Access to GP Services improving following damning report
Health leaders say there have been ‘significant improvements’ in access to GP services in Telford & Wrekin since the publication of a damning report.
A survey carried out by Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin in 2023 found the experience that patients were having differed from the results of nationally based surveys.
Despite being told that everything was OK, the survey found that patients were finding it difficult to get through to the surgery on the phone, making an appointment at a preferred time and with their GP of choice.
The Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin GP Access Survey gathered 9,200 patient responses. A meeting next week will be updated about what is happening in response.
Liz Walker Shropshire, the Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care Board (STW ICB), Head of Primary Care and Primary Care Network Development will tell the meeting that they are seeing improvements.
“It can be demonstrated that there have been significant improvements made by practices across the county,” the report says.
“Appointment numbers have increased, different staff are available to patients and patients can use different ways of accessing and managing their care.
“Appointment data shows that there are more appointments in General Practice now than pre-pandemic – an increase of 15 per cent.”
The Health & Wellbeing Board will be told that this health bodies “intend to develop a comprehensive primary care strategy.”
This, they say, will be in collaboration with all general practice, community pharmacy, optometry and dentistry.
They are also working on stepping up support for the Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) at individual surgeries. The official will also say how they have made improvements including upgraded phone systems and expanded appointment options.
They have also been identifying priority practices for improvement and giving them “direct support” through practice visits, quality visits, and “data-driven interventions.”
Health leaders are also focusing on ‘self-referral’ where patients can get direct access to several services without the need for GP referral. This they hope will “reduce need for unnecessary GP attendance.”
Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin says its survey received more than 9,200 responses about GP access.
The report’s authors said: “There is a danger that given the high levels of dissatisfaction that this report could have become an angry response focusing on negativity.
“Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin have tried to present a balanced view based on everyone’s views including experiences which are positive.”
The report found that once patients had made an appointment “their experience becomes more positive in the support, care and treatment they receive from primary care team members of different roles. Although for some this is not always the case.”
Pic: Wellington Medical Practice by Google
