A BASINGSTOKE GP surgery has reduced its number of GPs by more than 50 per cent since being taken over by Operose, according to an investigation by BBC Panorama. 

Read more: BBC found Operose replacing doctors with less qualified staff

The Camrose, Gillies and Hackwood (CGH) Partnership, which was taken over by Operose in 2020, featured on the Panorama episode this evening, with investigative reporter Jacqui Wakefield revealing a huge reduction to the number of GPs at the surgery from the equivalent of 25 full time doctors to 11.

She spoke to a couple from Basingstoke who have struggled to see their GP after the CGH Partnership was taken over by Operose.

John and Diane, both 76, have ongoing health issues and rely heavily on the Brighton Hill surgery.

John told Panorama: “We had a very good GP we could get appointments to see him easily, not necessarily the same day but within a couple of days.”

However, after Operose took over the CGH Partnership John said it became difficult to see a GP.

He told the programme: “You won’t get to talk to a doctor, you won’t get an appointment with a doctor, there are no resources to handle the face-to-face appointments that people really feel that they used to enjoy and now can’t.”

He added: “When I think about what’s next, I feel very concerned that we won’t get the care that we need when we need it.”

Panorama revealed that NHS data shows that before Operose took over the CGH Partnership there was the equivalent of 25 full time doctors and 42,000 patients.

According to the Panorama investigation, there are now 11.

During the episode Panorama went undercover at an Operose-run surgery in London. 

During her time at the surgery, the BBC reporter was told by the practice manager that they hire less qualified medical staff called physician associates (PAs) because they were “cheaper” than GPs.

Panorama analysed NHS data for 6,500 practices across England and found:

-For every 2,000 registered patients, there are on average the equivalent of 1.2 full-time GPs

-But at Operose practices the average is half that, with 0.6 full time equivalent GPs

-Operose employs six times as many PAs as the NHS average, according to the NHS data analysed by Panorama

An Operose Health spokesperson said: "It is deeply disappointing that the BBC decided to deliberately mislead and secretly record our GP practice staff, including junior members of the team, to cover a story they report on almost every day - a national shortage of GPs.

"Like all GP practices around the country, we are facing probably the most challenging period in the NHS’s history. Despite these challenges, we have a strong track record on performance, recruitment and investment in our staff and services. This success is due to our staff, who go above and beyond every day to care for patients. 

"The CQC currently rates 97 per cent of our practices as good or outstanding. We are recruiting a new GP at the rate of one every nine days and are investing over £1m this year in sector-leading GP salaries to help recruit and retain GPs in a very competitive market. We are also an accredited Living Wage Employer.

"The issues the BBC has highlighted are not unique to us, but common across primary care in this country. It's a shame the BBC chose to ignore our record and offers for a full and open briefing, opting for sensationalism instead of a more rounded and topical debate on an issue the public deeply cares about."

You can watch the Panorama episode here. 

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