GP Enhanced Access Survey
Our job at Healthwatch is simple, to help make health and social care work better for everyone. So when we were asked to review plans around the implementation of an Enhanced Access Service Model for GP Practices in Wirral we jumped at the chance.
A lot of feedback that we receive from the public relates to difficulties in getting an appointment with their practices. So this new enhanced model of care offering a range of different types of appointments being made available, and at times which can include the evenings and on Saturdays, sounds like a big step in the right direction.
We have been tasked with evaluating, reviewing and feeding back on GP practices original plans and how access to appointments is being offered to patients. Over the next 12 months we will be speaking with Primary Care Teams, receptionists, GPs and the public to find out how things are going.
We also have a role to play in ensuring everyone knows what is on offer, as this may differ from one practice to another. We will be asking Primary Care teams to share their communication plans, which will include setting out how they will inform their patients about what they can expect from their practice eg. more appointments being available during the day, in the evening or on a Saturday.
There is also a wider range of consultations available now; for example face-to-face, over the phone or online and it could be with a health professional other than a GP, such as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, a Physician Associate, Physio, nurses or paramedics and other Health Professionals.