How Has The Role Of The GP Changed Since The Launch Of The NHS?

When the NHS was set up back in 1948, the role of the GP was slightly different to how it is now.  In the early years, the GP would have usually worked at a small practice with perhaps just one other doctor, and they would have been responsible for providing a gateway for patients to further specialist medical care.  As well as treating patients within the surgery, the GP would have also been expected to carry out home visits after surgery as well as being on call to deal with emergencies during the night. 

The GPs may well have stayed at the same practice for the duration of their career.  They were often able to build up good relationships with their patients as they were usually the GP for the whole family.  However, this high workload often meant that many GPs worked under considerable pressure and had little support.  The 1960s saw GPs being issued with maximum patient lists of 2,000 patients, and measures were put into place to hire support staff and improve the accessibility of professional education resources.

GP fundholding changed again in the 1990s, as the government wanted to provide an incentive for GPs to become more involved with the wider health system.  GPs were able to commission services on their patient’s behalf and performance related pay was bought in to motivate the healthcare specialists. 

Changes to the NHS in the 2000s meant GPs were required to register and adhere to further quality care standards, meaning that more and more time was required to spend on meeting objectives and completing paperwork.  Whilst many GPs felt this could have a negative impact on the amount of time they can spend with each patient, having procedures and systems in place should mean that budgets can be managed more effectively and high standards should be met at all times.

Whilst the day to day role of the GP may have changed significantly since the 1940s as a result of the introduction of quality and standards reviews, the ultimate role of an NHS GP is still the same.  This is to provide a first point of call for patients so as to identify and treat common health conditions, plus referring patients to the relevant secondary healthcare providers.

Whilst many GPs choose to work in a permanent role, others may prefer to practice as a locum GP.  Further details regarding working as a locum GP or how to register as a locum can be found at the Locum Select website.