Hi
Cross-posted to PHCSG Discuss and GP-UK
My GP Practice (i.e where I am a patient) has just changed their appointment
system so that I will now have top wait for a call-back from a GP before I
can book an appointment. This also means that I will no longer be able to
use EMIS Access to book an appointment (although I will be able to book a
call back via EMIS Access - Whoopee !)
The practice have promised quite tight service levels on the call-back but I
can see that this will happen when I'm on another call or otherwise not
available (sounds a bit like the helpdesk I used to run at AAH Meditel!) In
particular, when making an appointment for a routine follow-up at the GP's
request going through GP triage would seem to be a waste of my time and
Thiers's
I think I am a good patient who can differentiate between my need to have a
telephone consultation or a face-to-face consultation, am happy to see the
PN or an HCA when this is appropriate and in any case seek to keep my
interactions with the healthcare system at an absolute minimum. I guess the
same is probably true of most other patients (although I am sure this will
not be GPs perception as it will be the timewasters that get noticed - Just
like the view from the IT helpdesk that all GPs are unreasonable and IT
illiterate)
My expectation is that this is not going to work for patients or the
practice, but before I share my thought with my GP I welcome views from
others, particularly anyone who has tried this approach.
Ewan Davis - Director - Woodcote Consulting
See our website at www.woodcote-consulting.com
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