Today, we’re speaking to Professor Helen Atherton, Professor of Primary Care Research based at the University of Southampton.
Title of paper: What do patients want from access to UK general practice?
Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2024.0582
Widely accepted as perpetuated by the media is that patients are unhappy with access to general practice and desire faster access to a general practitioner. This review sought to summarise the research evidence about reported patient wants from access to general practice. Patients wanted to easily make an appointment in a timely fashion, to have a positive relationship with the practice, to see a specific clinician and choose consultation modality according to individual circumstance. Communication and being kept informed about access throughout the process of making and having an appointment, was something patients wanted, and this could be addressed by general practice.
