ARCHIVED - Murcia health centres to limit number of patients per GP in medical pilot scheme
ARCHIVED ARTICLE -
The trials will be carried out at 15 clinics with less than 1,250 registered patients in the Region of Murcia
The Murcian Health Service (SMS) has revealed plans to limit patient numbers per GP at 15 medical centres with fewer than 1,250 registered health cards from next week as part of a pilot scheme to reduce pressure in primary care.
From next week, family doctors at the selected clinics will be restricted to 35 patients per day (30 scheduled appointments plus five unforeseen ones).
In the case of primary care paediatricians, they will be limited to 20 appointments per day.
The Regional Minister of Health, Juan José Pedreño, announced the pilot scheme on Friday February 17, during a visit to La Arrixaca.
He said "the limitation of agendas will begin next week in those centres that are below 1,250 health cards per family doctor, and the rest of the centres are being planned so that they can be incorporated."
The managing director of SMS, Francisco Ponce, explained that, in principle, the selected 15 health centres are "the least overcrowded outpatient clinics in the Region of Murcia", which means that the "measures should not pose any major difficulties from the outset".
The real litmus test will come when these new quotas are implemented in already overcrowded practices, dates for which have not been disclosed.
According to official data compiled in a recent report by the Association in Defence of Public Health (ADSP), 37% of family doctors in the Region have quotas of more than 1,500 patients.
However, organisations such as the Asociación de Usuarios de la Sanidad, are asking for clarification on how this strategy will be managed. They have raised concerns about how the health service can prevent consultations from collapsing when the ceiling of 30 scheduled appointments plus five urgent (unforeseen) appointments is put in place.
To try to avoid further delays, the Regional Minister of Health said the 'peonadas' model to primary care, which until now was reserved for hospital care, will be adopted. A set number of hours for consultations will be incorporated and doctors' pay will remain the same.
"SMS technicians are working as a priority on these instructions so that they can be approved as soon as possible," he said.
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