SOME GPs are in contact with over 100 patients per day, with nearly nine in 10 doctors seeing more than the maximum of 25 recommended for safe care, a survey has revealed.

The Pulse poll of 860 GPs found a shocking 13 practices — 1.5 per cent — said their doctors see or communicate with over 100 patients on an average day.

The survey also revealed just 11.7 per cent saw 25 patients or fewer as recommended as per British Medical Association (BMA) guidance for delivering safe care.

Four in 10 polled said they have been setting a daily limit on the number of contacts or consultations per doctor amid concerns for patient safety.

GPs see an average of 37 patients within a full-time day, according to the results. 

Doctors told the industry magazine that they reluctantly set daily limits as “workforce and capacity demanded it.”

One said the problem was that GP practices were seen as a “limitless resource.”

NHS England has said it does not recognise the “arbitrary” 25-patient limit.

Royal College of General Practitioners chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne warned that GPs “need to be able to practice safely and effectively” both to protect their and patients’ health “to avoid burnout.” 

She said: “Patient contact numbers will vary depending on which clinical healthcare staff member is seeing the patient, practice and patient circumstances, and clinical judgement.  

“Practices will manage this in the best way they can, based on their knowledge of their local patient population. However, there comes a point where demand exceeds capacity and GPs can no longer guarantee safe care to their patients, so we urgently need to find a range of solutions to this.”

The BMA has been contacted for comment.