Improving Access to Primary Care Enhanced Care Arrangements
Download (PDF 516.18 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Bolton worked with the Bolton GP Federation to understand what the people of Bolton wanted in connection with new extended GP access arrangements. They undertook a survey to which 363 people responded.
The majority of respondents were women. Respondents came from all postcode areas of Bolton with the highest response from the BL5 postcode. Respondents were mainly White British and from the 25-64 age group. Respondents also had long -term conditions, with asthma, COPD or a respiratory condition being the most common (from the 201 respondents who answered this question). Hypertension and musculoskeletal conditions also scored highly.
The majority of respondents were familiar with the service that allows people to see a GP or other clinician outside normal practice hours. The majority of respondents also said they knew how to access this service.
Respondents’ preferences for seeing a primary care clinician outside of normal practice hours, was Saturdays and Sundays 9.00am to 12.00pm, followed by weekdays 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
Respondents felt the best way to share information about the enhanced access service was on GP practice websites and social media. A range of other choices were also stated as well as printed material to accommodate people who do not use the internet.
The preferred location to attend an appointment with a primary care clinician, was within people’s own neighbourhoods and near to their GP surgery. Respondents did offer many other suggestions. When asked about travelling distance, the majority of respondents said they would be willing to travel between 1-2 miles to see a primary care clinician. A small minority said they were not willing to travel.
Respondents offered many comments when asked to say anything else about the enhanced access arrangements. Many commented about current difficulties in getting access to their GP, booking appointments, concerns about availability of staff, location and parking facilities.
Some comments were positive, particularly ones giving people who struggle to attend appointments during the working week the choice of more flexibility.
The report contains six recommendations about the content of GP websites, ensuring that availability of extended access reflects the needs of patients, locations of care and staffing.