Flexibility promised for GP appointments

The move to guarantee advance booking should allow patients to be able to fit in seeing a GP around their daily lives and remove the frustration of having to call their practice back on the day they require an appointment. Checks will also be tightened to ensure that achievement of the 24/48 hour access target, which allows patients to book a GP appointment within two days, is a true reflection of patient experiences. The strengthened checks will include tighter monitoring by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) by varying monthly survey dates, a sample check of PCT data and introducing more patient surveys to ensure that existing tests reflect patients’ experiences. Lord Warner said: “It is unacceptable that some practices are still not allowing patients to book an advance appointment with a GP. Patients rightly expect to see a GP at a convenient time more than two days in advance. They should not face the frustration of having to call their practice back on the day they want an appointment. Practices must already offer quick access to a GP, but we will move to guarantee patients more flexible access if they want to book ahead.”