> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The A&E blame game
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/ae-blame-game/
- Published: 2013-06-05T07:06:33.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T21:59:58.000Z
- Description: Clare Gerada, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, wonders who is going to get the blame for the A&E crisis next.
- Author: Clare Gerada
- Tags: Health & care, #Migrated, A&E, Immigration, emergency healthcare, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 16:37

Interviewed on the Today programme [yesterday ](http://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/from-our-reporter/clare-gerada-challenges-chris-skidmores-immigration-ae-claims)I was rather taken aback that - having spent two weeks defending GPs against the unfair accusation that *we* are responsible for the recent increase in pressures on Emergency Departments - the debate had now moved to blaming immigrants. I accept that some new immigrants - especially those from countries without a tradition of General Practice - use the Emergency Department as a first point of contact with healthcare. But this is not the reason why we have seen around a 1.8% year on year rise in attendances to Emergency Departments, nor the recent sudden 5% increase (5%) reported by the Kings Fund.

I found myself wondering who would be blamed next - the poor, the sick, the elderly? Rather, we need to stop back, examine the facts and see if we can develop a solution - as the Health Select Committee is trying to do. Paradoxically I went from BBC studios to give evidence at the [Health Select Committee](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/nhs-breaking-point-emergency-units-1931941?ref=opendemocracy.net) and had a much more reasoned debate and question time with parliamentarians from all parties. It’s exhausting having to do the background work to keep informed of all the machinations coming GPs way - but I have to in order to be able to debunk myths and tell the great British public what is actually going on.