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Background: Family physicians (GPs) working with patients experiencing social inequities have witnessed patients' healthcare needs proliferate. Alongside increased workload demands fostered within current remuneration structures, this has generated concerning reports of family physician attrition and possible experiences of moral distress. Aim: To explore stories of moral distress shared by family physicians caring for patients experiencing health needs related to social inequities. Design and setting: A critical narrative inquiry, informed by the analytic lens of moral distress, conducted in Ontario, Canada. Method: Twenty family physicians were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling via word of mouth and email mailing lists relevant to addictions and mental health care. Physicians participated in two narrative interviews and had the opportunity to review the interview transcripts. Results: Family physicians' accounts of moral distress were linked to policies governing physician remuneration, scope of practice, and the availability of social welfare programmes. These structural elements left physicians unable to get patients much needed support and resources. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that physicians experience moral distress when unable to offer crucial resources to improve the health of patients with complex social needs resulting from structural features of the Canadian health and social welfare system. Further research is needed to critically interrogate how health and social welfare systems around the world can be reformed to improve the health of patients and increase family physicians' professional quality of life, potentially improving retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic reveals weaknesses in our primary care systems and illustrates how older adults on low incomes could benefit from access to their primary care team, though health care is understandably stretched during the pandemic. Some issues in primary care delivery are evident: Administering influenza vaccinations In recent years, traditional vaccination delivery has been moving beyond the GP's office to community-based locales to boost administration of the annual flu vaccine through local initiatives. Maintaining primary care connections with the movement to telehealth/virtual health The pandemic has accelerated the transition to remote primary care provision using telehealth or virtual health. [Extracted from the article]