DAUK co-chair Dr Ellen Welch has highlighted concerns about unsafe workload pressures on GPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Welch warned that GPs cannot continue to act as a \u2018last resort\u2019 for services that have not been properly commissioned elsewhere in the NHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was speaking in her role as vice chair of North Cumbria Local Medical Committee and quoted in the News and Star<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Welch, a GP in Carlisle, said that the withdrawal of GP-provided phlebotomy in Cumbria has exposed how far practices have stretched beyond their core contract to protect patients. She said they often absorbed hospital work without funding or infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said: \u201cSome GP practices have continued to absorb this work which obviously sends mixed messages that GPs can do this – but it is unsustainable and is plugging commissioning gaps that should be adequately resourced by the ICB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGPs can not be the last resort and feel pressured to take on the work of other services just because the service has not been adequately commissioned, but often we are, because otherwise what will patients do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nLast resort<\/h3>\n\n\n\n