Early findings from Healthwatch Brighton and Hove’s GP patient survey have been revealed after over 400 responses.
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Early findings from the survey:
- Fewer people getting a routine appointment within three days (39% compared to 51% in 2017).
- Fewer people getting an appointment the same day for an urgent problem (67% compared to 86% in 2017).
Waiting to see a GP at the appointment time:
- 84% saw GP within 20 minutes of scheduled appointment time (84% in 2017).
Overall satisfaction:
- 83% were satisfied with GP service (83% 2017).
- 89% would recommend GP practice to a friend/family member (86% 2017).
Practice closure/merger:
We asked people who had been affected by a GP Practice closure, merger or other change if they found their new surgery convenient:
- 50% said ‘yes’ the new practice was convenient for them with 25% saying it was OK.
Opening hours:
Satisfaction with hours when people could access a GP:
- 76% were happy with the hours a GP was available (72% 2017).
- Extended hours – 16% of people surveyed had used the Extended hours GP service and
- 72% of users were satisfied with the service.
David Liley, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove’s Chief Officer, said: “People seem to be waiting longer to get a consultation with a GP in Brighton & Hove and this is despite more people being offered phone consultations.
“We also know that GP numbers in the city are slowly declining and the local population is slowly rising. It seems like the drift is in the wrong direction. It is important that the NHS explain what they are doing to address these issues. Perhaps they see the current situation as acceptable or perhaps it is all they can do with the available resources.”
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove also asked about GP practices’ (doctors and nurses) responses to enquiries at consultations about mental health or emotional wellbeing:
- 33% of people surveyed had raised this kind of issue at a consultation.
- 81% were satisfied with the response they received from the health professional.
Dr Roland Marden, the Healthwatch Brighton and Hove Insight and Evidence Manager, added: “This was the first time we had asked about mental and emotional health in Primary Care.
“A third of people said they had raised this kind of issue with a doctor or nurse showing just how much people.”
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