PATIENTS want to be treated by their family doctor and not a “med-bot” a Swindon GP of more than 30 years’ experience has said.

He is one of three health chiefs in the town to speak of growing pressures on the health service as the NHS marks its 70th anniversary.

Dr Swinyard of West Swindon’s Phoenix Surgery stressed the importance of the individual family doctor, citing research by the University of Exeter that suggests those who stick with their same doctor tended to live longer: “I think what patients like to have is someone who is their own doctor.

“If I know my patient and I see her regularly over a period of years, I will spot the difference if she comes in having lost a bit of weight and looks pale and sallow. I think the continuity of personal care is really, really important.”

“A lot of people think they can do our job and because of the lack of GPs a lot of people are doing our job,” he added.

Asked whether the country could still afford the traditional family doctor system, he said: “It has to. If not we dehumanise the whole thing and we have Jeremy Hunt’s ‘med-bots’ looking after us.”

Health chiefs in the town spoke about growing pressure on doctors, nurses, public health professionals and carers. Dr Swinyard said: “In general practice we are dealing with almost hopelessly overloaded demand and reducing supply.”

In 1995, when he set up the Phoenix Surgery, Dr Swinyard said doctors would expect to see each patient an average of 3.3 times a year. Now, it’s an average of eight consultations a year.

“Something has to give,” he said. The pressure could result either in longer waiting lists or people being told they can’t see their family GP.

Cherry Jones, public health director at Swindon Borough Council, said her teams’ focus was firmly on preventing people from becoming sick: “One of the biggest challenges is around the prevention agenda and encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles. The challenges we have around healthy weight and obesity are a concern.” That leads to ill health and Type 2 diabetes.

“We need to be mindful of supporting individuals to be able to make healthy choices and make sure the healthy choice is the easier choice.”

The borough’s new social care strategy aims to keep elderly people or those with long term conditions at home for longer.

It is hoped the strategy will ease some of the pressure on Great Western Hospital, where managers say 80,000 people are coming through the doors of the emergency department every year. It was built for 48,000.

Gill May, executive nurse at Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Since its creation 70 years ago, the NHS has always been in a state of evolution, having to constantly adapt to meet the changing needs of the people it serves.

“Never has this been more true than during the last few years, when demand for care – particularly the kind offered in urgent and emergency situations – has increased at an unprecedented rate.

“Our challenge now is to keep up with this demand, while ensuring the high quality of the services we provide is maintained.

"The next 70 years of the NHS – particularly in Swindon – will be different from what’s been before, with a greater emphasis on prevention and wellbeing, rather than just reacting once a person becomes ill, implementing the latest technology to help people live healthier lives and joining up services to ensure that care across the town is not only more accessible but consistent in the way it is delivered.”