Patients ‘to be given an appointment the first time they contact GP’

PATIENTS must be given an appointment or referral the first time they contact their GP practice under a new NHs contract.

Health bosses want to put an end to the daily 8am scramble by letting patients book more consultations in advance.

Some practices tell people seeking same day care to phone back the next day once they are fully booked.

Now they must be allowed to reserve a later slot on the call or be directed to another appropriate service, such as a pharmacist.

But GPs have threatened to strike over the ‘insulting’ new contract, which they say has been forced on them and does not offer enough funding.

It comes after surveys revealed public satisfaction with GPs has hit an all-time low, with patients frustrated by the difficulties they face accessing a doctor or even getting through on the phone.

A letter sent by NHs england to all GP practices yesterday said: ‘The GP contract will be updated to make clear that patients should be offered assessment of need, or signposted to an appropriate service, at first contact.’

This means practices cannot ask people to call back another time. The ‘assessment of need’ may take place by telephone, with some patients dealt with remotely and others invited to be seen in person. Patients might also be directed to a pharmacist, a physiotherapist, a&e, 999 or 111, depending on their needs.

Dennis reed, of silver Voices, which campaigns for elderly people, welcomed the changes but said: ‘It is no guarantee of a timely face-toface appointment with a GP.’ Dr Ursula montgomery, director of primary care at NHs england, said: ‘This contract supports GP teams to provide what matters to patients, and later this spring the NHs will publish the GP recovery Plan on how access to care will be expanded even further.’

‘Satisfaction at all-time low’