GP Access: Inequalities lecture Recap
Many of you will be aware of recent proposals to change the way patients in North West London access same-day care. The plans include the introduction of 'same day hubs', which patients could access if they needed an urgent appointment. You can read more about the proposals on the North West London ICS website.
In response to the proposals, many patients across the area have contacted us to let us know what they think, and to ask for more clarity about what changes will be made. We have launched a project collecting patients' views, and will be sharing all the information we receive with the ICS.
As part of this project, we recently hosted a discussion on GP access, in partnership with the Advocacy Project and Cllr Ketan Sheth.
We were joined by Dr John Lister and a range of local residents, representatives from patient experience groups and other healthcare professionals. Dr John Lister shared his concerns about the proposals, and the group discussed the importance of maintaining patient safety.
Some of the key takeaways from the talk were:
- Patients expect a proper consultation regarding new services/initiatives.
- They want clear evidence that the approach being taken is effective, before any changes are made.
Our Healthwatch teams will be amplifying these messages to the ICB, alongside any other themes we hear during our engagement.
Getting involved
Now you've heard our lecture, we want to hear your views about experiences of accessing primary care.
It only takes a few minutes to share your experience: fill in the survey here.
We will share the views with the ICB and wider system partners to help inform the future of primary care.
