Exploration into GP Services in Southampton March 2025
Download (PDF 280.64 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Southampton responded to issues raised in the Spring 2024 “What Matters Most to You!” survey by carrying out further exploration into GP services. They conducted a survey with practice managers to understand GP Practices views on the use of eConsult and conducted a short survey to ask members of the public (SO14-SO19 postcodes) about their experiences in accessing GP services. They spoke to 180 people altogether.
Issues raised in the public survey included:
- Long waiting times on the phone
- Short time window for eConsult
- Opening hours of GP surgeries for working people
- Access to services for vulnerable, digitally excluded and language barriers
- Access to mental health support within GP practices
Practice managers identified the following issues with eConsult:
- It wasn't very user friendly
- Lack of integration into clinical systems
- Patients able to put urgent issues through
- Some practices had problems meeting demand so had to cap the number of requests via eConsult
Recommendations
Healthwatch Southampton is keen to support improvements in access to GP services and will do the following:
- A vital way for patients to access information and gain access to services is via GP practice websites we will complete another GP website audit and feedback to GP practices to support improvements in access to services.
- Another vital component to improve access to services is for GP practices to listen to patient feedback and all practices are required to have patient participation groups. We will bring together GP practices to discuss patient participation groups (PPG’s) sharing a network, resources, and training.
- The Healthwatch strategic group (volunteers) will continue to meet as a GP subgroup to further build on our insight and work on this as a priority.
- Healthwatch will continue to promote the work that it does, to hear patient voice, to encourage patient feedback and ensure all practices are sent Healthwatch posters to display to signpost patients to our help.