Accessing GP services Consultation report
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Healthwatch Hartlepool undertook a survey about accessing GP surgeries to which 269 people responded.
Accessing GP practices by telephone to make an appointment is difficult, time consuming and for some patients poses significant barriers to accessing primary care services in a timely and appropriate manner.
Patients generally accept that Covid restrictions which saw most GP consultations delivered either online or by phone were necessary to safeguard patients and health professionals and limit infection. However people had significant concerns that the return of face to face appointments is too slow. Many patients feel that online or telephone appointments are a barrier to receiving care, diagnostic rigour and the reassurance that face to face consultations bring.