{"id":139527,"date":"2021-09-23T00:32:29","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T00:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=139527"},"modified":"2021-09-23T00:32:29","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T00:32:29","slug":"doctors-must-return-to-seeing-patients-in-person-to-save-lives-boris-johnson-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/doctors-must-return-to-seeing-patients-in-person-to-save-lives-boris-johnson-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctors MUST return to seeing patients in person to save lives, Boris Johnson says"},"content":{"rendered":"

DOCTORS must start seeing more patients face-to-face to save lives, Boris Johnson warned last night.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Prime Minister said unless GPs swap appointments in surgeries for video call consultations patients will suffer as illnesses and ailments are missed.<\/p>\n


\n<\/p>\n

Speaking in America, Mr Johnson warned: \u201cPeople need the security and confidence that they will be treated in person by a GP who can have proper hands-on understanding of the problem they have got. <\/p>\n

"That is only reasonable. People are entitled to that reassurance. <\/p>\n

"I am absolutely certain that unless we can deliver that there will be people sadly whose symptoms are not picked up and who will suffer as a result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about a warning from the head of the Royal College of GPs that face-to-face appointments might never return to their normal level, the PM said: \u201cPeople should see their GPs in person if that\u2019s what they need.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people will be happy with other contact or reassurance but a lot of people will need a face to face appointment and all the reassurance that gives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see GPs seeing the right people at the right time and the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The intervention came after the head of the Royal College of GPs said that the current situation – that 57 percent of appointments are taking place in person – was "about right" and that the public would "get used to it".<\/p>\n

Prof Martin Marshall told the Commons on Tuesday: "I'd say we are probably about where we should be \u2013 a reduction in face-to-face from 80 per cent to 56 per cent on average across the country is probably about right. <\/p>\n

"I suspect patients will get used to remote consultations."<\/p>\n

Campaigners and patients' groups have claimed that many vulnerable Brits have been unable to access the appropriate care due to the lack of face-to-face appointments.<\/p>\n

The British Medical Association said that the claims that GPs were refusing face-to-face appointments were "inaccurate" and "dangerous".<\/p>\n

Before the pandemic hit last March, around 80 per cent of all consultations were made at a doctor's surgery – now it is just above half.<\/p>\n

In May, officials in the health sector promised to scrap the "total triage" system that was brought in during the pandemic.<\/p>\n

This meant patients had to call their GP surgery first to explain their symptoms, then undergo a telephone or video consultation before meeting their doctor in person.<\/p>\n

Officials said that all patients had the right to choose if they wanted to see their doctor in person.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We pay for your stories!<\/h3>\n

Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?<\/p>\n

Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 02077824104. You can WhatsApp us on 07423 720 250. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours<\/p>\n

Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks.<\/p>\n