vPPG Dec 2013

Number of Responses: 33

vPPG Dec 2013

Here we are again at the end of 2013 and another year has flown by!

I have done a lot of work in the past year to see how well the 50/50 appointment system is running and I am heartened by the results! By monitoring an ongoing patient questionnaire on our website and reviews on NHS Choices I can see that a large percentage of patients are happy with the system. In addition, our internal statistics show that more people are seeing their 'usual' GP.

Although we will always strive to make these results better, it does feel that patient demand for our services will continually outstrip supply and there are no quick fixes. Our efforts may be better employed in making changes that have a greater impact for patients and this is the focus of the 'virtual Patient Participation survery for this year.

That does mean a bit more work from you in this survey compared to previous years but I'm sure you will come up with some thought provoking comments and ideas.

I am still interested in appointments and continuity of care so our first set of questions are about these issues.

One of the main concerns for patients is the difficulty in getting an appointment. If you have experienced difficulties, please select the reasons below

Telephone engaged 30%

Appointments gone by the time I ring 30%

No suitable appointment 33%

No appointment available online 12%

I have not experienced any problems 39%

I have not needed an appointment in the past year 3%

If there are other reasons why you have been unable to get an appointment, please give details

The other main concern is about seeing the doctor of choice. Please select the reasons below

Doctor was not working on the day I wanted 12%

Doctor's appointments were all gone for the time I wanted 30%

I don't know who my usual doctor is 9%

I don't know when my doctor is working 18%

I have not experienced this problem with my usual doctor 45%

I don't have a usual doctor 3%

If there are any other reasons why you can't see a doctor of your choice, please put the details in the box below

As I stated above, I now need to know what I might be missing.
What affects you beyond the two issues I have asked about? Are you a regular or irregular user? What would help you to interact with the surgery in your normal day to day capacity? How do you get your information about us - if at all? Where are we good and where can we improve in areas other than appointments and continuity of care?

As a patient of this practice, what other issues do you think we should be addressing?

How often do you come to the surgery?

More than once a week 0%

Weekly 0%

Monthly 6%

More than twice a year 78%

Very rarely 15%

Never 0%

How would you like to access information about the surgery? (You can choose more than one method)

By email 84%

By letter 18%

Posters or digital displays in Waiting Room 33%

Posters in local shops 3%

Other (please enter details below) 3%

What are we good at?

Where could we improve?

What one thing would make your life easier if you had to access any of our services?

Finally, I would like to know a bit more about you

Are you ?

Male 42%

Female 57%

How old are you?

Under 16 0%

16 to 44 15%

45 to 64 48%

65 to 74 27%

75 or over 9%

Do you have a long-standing health condition?

Yes 69%

No 24%

Don’t know / can’t say 6%

What is your ethnic group?

White 100%

Black or Black British 0%

Asian or Asian British 0%

Mixed 0%

Chinese 0%

Other ethnic group 0%

Which of the following best describes you?

Employed (full or part time, including self-employed) 39%

Unemployed / looking for work 3%

At school or in full time education 0%

Unable to work due to long term sickness 0%

Looking after your home/family 0%

Retired from paid work 57%

Other 0%

Finally, please add any other comments you would like to make about the surgery:

Thank you for your time, effort and cooperation.

Steve Mowatt
General Manager
The Lennard Surgery