Patients across Essex benefited from more than one million GP appointments in the month of June – an increase of more than 141,000 compared to May.
As well as a rise in appointments being delivered there was also an increase in the number of same day and face to face appointments.
Beverley Flowers, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Health at NHS Essex said: “People across Essex have told us clearly that being able to get the right help, when they need it, is fundamental to their experience of the NHS.
“More than one million GP appointments in June, including increases in same-day and face-to-face appointments, is encouraging progress. But we know there is more to do, and we will continue working with and listening to patients to make it easier to access and navigate services.”
However, missed appointments continue to put pressure on the availability of GP appointments. In June alone, more than 32,000 appointments across Essex were missed, equivalent to around 2,157 hours of clinical time that could have been used to see other patients.
Beverley added “We also ask that if patients are no longer able to attend an appointment, they please cancel it as early as possible so it can be offered to someone else. With more than 32,000 appointments missed in Essex in a single month, a simple cancellation can help another patient get the care they need sooner.”
Alongside delivering more appointments, changes to the way patients are triaged and how they use community pharmacists are also improving access into GP practices.
In a recent blog for NHS Essex, Dr Ian Perry, Primary Care Partner Member explained how online triage allows practices to understand a patient’s needs quickly and safely, so patients can receive the care that best meets their needs. He says patients may need to see a GP, but sometimes a practice nurse, physiotherapist, pharmacist, or another member of the practice team may be better suited to a patient’s needs. Some problems can be addressed with advice over the phone, while others need a face-to-face examination.
Dr Perry also fully recognises that that one size does not fit all. Some people want a telephone call, while others are happy to use online services if it means they can get help more quickly. The important thing is making sure people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
