Access to Primary Care Report, Knowsley

This document explores the findings of a six month study by Healthwatch Knowsley to ascertain the issues and good practice experience by people using GP and other Primary Care Services

Local community college visited on 8 occasions and 46 patient experience feedback forms were completed.

Healthwatch Knowsley also visited: 10 GP practices, 6 formal Enter and View visits at 2 Accident and Emergency Departments. 783 patient experience comments gathered.

Recommendations:

• Healthwatch Knowsley to seek to work with Knowsley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to develop a piece of work which looks in depth at people’s preference in relation to access to primary care in Knowsley. Working closer with the established Patient Participation Groups in Knowsley linked to GP practices to share the findings of this report and to build on the understanding of what patients require.

• A focused campaign needs to be undertaken to inform the community of the current pressures on primary care, the options available and raise awareness of the types of appointments that can be had with a GP. A theme within this could be addressing the misconception that a telephone appointment is not a GP consultation.

• Explore the area of patient choice and how practices can work closer together to provide a range of options across a geographical area. For example promoting to patients that if they can choose to move to a neighbouring practice if they would prefer to access appointments in different ways. (Skype/telephone based or through sit and wait).