2 March 2015
RCGP Response to Leonard Cheshire Disability Research
Dr Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, has commented on research by Leonard Cheshire Disability showing that GPs spend 15,000 hours a month caring for disabled and elderly patients who have suffered health problems because of their inaccessible homes.
Dr Baker said: “GPs treat the whole person, so we are only too aware that inaccessible or inadequate housing can have a negative impact on our patients’ physical and mental health.
“General practice is currently under huge pressure dealing with the demands of a growing and ageing population with decreasing resources and a chronic shortage of GPs.
“We need at least 10,000 more GPs across the UK by 2020 to keep up with demand, so it goes without saying that the service we could provide for our patients with an extra 15,000 working hours every month, is immense.
“We want what is best for our patients, and taking steps to ensure that they can live safely, in their homes, without constant fear of an accident will not only be good for them, but - as this research shows – will help reduce pressure on general practice and the NHS as a whole.”
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7574/7575/7581
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 50,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.