Medical experts in Nottinghamshire have given advice on what alternatives to GP appointments are available as the county and country faces a difficult period. Volumes of patients are not able to book appointments with their local GP due to the sheer demand.
The busiest GP, in terms of the amount of patients on its roll in comparison to doctors, is Parliament Street Medical Centre, on Upper Parliament Street in the city centre. It has 0.58 full time equivalent doctors - not including locums - for 7,782 patients, creating a ratio of more than 13,000 patients per GP.
You can see how busy your doctor's surgery is in comparison by clicking here. Experts say this ratio is exacerbated by some surgeries not being able to recruit trained staff.
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Dr Irfan Malik, senior partner at Elmswood Surgery in Sherwood, said: "Pressures are being experienced by doctors and nurses across the country and a number of practices nationally are struggling to recruit. Some surgeries are understaffed to cope with demand.
"We used to see a dip in demand heading into the summer months, but that doesn't appear to happen anymore. The main problem is the backlog in hospital clinics.
"The GP side of things can move very quickly, but there seems to be a bottle neck in outpatient departments, where patients are waiting to be seen by consultants. If a procedure is done, there seems to be a long wait for a follow-up appointment.
"Nationally, there is a huge demand on all aspects of the NHS, where some ambulances are having to wait outside A&E departments with patients inside. To get the care you need, a local pharmacist can help with advice, 111 can be called and GP surgeries are open - you can speak to the receptionist if required, and if a GP is busy, it may take time to get a response but they always get back, we wouldn't want patients neglecting symptoms."
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), responsible for administering healthcare services across the county, say staff are working as hard as they can to see patients. There is also advice available to ease the pressure on GPs where patients could be able to get the advice or care they need elsewhere.
Dr James Hopkinson, a local GP and clinical Leader of the CCG, said: "The health system across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, like the rest of the country, is facing increased pressures as we come out of the other side of the pandemic. GP practices are at the forefront of this pressure and are working extremely hard to deliver the best possible care for their patients.
"We are doing everything we can to support GP practices, including investment in workforce so we can direct patients to a health and care expert who best meets their need. This might include a doctor, pharmacist, social prescriber, physiotherapist, or nurse - who are all part of our highly-skilled front-line primary care team.
"It is important to remember that the NHS is still here for you. If you have concerns about your health, then your GP is here for you. If you have minor illnesses, like a cold or hay fever, then your local pharmacy can help you. If you are unsure where to go, then contact 111 as they will be able to direct you to the right service for your needs."
