Debrief: Consultation length matters

Euan Lawson is right to draw our attention to the length of the GP consultation in the UK. Reference to martyrdom is not required. GPs and their practices have it within their gift to make the changes required to move from 10 to 15 minute consultations. We have recently done so at our own practice, and it would be fair to say that it has been the single most beneficial change in my 21 years at the practice. There has been a reduction in GP stress and anxiety (running late suits no-one), morale has improved correspondingly, and patients are now given more time for their problems. We calculated that we would lose about 70 GP appointments across the week to achieve the change. In preparation for the move, these have been more than replaced by employment of nurse practitioners, a paramedic, a musculoskeletal FCP, and most recently, a mental health nurse FCP.

 

Many practices are moving to 15 minute appointments, and we would urge others to plan to so do. We may even find it adds a few more precious years to GP careers.