Survey to shape the future of surgeries

OLDHAMERS will get the chance to influence local GP services thanks to a new survey which will cover everything from opening hours to booking appointments.

The annual GP Patient Survey, which is the biggest of its kind, is now being sent out to a random selection of people across Oldham over the next three months.

Last year’s survey highlighted national concerns about GP opening times and called for more convenient opening hours.

As a result, 43 out of the borough’s 46 practices now offer extended opening hours - either earlier in the morning or later in the evening.

Practices are also working to improve their service in other areas with new initiatives such as more telephone lines, text message reminder service, the ability to book and order repeat prescriptions online and a wider range of services on site including counselling and physiotherapy.

Practice managers across the borough are keen to emphasise how important it is that everyone who receives the questionnaire completes it and sends it back.

Lesley Rajkovic, practice manager at Radcliffe Medical Practice in Glodwick said: “From speaking to our patients we have realised that many who are happy with our service do not feel the need to respond to the questionnaire.

“We really try to encourage them to do so, as any feedback is invaluable. It helps us to know what to keep doing, as well as what needs changing or updating.

It provides balanced feedback and it also repays all the hard work the team puts in over the year.”

Shauna Dixon, director of clinical leadership at NHS Oldham, said: “Very often GP practices are a first point of contact with the NHS and because of this, it is important that the services on offer are exactly what people need.

“It is only by hearing the views of people that we can do this and make things better. Otherwise, we are simply guessing and are at risk of getting it wrong.

“It really is worth spending the small amount of time required to fill out the survey otherwise people are wasting a golden opportunity to have their say.”