Latest news with #GPs
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Are YOU eligible for weight-loss jabs on the NHS? ETHAN ENNALS reveals the official new documents that determine if you can get the drugs for FREE from your GP
It is the biggest shake-up of obesity treatment in NHS history, it has been claimed. From later this month, GPs will be able to prescribe weight-loss jabs to thousands. These once-a-week injections – Wegovy and Mounjaro – can help patients shed up to a fifth of their body weight in only a year.
Medscape
3 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
GPs Voice Top 10 AI Concerns
A review of queries received by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) last year has highlighted the top concerns of GPs about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical practice. The MPS told Medscape News UK that all AI-themed queries came from GPs. No questions were raised by secondary care doctors. Key Concerns Identified The assessment revealed 10 main areas of concern for GPs: Patient safety Data protection Patient consent Liability Indemnity Transcribing tools Generation of fit notes Clinical prompts Processing of laboratory results Generative AI GPs Wary of AI Risks Medicolegal advice on these themes has been published on the MPS website. "We know members are keen to explore and adopt AI tools, which may enhance patient care and help to facilitate more efficient working," Dr Ben White, MPS deputy medical director, said in a press release. However, calls to the medicolegal advice line showed members were wary of potential risks. Particular concerns included liability and defence society cover, safety for patients, data protection, and patient consent. Such concerns echo a survey by Medscape last year which found that one in five respondents were apprehensive about using AI in clinical practice. More specific advice was sought on the medicolegal implications of using AI software for transcribing patient consultations, generating fit-to-fly letters or fit notes, using clinical prompts, and processing laboratory results. "AI is of course fast-evolving, and we will continue to revisit the guidance," White said. The MPS Foundation has contributed to a white paper on AI in healthcare , aimed at ensuring AI tools are developed and integrated to be usable, useful, and safe for both patients and clinicians. "Bringing about greater confidence in AI among clinicians is vital if the potential benefits are to be unlocked," White said. Doctors Support AI But Remain Concerned Nell Thornton, improvement fellow at the Health Foundation, said the MPS findings echoed the foundation's own research. "If AI is to help fulfil its promise to improve patient care, further clarification is needed on issues like regulation and professional liability," she told Medscape News UK . Doctors are keen to ensure that the human dimension of care is protected in an increasingly digitised system, she added. "Addressing these issues will be crucial for ensuring the development and adoption of AI is responsible and works for everyone." Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told Medscape News UK that the college was "always open to introducing new technologies that can improve the experience of patients – and GPs are often at the forefront of this". However, AI use is "not without potential risks" and its implementation "must be closely regulated to guarantee patient safety and the security of their data". "Technology will always need to work alongside and complement the work of doctors and other healthcare professionals, and it can never be seen as a replacement for the expertise of a qualified medical professional," Hawthorne emphasised. "Clearly there is big potential for the use of AI in general practice, but it's vital that it is carefully implemented and closely regulated in the interest of patient safety." Consultation Summaries Show Promise and Peril Dr Rosie Shire from the Doctors' Association UK GP committee told Medscape News UK : "As more AI tools become available, the possibilities of how they could assist GPs grows, but so do the concerns, as highlighted by the MPS." The idea of AI software providing a summary of a GP consultation was "very appealing", she said. It could enable GPs to focus fully on the patient rather than taking notes, which could improve communication and patient satisfaction, and save time on recall and typing up notes. "However, it's vital software is accurate and reliable, able to distinguish who is speaking, and understands accents and dialects,' Shire stressed. 'Otherwise it could lead to increased workload, as GPs spend additional time checking the AI has performed correctly." AI Can't Replace 'Gut Feeling' There is potential for inaccuracies being introduced into patient records if clinicians become over-reliant on AI records of consultations, Shire said. In time-pressured clinics, GPs might not read through AI summaries. "It's important clinicians are given time to review and confirm any AI-generated outcome to ensure accuracy. We also need to remember that AI can't replace that gut feeling you occasionally get as a GP when you see a patient you know, and feel that something just isn't right,' she added. Liability Questions Remain Shire said that a standard policy on AI use in general practice was needed. Clarity is also required over who would be responsible if AI software malfunctioned and led to patient harm. "Would it be the practice partners, as the data owners, the GP who saw the patient, or the AI software provider?" White said the MPS would not normally provide indemnity for issues relating to AI software failure. While the society is not currently aware of any binding case law, "we would expect the designers or producers of the AI software to be liable for any issues relating to the failure of the AI software'. Where a practice has purchased an AI system, the individual GP using it would remain potentially liable for any harm that results from its use. "Doctors remain responsible for the decisions they make whilst using such technology,' he said. 'In order to mitigate the risk of a complaint or claim, doctors should assure themselves that any system they are using is fit for purpose and appropriate for the patients that they are seeing."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Embattled GP reveals the biggest losers of Albo's Medicare overhaul
Labor's plans to reform chronic health funding will cripple community medical practices and put Australia's most vulnerable at risk, a leading doctor has warned. From July 1, the federal government will overhaul its approach to funding treatment for patients with chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes as part of its reforms to Medicare The government hopes the changes would 'simplify, streamline and modernise' the treatment of long-term diseases for both patients and doctors. But health experts warn they will remove the incentives in place for publicly-funded GPs to deliver quality care to their patients. Dr Kenneth McCroary, who chairs a prominent advocacy group for GPs in south-west Sydney, said the changes will halve the payments his doctors receive from the government for chronic disease treatment. 'We had these things called chronic health plans and chronic management plans and team-based care plans and mental health plans, which gave us a little bit more funding to spend more time with the patients and help look after them better,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'And so on July 1, what they're going to do is going to cut the funding for those plans... so it means that instead of being funded to spend some actual quality time working with our patients... we're going to take a 50 per cent cut in the payments for that quality care.' While he insisted the gutting of primary health was a bipartisan failure and not the fault of a single side of politics, he said former Labor champions of universal health care like Bob Hawke and Gough Whitlam would be 'rolling in their graves' over the way their party is managing Medicare. The changes will reduce the list of chronic health services through practices can bulk-bill through Medicare and substitute a shortened list of eligible services, including the preparation and review of chronic condition management plans. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Michael Wright also recognised the risks of the changes when they were first flagged last year. 'We know these chronic condition item numbers are crucial to support the financial viability of many practices, and they are the most commonly bulk billed items,' he told NewsGP. 'We were worried that these changes would reduce funding for these important services. When we surveyed our members last year 69 per cent said they would have to start charging a fee rather than bulk bill patients.' Dr McCroary estimated doctors at his practice would be lose out on funding to the equivalent of $40,000 to $45,000 per year. He believes the changes will benefit only those clinics that make a business out of quick, superficial chronic disease treatments. 'How the hell am I going to keep my doors open now, unless I turn into one of the bulk-billing medical centers that sees ten people an hour in-and-out my door every six minutes?' he asked. 'It's not the kind of medicine I want to practice; it's not the kind of medicine my colleagues want to practice; it's not the kind of medicine that community needs to keep them well and healthy and alive and out of hospital; but it's what the government continues to incentivize as it continues to bludgeon away at the core of primary care.' According to Victoria University, more than half of the Australian population lives with a chronic condition, a problem felt most acutely in less economically advantaged communities. Dr McCroary observes the effects of chronic diseases on a daily basis as practice principal at Macarthur General Practice in Campbelltown. 'Just yesterday, a couple came in, he's got heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis. She's got epilepsy and osteoporosis and diabetes and asthma and that's just off the top of my head,' he said. 'And they'll tell me: 'Please bulk bill us, otherwise, you know we can't afford to come here. We're only alive because of the care we get from you guys.'' 'They're our normal patient, they're the normal kind of people we see every day and now we're supposed to be looking after them at half the Medicare income. When asked how he plans to keep his Campbelltown practice open, Dr McCroary expected to work two full time jobs: one with his patients and another advocating for change. 'We're just going to keep trying. But, yeah, it gets hard,' he said.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
The GP practices with the most unhelpful receptionists in England named and shamed. Every surgery in the country ranked - so find out how yours fares
The GP surgeries with the most unhelpful receptionists in England are today named and shamed. Find out exactly how yours fares with MailOnline's new search tool, which ranks all 6,200-plus practices across the country. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Experts warn against anxiety drug prescribed to millions due to little-known risk of 'toxic overdose'
Experts have issued a safety warning over a popular anxiety medication that can cause 'toxic' effects including seizures, depression and even cardiac arrest in high doses. Beta blockers, such as propranolol, have traditionally been prescribed for heart problems, but are increasingly offered by doctors to treat episodes of anxiety—as they slow the heart rate, supposedly reducing the physical symptoms of panic. Recent British research showed the number of prescriptions for propananol to treat anxiety doubled between 2003 and 2018. Roughly 7million prescriptions for the drug—which is also given for high blood pressure—are dispensed in the UK every year, according to official data. But now, experts say not only is there 'no evidence' to prove the drugs work for anxiety, too few patients, who are typically given large numbers of pills, are warned of the risk of overdose. In a recent letter to The Guardian, pharmacist Christopher Sullivan warned that the drug 'is associated with significant adverse outcomes' and urged GPs to exercise 'extreme caution when prescribing these medicines for anxiety'. 'Prescribing these medicines for anxiety is not recommended in national evidence-based guidelines,' he added. It followed comments from GP Dr Amir Khan, who told the newspaper that propananol had been linked to 'higher rates of depression' and warned GPs not to prescribe it to anxious patients who also suffer low mood. 'If you are taking them long term, you can't suddenly stop them,' he added. 'You need to be weaned off them.' The risks are not thought to pertain to those taking the medicine for heart problems and other physical issues like migraine—but experts say patients with mental health troubles are vulnerable to either accidentally or purposefully taking an overdose. The pharmacist's warning comes amid two high profile deaths related to the drug including accidental overdoses. In 2019, an inquest heard a mother-of-two, who was an NHS manager, accidentally overdosed on propranolol which she was initially prescribed for anxiety in 2018. Philippa Hulme, 46, died less than two hours after taking the lethal dose, with tests showing toxic levels in her system. A statement from Mrs Hulme's GP surgery said: 'Pippa had a history anxiety and depression and was well known to the practice. 'In July 2018 she was prescribed anxiety medication— propranolol and was given 60 tablets to take—one a day a maximum of two in 24 hours.' The coroner concluded that her death was most likely explained by an 'exacerbation' of anxiety that led her to 'consider it would be beneficial if she took more tablets to help her with the anxiety. 'I do not consider that she knew how toxic propranolol can be.' Another heartbreaking case is that of a mother-of-five who is thought to have accidentally killed herself with propranolol. A 2015 inquest heard how Janine Southwell, 37, a former beauty therapist was prescribed the drug, which she was 'reckless' about taking. She was found dead in bed, in August in 2015, with almost five times the potentially fatal level of the medication in her blood after a meal and glass of wine with her cousin. Her mother Janet Southwell said: 'She didn't take tablets when she was supposed to so she could have had a stockpile.' The coroner, Alan Walsh, concluded Ms Southwell did not intend to end her life. The fresh warnings follow guidance published by the General Pharmaceutical Council in October last year that warned about the 'wide variation' in individuals' response to toxic levels of propanolol. 'Peak plasma concentrations of propranolol occur 1-2 hours after ingestion, so symptoms of overdose will not be seen immediately,' the warning read. 'Rapid deterioration can occur following a propranolol overdose, this can include confusion and loss of consciousness as well as cardiovascular complications including cardiac arrest. 'As propranolol can cross the blood brain barrier, the risk of convulsions is higher than with other beta blockers. 'Delay in treatment increases the risk of fatality, therefore it is important to seek emergency help as soon as possible following overdose.' The danger of toxic propranolol overdose was a subject of the healthcare safety investigation report in 2020. This report revealed that vulnerable patients with existing migraines, anxiety and depression were at risk of using propranolol for self-harm. In 2022 to 2023, the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) received 358 enquiries involving intentional propranolol overdose.
