Over 15,000 GPs surveyed by the British Medical Assocation reported that their heavy workload was having a negative impact on the quality of care they were providing.

Nine out of 10 GPs reported this negative impact, with 1 out of 10 confirming that they considered 10 minute consultations adequate.

The majority of GPs considered that more funding and time with patients was required to improve services.

Other issues of concern to GPs included:

• 50% of GPs thought practices should offer extended opening, but only one in five thought seven-day services – as proposed by the coalition – should happen
•  When asked what measures should be taken to relieve the pressure, 76% said funding should be increased; 74% that more GPs be employed; and 70% wished for longer consultation times

The poll is the latest evidence of growing pressures on GPs. Undoubtedly mental health issues which require longer consultation times are causing a major part of this heavy workload, with GPs unable to provide treatments or solutions to what can be very difficult and complicated mental health issues.

For more information on this report visit the BBC website.

If you are struggling with emnatl health issues please call us direct on 020 7993 4151 for our London clinic and 029 2002 6288 for our Cardiff clinic.

GPs are not confident that mental health services on the NHS will improve in London , Wales or UK wide.

Half of GPs (50%) say their local Trust provides a poor service for patients with mental health issues, and 37% believe the service is poor for depression, the most common mental health condition cited by patients at 35%. Over two-thirds of GPs (68%) also feel they don’t get enough support regarding mental health issues. Some astonishing statistics from an Aviva healthcare research project showed the following:

• Across the country GPs report long waiting tmes for talking therapies – London (83%), Wales (92%)
• GPs reporting they are prescribing medication when they believe talking therapies would be more effective -London (65%), Wales (83%)
• GPs reporting increased number of patients with mental health condition (non stress or anxiety) – London (57%), Wales (67%)

Worryingly of those doctors surveyed – less than a quarter of GPs believe that access to psychological therapies will improve.

To read more about the Aviva research visit their website.

Listen to Dr. Alastair Clarke Walker talk about the Power of Music and its impact on our mental health – both positive and negative.

From Mozart to hip hop, how music effects our brain, our moods and helps us to relieve stress.  The interview discusses the memories that music creates and the peace that it can provide to individuals with mental health issues. Also how music helps a child development.

Listen to the full interview on Exposure Radio.