Patient Reference Group
In 2013 we set up a Patient Reference Group. We have a virtual group of patients and other patients who we contact by telephone or post. We invited patients to join our group in varied ways, we put posters up around the waiting room and we asked opportunistically if patients would like to join. We currently hold 8 members, of those 8 members we have aimed to reach a good representation of our patients. 6 are female and 2 are male, and the age groups is as follows:
Under 16 years: 0 members
17-24 years: 0 members
25-50 years: 5 member
50-70 years: 5 members
70-84 years: 3 member
0 of our members have a disability.
2 of our members is a carer.
Our Survey
We contacted our group prior to carrying out a survey in 2014 to help assist us in which areas they felt we should make a priority when conducting our survey. The areas we focused on were:
Clinical care
Getting an appointment
Reception issues
Opening times
Parking
We had 3 responses, 2 focused on clinical care and 1 found all our services either very good or excellent.
We also asked our group 2 questions put forward from our CCG. The questions were as follows:
- Do you feel that your health outcomes would be improved if we put in place the best possible coordinated or “joined up” care for everyone who needs it, that is out of hospital?
- Do you feel that your health and social care needs are planned with people who work together as a team and talk to each other to understand you and your care needs? and how do you think we could best create joined up teams, for example, would you find it easier to see a physiotherapist or a dietician for example that was linked to your GP practice rather than visiting hospital?
We had one response to the above questions from the CCG which are as follows:
The member felt that more local health services could be provided better, and joined up care between hospital and community services should always be a priority to achieve the best possible care for patients.
And to the 2nd question, the member preferred to see a health professional at the practice wherever possible, if appropriate facilities and cross service protocols and procedures were in place.
Survey Results
The General Practice Assessment Questionnaire Results.
Question 1
In the past 12 months how many times have you seen a doctor from your practice?
None |
Once or Twice |
Three or Four times |
Five or Six times |
Seven or more |
4 |
18 |
18 |
11 |
8 |
Question 2
How do you rate the way you are treated by receptionists at your practice?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
0 |
0 |
7 |
13 |
24 |
18 |
Question 3
a) How do you rate the hours that your practice is open for appointments?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
0 |
1 |
10 |
21 |
21 |
6 |
b) What additional hours would you like the practice to be open? (please tick all that apply)
Early Morning |
Lunch Times |
Evenings |
Weekends |
None, I am satisfied |
5 |
1 |
20 |
13 |
27 |
Question 4
Thinking of times when you wanted to see a particular doctor: (please tick one box only)
a) How quickly do you usually get to see that doctor?
Same Day |
Next working day |
Within 2 working days |
Within 3 working days |
Within 4 working days |
5 or more working days |
Does not apply |
4 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
31 |
9 |
b) How do you rate this?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
VeryGood |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
12 |
22 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
6 |
Question 5
Thinking of times when you are willing to see any doctor: (please tick one bow only)
a) How quickly do you usually get seen?
Same day |
Next working day |
Within 2 working days |
Within 3 working days |
Within 4 working days |
5 or more working days |
Does not apply |
17 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
14 |
5 |
b) How do you rate this?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
2 |
4 |
19 |
6 |
10 |
9 |
5 |
Question 6
If you need to see a GP urgently, can you normally get seen on the same day?
Yes |
No |
Don’t know/never needed to |
34 |
4 |
20 |
Question 7
a) How long do you usually wait at the practice for your consultations to begin? (please tick one box only)
5 minutes or less |
6-10 minutes |
11-20 minutes |
21-30 minutes |
More than 30 minutes |
2 |
14 |
31 |
7 |
6 |
b) How do you rate this?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
2 |
6 |
24 |
20 |
9 |
2 |
Question 8
Thinking of the times you have phoned the practice, how do you rate the following:
a) Ability to get through to the practice on the phone?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Don’t know/never tried |
0 |
3 |
16 |
18 |
14 |
9 |
0 |
b) Ability to speak to a doctor on the phone when you have a question or need medical advice?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Don’t know/never tried |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
35 |
Question 9
This question asks about your usual doctor. If you don’t have a ‘usual doctor’, answer about the one doctor at your practice who you know best. If you don’t know any of the doctors, go straight to Question 10.
a) In general how often do you see your usual doctor?
Always |
Almost always |
A lot of the time |
Some of the time |
Almost never |
Never |
12 |
22 |
7 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
b) How do you rate this?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
1 |
0 |
11 |
19 |
15 |
13 |
Question 10
Thinking about you consultation with the doctor today, how do you rate the following:
a) How thoroughly the doctor asked about your symptoms and how you are feeling?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
22 |
23 |
0 |
b) How well the doctor listened to what you had to say?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
21 |
24 |
0 |
c) How well the doctor put you at ease during your physical examination?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
12 |
30 |
3 |
d) How much the doctor involved you in decisions about your care?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
18 |
23 |
4 |
e) How well the doctor explained your problems or any treatment that you needed?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
15 |
22 |
3 |
f) The amount of time your doctor spent with you today?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
20 |
23 |
0 |
g) The doctor’s patience with your questions or worries?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
15 |
25 |
3 |
h) The doctor’s caring and concern for you?
Very Poor |
Poor |
Fair |
Good |
Very Good |
Excellent |
Does not apply |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
19 |
26 |
0 |
Question 11
After seeing the doctor today do you feel…
a) Able to understand your problem(s) or illness?
Much more than before the visit |
A little bit more than before the visit |
The same or less than before the visit |
Does not apply |
18 |
13 |
8 |
9 |
b) Able to cope with your problem(s) or illness?
Much more than before the visit |
A little bit more than before the visit |
The same or less than before the visit |
Does not apply |
18 |
14 |
6 |
8 |
c) Able to keep yourself healthy?
Much more than before the visit |
A little bit more than before the visit |
The same or less than before the visit |
Does not apply |
15 |
14 |
3 |
14 |
Question 12
Are you…
Question 13
How old are you?
0-21 years |
22-35 years |
36-45 years |
46-55 years |
56-65 years |
65+ years |
4 |
6 |
13 |
5 |
11 |
8 |
Question 14
Do you have any long standing illness, disability or infirmity? By longstanding we mean anything that has troubled you over a period of time that is likely to affect you over a period of time.
Question 15
Which ethnic group do you belong to? (Please tick one box only)
White |
Black/Black British |
Asian/Asian British |
Mixed |
Chinese |
Other ethnic group |
46 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Question 16
Is your accommodation: (please tick one box only)
Owner-occupied mortgaged? |
Rented or other arrangements? |
41 |
5 |
Question 17
Which of the following best describes you?
Employed (full or part time including self-employed) |
Unemployed and looking for work |
At school or in full time education |
Unable to work due to long term sickness |
Looking after your home/family |
Retired from paid work |
Other |
23 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
11 |
0 |
Question 18
We are interested in any other comments you may have.
Is there anything particularly good about your healthcare?
- Enjoy the warmth and banter, also the great treatment from the practice nurses, doctors and receptionists.
- Always looked after and listened to, never rushed.
- Totally satisfied
- I always feel listened to and involved.
- Pleasant staff.
- Fairly regular reviews and routine tests.
- Comfortable surgery environment and waiting area.
- Doctor is very friendly, nurses and staff also.
Is there anything that could be improved?
- Would like to see a lady doctor.
- Getting through to reception takes several attempts.
- Waiting time for doctor is too long.
- Why is surgery closed on Thursday afternoons?
- Would like evening hours for doctor for people who work.
- Would like to see female doctor.
- I miss having a female doctor.
- Late evenings on some days would be good.
Survey Findings
The survey findings have been emailed to our Patient Reference Group for their response; as yet we have not yet had any responses back. We have also added information regarding survey findings to our Jayex board offering all our patients the chance to have a copy of the survey results if they wish.
We have had a practice meeting to discuss our survey findings and we have put in place an action plan: