Healthwatch Cheshire Citizens Focus Panel January 2023 access to GP websites survey

Healthwatch Cheshire East and Healthwatch Cheshire West and Chester undertook a survey of their Citizens Focus panel to evaluate the effectiveness of information on GP websites.  74 people responded to the survey.

Almost half of panel members had used the GP’s website either to make an appointment, find the number to call (58%), or to order a repeat prescription (55%). Around 2% used the website for finding health advice or support.

Over half of respondents said that they were able to find the information they were looking for, and over three in ten said they found some other useful information, while 16% respondents could not find what they were looking for.

Just under half of respondents (47%) reported that the information was fairly easy to find, and around one in five reported that they found it very easy.

The majority of respondents told us they had not accessed the GP’s website because either they had preferred to call (76%), or they do not use the internet (8%), while 23% reported other reasons such as, have not needed the GP’s services or did not ask for frequent appointments.