Time pressures hamper GPs’ diagnoses
Aviva UK Health has been surveying GPs to discover that their ability to assess patients is being compromised by time constraints.
According to the research, 57% of GPs questioned said they have less time to see their patients than they did five years ago, and 43% felt this affected their ability to diagnose.
Nine in 10 GPs questioned wanted to spend 20 minutes with each patient, rather than the current 10 minute appointment.
Turning to the patient, earlier research from Aviva shows that nearly two-thirds of respondents think NHS appointments are always rushed.
The study also reveals that the Internet is playing an increasingly important role for doctors, with 96% of GPs questioned accessing web search engines in connection with their work, on a daily basis.
Eighty-five per cent of this group admitting to using online resources as an aid to diagnosis.
Practising GP and chief medical officer at Aviva UK Health, Dr Hugh Laing, comments: “Web-based technology has revolutionised the way we all work and fast access to high quality information can be an invaluable support for patients and professionals, but ultimately there is no substitute for a thorough assessment by a qualified GP, and from our research this is clearly not happening in many cases.”
Category: Aviva News, Health Insurance News
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