Patient’s experiences of emergency GP appointments
Healthwatch Birmingham continues to hear from patients about their experiences of getting an emergency appointment with their General Practice (GP).
We originally investigated this issue in our report published in January 2017. Since then, patients have continued to tell us about the difficulties they are experiencing when trying to book an emergency appointment.
What patients have told us:
- One person with stomach pain telephoned to book an emergency GP appointment. After two days of trying, unsuccessfully, he went to the surgery and obtained an appointment.
- “Cannot get an appointment to see a doctor in the morning. Told to go to Erdington walk-in clinic.”
Patients are telling us their feedback through our Information and Signposting Line (0800 652 5278) and through our online Feedback Centre.
Read more about what patients have been telling us here.
This includes how the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is encouraging the improvement of appointment allocations at General Practices. You can read the original report Can patients with a clinical need access emergency General Practice appointments in Birmingham (January 2017) here.
Share your feedback
You can share your feedback about specific General Practices by:
- Calling us: 0800 652 5278.
- Emailing us: info@healthwatchbirmingham.co.uk
- Visiting our Feedback Centre: www.healthwatchbirmingham.co.uk
Healthwatch Birmingham will use this feedback as part of our ongoing work with the health and social care system in Birmingham. This will highlight the variability in the quality of services for patients across the city.