to contacting patients to inform them of a "staffing crisis" meaning there is limited availability for appointments as many people take to social media to express their concerns. One centre in Halewood urged people to attend local walk-in centres or pharmacy or A&E in an emergency.
Taking to a local Facebook Page, people said they had received a text from the surgery as they expressed worries for the staff. One resident said: "I got a text the other week and my first thought was for the staff It must be hard, there's such a big demand.
"It is concerning if people genuinely do need a doctor, and something could be missed but equally, other places you can be seen as well and get a good enough service there, it's about thinking to yourself what do I need."
This is echoed elsewhere across Merseyside and the UK, as covid continues to have an impact. The ECHO previously reported that GPs are stressed and burnt out as they struggle to keep pace with rising numbers of patients with increasingly complex complaints.
Dr Omon Imohi, a 39-year-old GP in St Helens, finds the job "really draining" some days, and is often worried about taking time to go to the toilet. The NHS lost 743 GPs in the year from March 2021 to April 2022, according to the British Medical Association (BMA), and although the total number of GPs has stayed largely flat in recent years, patient numbers are rising.
Responding to the UKHSA's first ever Red National Severe Weather Warning for extreme heat, Emma Runswick, deputy chair of BMA council, said this was creating an additional stress on an "NHS that is already on red alert due to staffing shortages and an overstretched workforce"
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Dr Hilary previously discussed the "concerning" issue as he said there will be around eight and a half million people without a GP. He added: "There's so many things wrong at the moment that it really worries me that if we see anything like the think tank say we are going to lose in the next few years the NHS will collapse."
A spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside told the ECHO: "Staff in General Practice are working extremely hard to see as many people as possible. Covid-19 is still circulating in our communities and having an impact on staff sickness rates.
"There are a number options available for people to get the health advice they need, including 111 online and visiting local pharmacy. Most GP practices also have care navigators available who can help ensure people are directed to the most appropriate place for their health need, which could include a face to face, telephone or video consultation.
"Please look at the other options available for accessing NHS services if your condition is not urgent e.g. following self-care advice where you can from www.nhs.uk."
According to the NHS, you can go to an urgent treatment centre (UTC) if you need urgent medical attention, but it's not a life-threatening situation . UTCs are open at least 12 hours a day, every day but NHS 111 can help if you need urgent medical help or you're not sure what to do.
Conditions that can be treated at an urgent treatment centre include:
- sprains and strains
- suspected broken limbs
- minor head injuries
- cuts and grazes
- bites and stings
- minor scalds and burns
- ear and throat infections
- skin infections and rashes
- eye problems
- coughs and colds
- high temperature in child and adults
- stomach pain
- being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea
- emergency contraception
Alternatively, as qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains. If symptoms suggest it's something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need.
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