'It's hard to find a GP who doesn't feel they have to cut corners'

DOCTORS' LEADER WARNS PATIENT SAFETY IS BEING PUT AT RISK DUE TO HIGH WORKLOADS IN SURGERIES

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PATIENT safety is being compromised by high workloads in GP surgeries, a doctors' leader has warned.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, right, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said doctors were facing increasing demand and could not provide the care they want to.

The college published new data at the start of its annual primary care conference in Newport, showing 73 per cent of GPs believe patient safety is at risk due to workload pressures.

The poll of 2,316 GPs also found 58 per cent do not have enough time to adequately assess and treat patients during appointments, while 57 per cent say they do not have time to build the relationships with patients they need to deliver quality care.

In a conference speech to around 2,000 delegates, Prof Hawthorne will set out how more Government funding is needed for general practice.

She will say: "All around the country I meet GPs pushing themselves, day after day, to look after their patients in the face of ever-growing demand and an unsustainable lack of capacity.