Have You Had Any Problems Obtaining a Routine Appointment in the Last 12 Months?

Have you had any problems obtaining a routine appointment in the last 12 months?

– / No problem– / Moderate difficulty– / Great difficulty– / Impossible– / N/A– / Total– / Average Rating–
(no label) / 40.91%
9 / 40.91%
9 / 9.09%
2 / 4.55%
1 / 4.55%
1 / 22 / 1.76
Have to go to surgery at 8:30am to book appointment.
To get an appointment on the same day I have to attend the surgery in person at 08.30
I like to be able to book a week or two in advance, but there seems to be a limitation on the times available
Don't think I've visited in the past 12 months
Eventually kept finger on redial button for 20 mins from 8.30
I am fortunate that I can turn up in person at 0830. I can't get through on phone

Have you had a problem being seen for a genuinely urgent medical problem in the last 12 months?

– / No problem– / Moderate difficulty– / Great difficulty– / Impossible– / N/A– / Total– / Average Rating–
(no label) / 40.91%
9 / 0%
0 / 9.09%
2 / 0%
0 / 50%
11 / 22 / 1.36

How long would you reasonably, expect to have to wait for a routine appointment?

Answer Choices– / Responses–
48 hours / 50%
11
5 Days / 13.64%
3
1 week / 27.27%
6
2 weeks / 9.09%
2
4 weeks / 0%
0
Total / 22

Would you be happy using an "Open Surgery"? This would be a "walk in and wait" surgery for single problems only. You would not have a choice of doctor and this would also reduce the availability of routine appointments with your choice of doctor.

Answer Choices– / Responses–
Yes / 36.36%
8
No / 63.64%
14
Total / 22

After last years survey we agreed to start online appointment booking. We have finally had the computer software upgrade to allow this and hope to start booking online soon. How likely are you to use online booking

– / Definitely– / Sometimes– / Unlikely– / Would not use online booking– / Total– / Average Rating–
(no label) / 77.27%
17 / 22.73%
5 / 0%
0 / 0%
0 / 22 / 1.23

For minor problems and routine follow-up appointments (eg. routine blood pressure measurements), would you be happy seeing a nurse or healthcare assistant? Tick the box for a "yes" response.

Answer Choices– / Responses–
Nurse / 100%
22
Health Care Assistant / 59.09%
13
Total Respondents:22

Have you any other suggestions relating to booking appointments?

Showing13responses

It would be better for those with more restricted availability in the week to have more book ahead appointments. Also some appointments for emergencies should be scheduled in each day.

I haven't yet had the need to try and book an appointment online

When I book in advance and the only times available are early morning and late afternoon/evening appointments, I am conscious that I am taking away appointments from full-time workers (I only work part-time). It would be useful to have some day time appointments available too.

Given the standard triage operation in A&E, wouldn't it make sense to operate a similar system at larger GP surgeries?

Increase advance booking appointments to 3 weeks?

It is always necessary to come and queue up outside the surgery in the morning as the phone is always engaged. Not really very good when you feel ill.

It is impossible to get through on the phone so I always queue up outside, getting to the surgery at least half an hour before opening to guarantee an appointment with my preferred Doctor. I am unsure how online booking will help, as this too would enable people to snap up appointments. Although my details are on a computer which allows any of the Doctors to see past appointments and treatments, I prefer to see the same Doctor - Dr Rowe (who is very popular), for consistency and understanding, so again I would not like to see an open surgery.

Look forward to the online booking system

Speed the message up on the answer machine, which doesn't always work anyway.

Need to know the specifics about booking appointments in advance and perhaps post that info. in reception area as I can never remember what they are and therefore never do this and yet I work F/T and probably should!

Early morning telephone booking is like musical chairs.... Can't wait for online booking.

It would be great if you could get through on the phone. from 8.30 until 9.15 it is continually engaged. When you do eventually do get through there are no appointments left. The only other option is to queue up at the surgery door at 8.30 and then come back a hour later. Some people are not able to cone to the surgery twice to make an appointment then cone back later to see a doctor.

Would you be interested in a face to face Patient Participation Group or a patient led "Friends of The Vine Medical Centre" group based at the practice? Tick one or more choices

Answer Choices– / Responses–
I would like a face to face patient group. / 33.33%
7
I would like a Friends group. / 19.05%
4
I would like to keep the current online system / 52.38%
11
Total Respondents:21

Finally please feel free to mention any other concerns or suggestions for improving the practice as a whole. Please bear in mind that the practice is under huge workload and financial pressure at present and that changes have to be practically and financially viable.

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The check-in screen needs urgent re activation. Arriving for an 8:30am appointment means running the gauntlet of the people quing to make an appointment.

Would it be possible to have more reception staff available to take calls between 8.30 and 9.00 am when appointments for that day can be made. I have phoned repeatedly during that time without getting through. Even if all the appointments were taken it would be better to be told this than having to keep on ringing. I think an online appointment process would be best, good luck with this.

Mostly I am very happy with the way the surgery runs. The only thing that might be of use is a staggered lunch time, so that the surgery doesn't close.

Given the pressures both work and financially related the practice works extremely well. I travel overseas 2 weeks a month and find it particularly difficult getting an appointment and especially blood tests taken. I look forward to the online appointment system and see this as a huge advance

Triage appointments, do more online (booking/repeat prescriptions/consultancies/data entry) and look at regular contact with subscribers (note, not "patients") with a view to improving health!

Again, it feels like you have to know in advance when you are going to be ill. The old system worked a lot better for patients when you could book an appointment and not feel under pressure to phone or turn up on the day. If you suddenly feel ill you want to be able to get an appointment, which is often not an option.

Booking seems to be harder these days - don't know if the surgery is just very busy these days?

I realise that the greater workload has put all practice staff under pressure. However my partner and I find some reception staff less approachable than in the past.

Your receptionists are very helpful, I've never had problems getting appointments although we all hate sitting waiting for ages when we actually have a timed appointment and some of us have to get back to work!

The introduction of telephone (or Skype) queries/consultations for simple matters would improve productivity and save time for both patient and doctor. Keep working at it!

Perhaps some of your receptionists. could be more sympathetic and understanding in the way they treat patients. Not all of them, maybe 1 or 2 of them are a bit brusque in their attitude on the phone and in person. Other than that the surgery is run well bearing the restrictions put on gp surgeries by the nhs.

When I talk to my friends about their GP experiences I realise that, whatever the niggles with the Vine, we really are very, very lucky with our GPs. Maybe a bit more embracing the future would be good but overall you are wonderful

Whilst only a nice to have I think it would improve patient comfort to know how long they have to wait if a GP or Nurse is running late. Better to take a walk or sit in the car than sit for a long time in a patient waiting room with all the potential of infection spread. Well done

its perfect. wonderful staff

I have never had any problems getting an appointment and seeing the Doctor of my choice, I think you all do a great job considering the amount of work you have to do. Fortunately I don't use you that often, but when I next do would welcome an online appointment system

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