Dental sector reformer says private GPs are ‘only solution’ after York vote
A business author with medical training has hailed a vote by GPs not to charge for appointments as proof private GP practices are the only remaining option to relieve an overburdened NHS and deliver vital services to disenfranchised patients.
Delegates voted against charging at the British Medical Association’s annual GP conference in York, but warned services were being stretched so much that care was being put at risk.
Dr Simon Hocken, a qualified dentist and author on reform in the dental sector, said: “The vote is admirable in light of GPs’ rising workload but nevertheless a lack of manpower, underfunding and missed and unnecessary appointments mean service delivery is in freefall.
“A simple solution for some would be to start a private GP service – this would fix all three issues and it’s what dentists did when faced with the same problems.
“Patient-centric improvements such as same-day service, seven-day opening and relationship-based care with longer more in depth appointments are transforming oral health care and they are profitable, and I believe it’s the future for GPs.
“The experience in dentistry is patients don’t value what they perceive as a free service. Private patients come for their appointments because they are charged if they miss them, and they experience much better engagement and care because the business model is geared towards their needs, not the government budget.”
In England the share of the NHS budget given to GPs had been shrinking in recent years and now stood at under 9%, despite GPs dealing with 90% of patient contacts with the NHS.
This has happened during a period when the number of consultations have been rising – by more than 10% over the past five years to 340m last year.