Dr Talha Sami, a partner at Chiddingfold Surgery, has spent a decade in the NHS, a period marked by mounting pressures on family doctor services. Recent NHS figures reveal that one in 20 patients now faces a wait of at least four weeks to see a GP, amid declining funding for primary care.

Dr Sami's recent experiences have highlighted the growing need for patients to explore alternatives to traditional GP visits. 

His own mother insists, “I always have to see the doctor,” but when she recently complained of leg pain, Dr Sami explained that other healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, mental health nurses, and pharmacists, are often well-qualified to provide care. 

These professionals can not only examine and refer patients but sometimes even treat conditions, often with quicker access than a GP appointment.

He said: “We’ve all felt the pressure on the NHS, haven’t we? Healthcare is changing massively, whether we are for it or against it. A pharmacist could review your medications, while a physio orders an injection for your sore shoulder, and you could relay your anxieties to a mental health nurse, all while getting your vaccinations from a nurse, and not seeing a doctor!

“I’ll admit I was a bit sceptical about seeing a physio for back pain, but I ate humble pie fast. Very fast.”

He added: “Worryingly, I recently read that the Royal College of General Practitioners has declared that 25 per cent of GP surgeries may close due to increasing workload, burnout, retirements, and the mass exodus of GPs to sunnier climes such as New Zealand and Australia.

“So we’re trying our best across the country to get it right. You can’t fault us for our efforts, I think. And I’m still trying to convince my mother to make that appointment!”