Do GP's Want To Expand?
Last updated: 30/08/2007 - 10:19
GP's want to expand what they can offer their patients - with physiotherapy and counselling being the most popular additional services requested Benenden Healthcare research shows.
According to the findings, four out of five GPs would like to offer more services to patients, with physiotherapy and psychology/psychotherapy/counselling the most popular additional services they would like to offer, according to new research* from mutual healthcare provider Benenden Healthcare Society.
A nationwide poll of a sample of 100 GPs shows 83% would like to offer additional services but are held back by lack of money and lack of staff. Around two-fifths of them say offering extra services is a low Government priority.
GPs operating in partnerships in the sample were most likely to want to offer additional services (86%), compared to other types of practice.
Additional services that top the list of which GPs would like to offer include physiotherapy chosen by 27% and psychology/psychotherapy/counselling which was picked by 24%. Other popular choices included advice on contraception & sexual health (13%); men?s health (12%); ultrasound and scanning (11%); and complementary/alternative therapies (10%).
Jakki Stubbington from Benenden Healthcare said: ?GPs want to do more and to offer more services to patients. However more services inevitably need more money and more resources. There is literally almost no end to the services that could be offered by GPs if they had the time and the money.
?It is interesting that many GPs believe offering additional services is a low priority for Government. However it all comes down to resources in the end. GPs cannot do everything and have to make choices.?
Lack of money and staff are the main reasons stopping GPs operating on their own and in health centres from offering extra services while lack of time is a major concern for those in group practices.
*GfK Healthcare interviewed a representative sample of 100 GPs via GP Net from around the UK in May 2007.
PSP Ltd is not responsible for the contents of external websites.
More information available in Professional Groups