Ongoing Struggle for Face-to-Face GP Appointment
A woman reports that her husband, Geoff, has been unable to secure a face-to-face appointment with a GP for two months despite experiencing a persistent mental health crisis. Geoff, who is identified only by his first name, first sought a GP appointment in Devon in December and continues to try to access care.
Their GP surgery stated to the BBC that it had taken all possible measures from its standpoint. Anita and Geoff do not hold the surgery responsible, acknowledging that primary care services are under significant pressure.
The government emphasized that all practices "must provide face-to-face appointments, especially if someone is in crisis," while acknowledging it had "inherited a broken" system. It highlighted ongoing investments in primary care and mental health services, including recruiting thousands more GPs, a funding increase of £1.1bn, hiring over 7,000 mental health workers, expanding NHS talking therapies via the NHS app, and piloting six new walk-in neighbourhood health centres across England to offer 24/7 access to vital care.
'I was very scared'
Anita, Geoff's wife, began to notice signs of distress in autumn last year. The couple had planned to travel abroad, but Anita feared the trip might not go well.
Her concerns proved accurate; after four sleepless nights, Geoff reached a critical low point.
"I was very scared," Anita explained.
"We had to make him stay in bed - because he wanted to walk. And he has in the past walked to a bridge. And we just didn't know what would happen."
Upon returning from holiday, Anita contacted their local GP surgery as Geoff was reluctant to attend A&E due to his fear of hospitals. This fear also led Anita to avoid calling NHS 111, which she later learned could have provided immediate local support.
Despite Anita describing Geoff's mental health struggles over the phone to receptionists and completing an online consultation, Geoff was not seen by a GP.
Two months later, Geoff has had an appointment with a paramedic practitioner and a telephone consultation with a mental health nurse, but still no in-person consultation with a doctor.
"I feel we've been left by the wayside," Anita said.
"When suicide could be on the table, you reach out to someone that could just listen in the first instance.
"And, when you don't get that, it's horrible for the person feeling the way they do, and it's horrible for the person trying to support them."
Increased Demand on GPs
Beccy Baird, a policy fellow from the charity The Kings Fund, explained that GPs have reported rising demand from patients in recent years.
"The demand is caused by a variety of things, such as the fact that there are more conditions that are treatable, and some of these - such as diabetes - are managed entirely in primary care.
"We're also living longer, with increasingly complex conditions.
"On top of this, we're all under pressure to do more, and people expect faster treatment and access - plus GPs report a rise in patients with mental health needs since the pandemic."
Support Available for Mental Health Issues
The suicide prevention charity the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) advises that help is available for those experiencing mental health problems.
"Make sure that you're there for people that you care about, that you love, and be determined to help," said service director Wendy Richardson.
"Because sometimes when you're the person that's struggling, you find it really hard to kind of navigate what's out there.
"So reach out to charities, look on the website, phone the NHS, find out what's available locally, and don't give up hope, because there are services, and you deserve to get treatment and help."
Geoff is currently in a better state due to family support and prescribed medication, but Anita emphasized that his challenges are ongoing.
"It's not about my husband, it's not about my specific surgery who I've been with for 50 years," Anita said.
"I just thought, 'good grief, what if this happened to someone that didn't have someone to advocate for them or any support'?"
Where to Get Urgent Mental Health Help
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated:
"Our thoughts are with the patient concerned - all GP practices must provide face-to-face appointments, especially if someone is in crisis.
"This government inherited a broken primary care system after a decade of neglect.
"To turn this around we are rolling out online consultation requests at all GP surgeries to end the 8am scramble, recruiting thousands more GPs and have delivered a funding boost of £1.1bn.
"We are also transforming mental health services, including by hiring over 7,000 mental health workers, expanding NHS talking therapies through the NHS app and piloting six new walk-in neighbourhood health centres across England so patients have access to the vital care they need 24/7."
The NHS advises individuals in situations similar to Geoff's to contact NHS 111, noting that specialist local treatment will be available.
For Geoff and Anita, NHS 111 was very helpful, but they remain hopeful that Geoff will eventually see his GP in person.
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