More GP's Offering Extended Hours


38/47 practices offer extended hours following a drive to improve accessibility

As a result more patients are satisfied with opening hours – at 79 per cent this is now above the London average.

One local surgery, St Paul’s Cottage in West Hill, achieved a 96 per cent satisfaction rating in the survey carried out by Ipsus MORI between January and April 2009. The number of local patients taking part was 12,618 - a response rate of 25 per cent.

Eighty-two per cent of local people said they could book an appointment within 48 hours compared to a London average of 80 per cent. At one Southfields practice, The Surgery, the score was 98 per cent.

Out of hours services fared less well. These are commissioned centrally from Harmoni who provide daily cover between 6.30pm and 8am and at weekends and bank holidays. Fifty-one per cent of respondents said this was a good service compared to 57 per in the rest of the capital.

Overall 88 per cent said they were satisfied with the care they received from their GP – above the London average.

Fifty-four per cent said they would like their GP to open on a Saturday and 24 per cent wanted evening sessions after 6.30pm.

The council’s health scrutiny chairman Ian Hart said:

“The vast majority of GP practices in the borough have responded positively to the demand for extended hours.  Just under half are now open on Saturday mornings which is well above the London average.

“The message from the survey is that patients want to see more progress across the board particularly from those practices still offering the basic hours of 8am to 6.30pm.

“The council wants patients in all parts of the borough to have access to a GP offering extended hours. That will mean every practice joining the extended hours scheme and, for those already taking part, a commitment to do more than they are currently.

“We will also want to take a much closer look at the cover provided through the out of hours contract. This is clearly an area which many people feel is not up to scratch.”

The PCT has set a five-year target for all patients to be able to have access to primary care services seven days a week between the hours of 8am and 8pm.

The detailed findings of the poll will be considered by the council’s health scrutiny committee on September 7. The report can be viewed at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/osc/health (Paper 09-773).

 

September 11, 2009

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