SOMERSET is bucking national trends by increasing its number of GPs, according to the NHS.

Research by the Nuffield Trust on behalf of the BBC has revealed the number of GPs per 100,000 people has fallen across the UK from 65 in 2014 to 60 in 2018.

This is the equivalent of 1,500 GPs leaving the health service, meaning each remaining GP has an average of 125 more patients to deal with.

Data published by the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group – which decides how health funding is allocated locally – shows the number in the county has actually been gradually increasing since January 2017.

Health officials have admitted, however, that the ease of getting appointments still varies widely across Somerset – and the number of face-to-face consultations may fall in the coming years.

Michael Bainbridge, the CCG’s associate director of primary care, spoke about the issue at a meeting of Somerset County Council’s adults and health scrutiny committee in Taunton on Wednesday morning (May 8).

The number of GPs employed across Somerset has risen steadily, from 483 in January 2017 to 542 in January 2019 – a rise of just over 12 per cent.

Mr Bainbridge said the CCG was managing to hold onto more trainee GPs at a young age, and had been successful in recruiting new doctors from abroad.

He added: “We’re giving GPs different options at they approach retirement age”, such as allowing them to continue working on reduced hours.

Councillor Andrew Govier – a vocal supporter of Somerset’s community hospitals – questioned whether this increase was down to a rise in part-time staff.

He said: “The headcount is important, but what’s also important is the number of hours GPs are working – there’s been a lot more part-time work these days.

“Has this produced greater capacity in the system, and is there any work being done on that?”

Mr Bainbridge responded: “The whole-time equivalent numbers are also up – so it’s a positive message on GP workforce overall.

“More people are seeking to work part-time – that’s a reflection of demographics and the job being more intense than it used to be.

“The key factors are not just the numbers available – it’s about how that capacity is organised.”

Mr Bainbridge admitted there was still “quite significant variation” among Somerset’s 65 medical practices in terms of how easily and quickly residents could get appointments with their GP.

Councillor Ann Bown raised concerns that this would be exacerbated as a result of new housing developments in Yeovil, Taunton and Bridgwater.

She said: “I have a great concern that we have all these new developments in Somerset – in my own division [Bridgwater West] it’s horrendous – and therefore you’re not going to have enough GP surgeries.”

“The amount of building, even around Taunton – I worry that there’s not going to be sufficient capacity locally, and then they’ll be going to other surgeries which are already packed.”

Mr Bainbridge said housing growth would contribute to fewer face-to-face consultations, as the CCG tries to encourage residents to only visit their GP in person when absolutely necessary.

He said: “We’re trying to promote people in Somerset having healthy, independent lives and moving away from needing to access statutory services.

“There’s a significant move to online services. I have the NHS app on my phone – I can contact my surgery, book appointments and so on. There’s likely to be a reduction in the number of face-to-face consultations.”

Mr Bainbridge promised new GPs would be provided to alleviate “pinch points”, especially in Yeovil and Taunton, but said it was “not an easy and straightforward process” due to the vagaries of the UK’s planning laws.

He said: “The workforce and provision of appropriate premises are things which it is not easy for us to resolve, partly because of the way the planning system works in this country.

“Infrastructure tends to come behind the houses. Anyone who provides schools, surgeries or so forth are often on the back foot.”

From July 1, Somerset’s health service will be reorganised into “primary care networks”, each one serving between 30,000 and 50,000 people.

These new networks will comprise GPs, other areas of the NHS and partners in the voluntary sector, ensuring that care is “more joined up” and patients are signposted to services that care for their specific needs – rather than having to secure a GP appointment in every instance.

Mr Bainbridge said: “GP surgeries will be working together in primary care networks.

“Local access to general practice is important in a rural county, and the number of sites providing GP services should remain approximately the same as currently.

“There may be some opportunities for rationalisation of estate [sharing buildings], particularly in urban areas, and these will be considered as part oft the CCG’s local estates strategy.”

Wells MP James Heappey raised the issue of GPs working with other parts of the NHS in the House of Commons on Tuesday (May 7).

He said: “Many surgeries in my constituency augment the work of GPs with nurse practitioners.

“Will the Minister join me in praising the work of nurse practitioners and say what more the government could do to grow their number, so that they can continue their excellent work in surgeries around the country?”

Stephen Hammond MP, minister for health and social care, replied: “Nurse practitioners do an extraordinarily valuable job across the country. We are committed to training more nurses and more nursing practitioners.”