GPs need more cash, thousands more doctors and extra space in surgeries, ...

GPs need more cash, thousands more doctors and extra space in surgeries before returning to pre-pandemic levels of face-to-face appointments, leading medic claims Dr Richard Vautrey, chair of BMA's GP committee, said the NHS needs doctors But he denied claims from patients people are receiving worse care over phone Sajid Javid said as normal life returns, GPs should be offering face-to-face visits

By Victoria Allen Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: 23:15 BST, 17 September 2021 | Updated: 23:16 BST, 17 September 2021

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Returning to pre-pandemic levels of face-to-face GP appointments cannot happen without more funding, a leading doctor has claimed.

Dr Richard Vautrey, chairman of the BMA's GP committee, said the NHS needs thousands more family doctors – as well as extra space in surgeries – to allow more patients to be seen in-person.

But he denied claims from patients that people are receiving worse care as a result of appointments carried out online or by telephone.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that as life starts to return to normal, more GPs should be offering face-to-face access, adding: 'We intend to do a lot more about it.'

Dr Richard Vautrey (pictured), chairman of the BMA's GP committee, said the NHS needs thousands more family doctors – as well as extra space in surgeries – to allow more patients to be seen in-person

As Covid recedes, norovirus surges

An early wave of the winter vomiting bug is threatening plans to clear the NHS backlog.

Cases of norovirus have been surging above the five-year average for six weeks in a row.

Public Health England (PHE) has identified 55 per cent more cases in the past month than it would expect at this time of year.

Officials say the out-of-season rise is due to relaxed Covid control measures, pupils returning to school and more socialising.

Levels of the virus have been low for 18 months, with the total number of cases this year down 64 per cent at the end of July.

It means there has been a reduction in population immunity, leaving more people susceptible to the virus as they return to normal life. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, but can also include a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs.

Hospitals are forced to close wards when there is an outbreak to control its spread.

PHE recorded 291 lab-confirmed cases in the four weeks to August 29, the latest figures reveal – up from an average of 187 for the same period in the five years before Covid.

The figures represent a fraction of total infections nationwide, but are a reliable indicator of overall

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