Answering a written States question, Health Minister Richard Renouf revealed that in the last week of April an average of 751 GP consultations were attended per day compared to 1,251 at the start of the year.
The number of appointments per week peaked at 1,777 in mid-March before dropping off suddenly at the start of April, with levels remaining below 800 for the entire month.
The response also says that the number of GPs has fallen from 88 FTE [full-time equivalent] to 64 due to a number of doctors being forced to self-isolate during the outbreak.
Dozens of GPs were contracted to work for the government last month in response to the crisis.
‘The reduction in the number of GPs in large part accounts for the drop in the total average number of consultations from approximately 1,200 a day to approximately 800,’ the minister said.
‘The reduction in hours involves the closure of routine Saturday morning surgeries (urgent appointments are seen at the urgent treatment centre) and a reduction in the normal working week of 15% overall for each FTE GP.
‘The spike prior to the drop in the number of consultations reflects the vulnerable screening and optimisation work that was performed by GPs during that period.’
Despite this response, Senator Kristina Moore, who posed the written States question, said that it was ‘clear’ that a number of Islanders were choosing not to attend appointments, either through fear of the virus or reluctance to burden healthcare staff.
‘I’m aware that there are about 40 patients going to the urgent treatment centre each day,’ she said.
‘So, it is clear that some people are not seeking to present themselves at appointments. Regular appointments for patients with cancer and other health issues are imperative and it’s important, I think, for people to understand that we have very good levels of primary care still available.
‘I think that some people don’t want to be a burden on healthcare workers, who are people they respect and value, but the message can’t get out there strongly enough that they need to seek appointments and treatment, if they need it.’
She added that Jersey had proved to have a low infection rate, following recent community antibody testing, and she believed appointments could be attended safely.
