GPs left in unsustainable position by “brutal” number of requests

In many ways, Birley Health Centre on the southeast edges of Sheffield is bucking national trends. Since 2020 it has increased clinical workforce capacity by 16% and has an above average number of GPs per patient. The practice has invested in reception staff, and about 70% of patient requests now come through AskmyGP. More patients are seen face to face than request it, and the team, which includes two physician associates, clearly have job satisfaction.

But they are working flat out all day every day to manage their 8850 patients, coming in early and leaving late. Over the past week they have frequently had to turn off AskMyGP hours earlier than the usual 1 pm cut-off because of demand.

GP partner Ben Allen, who is also director of primary care for Sheffield, said that on 6 January he left it on longer because he wanted to offer a good service for patients but …