Public concerns continue over GPs’ appointments
PEOPLE ARE still worried about how they can get a face to face appointment with their GP during the pandemic, councillors heard.
In-house council officers and a range of health and community sector partners were speaking to councillors at a special Rapid Review session of how health and social care services are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted by Calderdale Council’s Adults, Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board.
Debbie Robinson, Head of Primary Care Quality and Improvement at NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group, said procedures for accessing surgeries needed to be made clear and communicated more effectively.
Coun Mike Barnes (Lab, Skircoat) said the concern was over physical access to GPs, which the board had said should still be the default setting.
There were a large number of people who found it difficult to use technological ways of making contact, he said.
“The feedback I am getting from a number of residents is that the default setting is still phone and video rather than face to face.
“Some practices seem to have shut up shop, there is a limited time people can book appointments,” he added.
Neil Smurthwaite, CCG Deputy Chief Officer and Chief Finance Officer, said telephone and video consultations were the default positions in the early months of the pandemic but from October 1 there had been a requirement for practices to be open.
“They all were, but safety of patients and staff had to be managed.” The requirement was to offer a face to face appointment, arranged beforehand by phone, he said.
Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn)
said the issue impacted most on elderly people, disabled people and other vulnerable groups.
“What percentage of that cohort have been able to use the technology?” he said.
Dr Majid Azen told the board GPs had followed the NHS’s standard operating procedure.
“Although we did close some doors we didn’t close General Practice.
“I understand why people have had a lot of concerns about the accessibility of face to face consultations. General Practice isn’t closed and has not been closed. Yes, the front door might have been closed, if someone just decides to walk in the practice that probably won’t be happening.
“But if they have been invited down because they have had a conversation there is a process to allow that to happen. “That is for the safety of the public, patients and staff,” he said.
Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said there had been a big reliance on technology, whereas a large proportion of people wanted to use services the “old fashioned way”.
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