The patient experience of accessing primary care services Supplementary Information December 2022
Covid-19 and roll out of the vaccination programmes has impacted nationally on delivery of primary care services. Service changes have included minimisation of face-to-face patient engagement which effectively supported implementation of the NHS Long Term Plan 2019 “digital first”1 agenda for primary care. Sandwell is ranked as the 12th most deprived local authority area nationally for indices of multiple deprivation with a lower-than-average life expectancy and higher than average health inequalities and mortality rate in under 75-year olds.
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Digital skills levels, digital poverty, and an increasing ethnically diverse population
with some language barriers present challenges with access and receipt of
health and care which services need to consider.
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Digital skills levels, digital poverty, and an increasing ethnically diverse population
with some language barriers present challenges with access and receipt of
health and care which services need to consider.
Snapshot survey responses from 108 patients indicated:
46% were unhappy with the process of achieving an appointment at their G.P. practice - this is in line with the NHS National G.P. patient survey results of 44% - July 20223 .
Of the 65 questionnaire respondents:
- 29% stated they had tried to book appointments without success
- 20% stated that they had given up on trying to get a G.P. practice appointment and
- 9% of patients had not been seen for outstanding health issues that needed attention.
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The patient experience of accessing primary care services Supplementary Information December 2022
