Sefton Residents Confident in GPs Despite Appointment Challenges

Councillors received this week the latest GP Patient Survey for 2023, but learnt little that is not already known. Although Sefton residents are happy with their GPs with 93% having “confidence and trust” in the professional they saw, only 44% actually found it easy to make an appointment.

The survey result are born out by the latest report from the local health watchdog - Healthwatch. They report a stream of complaints by patients having to ring at 8.00 to get any appointment, being kept waiting on hold for long periods, only being offered same day appointments and being refused face to face appointments.

At the Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, councillors were told that better telephony systems would improve matters. Councillors though were sceptical. Call back systems didn’t suit everyone particularly if the patient had to take the call back call at work. This was an issue that already featured in complaints to Healthwatch.

Lib Dem leader , Cllr John Pugh said , “Talk of cloud based telephone systems and better online processes won’t necessarily solve the problem we have. The stark reality is that most people with chronic issues are old and old people do not adapt easily to new technology. To hope that we can have a technological fix here is clutching at straws.
The answer is more doctors and medical professionals and a clearer understanding of patients rights. Once enrolled every patient should have a right to see their GP or practice nurse within a reasonable time window. 

There is enormous variation though between GP Practices and it is important that those who handle calls worse learn from those who do it better”.