Saturday, 6 May 2023 07:17
By V2 Radio - News Team @v2radiosussex
Sussex has seen a record number of same day appointments in March 2023, according to the latest primary care appointment data.
A total of 408,000 appointments took place in Sussex on the same day they were booked, accounting for 42% of all appointments in the region.
In March, more than 972,000 primary care appointments took place in Sussex, a significant increase compared to March last year (18%).
Lots of work has been done to improve access to general practice appointments in Sussex. Primary Care is a key priority and this year and a lot of work is specifically taking place to make further improvements to increase access for patients.
Improved phone systems have been implemented in most practices in Sussex, which has led to improved patient experience. The new cloud-based system means practices can better manage the demand for calls in the morning and are able to offer call back options for patients unable to wait in a telephone queue. This innovation aims to streamline the GP appointment process.
There have also been developments to give patients alternative options to accessing appointments, such as e-Consultations and online appointment booking.
Further work to improve access focuses on providing appointments with the appropriate health professional for a person’s needs. Sometimes patients do not always need to see a GP but a physiotherapist or social prescriber is more appropriate. People are being seen every day by a range of experienced health and care professionals, including doctors, nurses, paramedic practitioners, advanced nurse practitioners and many more members of GP practice teams. In March, 490,000 appointments were with a healthcare professional other than a GP, this number is increasing as practices recruit a more diverse workforce and are able to share resources.
It is now possible to get an appointment between 8am and 8pm Mondays to Fridays and between 9am and 5pm on Saturdays. The additional appointments are provided by primary care networks (groups of practices in the same area). By practices working together in this way, people can have fast access to appointments and the care they need, at a time that works for them. More than 4,300 evening and weekend appointments were offered to patients in Sussex in March.
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