40% of Brits leave GP appointment without discussing all health concerns
Two-fifths of patients leave GP appointments without discussing all of their health worries, a new survey has revealed.
Questioning 1,094 patients, polling company Ipsos found that 40% thought the current 10-minute slot was not enough time to bring up all their health concerns, and they were only able to discuss 'some things', 'hardly anything' or 'nothing at all'.
Only 51% of Britons were able to talk about 'everything' or 'most things' they needed to in their last GP appointment.
The majority (72%) said that they would prefer a consultation to last at least 15 minutes, and 20% said a 20-minute appointment would be better, in contrast to a 10-minute slot.
Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, said to The Guardian that the survey shows that current access to GPs is 'not acceptable'.
'People’s mental and physical health is at risk of worsening if they can’t get support in a timely fashion,' she continued. 'Getting a GP appointment shouldn’t be some sort of test in persistence and digital skills.'
The Ipsos poll also found that:
53% say shorter waiting times for appointments are needed
43% need to tell reception about their concerns before they get an appointment
31% have to speak to a GP on the phone and 22% must fill out an online form
56% want GPs to make it easier to get an in-person consultation
Ipsos' research seems to contradict results from the latest GP patient survey, released in July, which showed that 90% of patients thought their needs were met at their last GP appointment and 74% had a positive general experience.
According to NHS England. every GP practice in England is legally required to let patients walk in, telephone or go online to make an appointment, and to offer face-to-face consultations in addition to virtual or telephone appointments.
'GPs share many of our patients’ frustrations outlined in this polling. In fact, recent polling of our members found 60% of GPs felt that they didn’t have enough time to adequately assess and treat patients,' said Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the Royal College of GPs, which has 54,000 members.
'We need more time during consultations, particularly if a patient has complex health needs. We want to be able to treat our patients holistically and talk through all their health concerns. But with the current workload and workforce pressures facing GPs and our teams, we’re struggling to give our patients the time they need and the time we want to spend with them.'
Some are now suggesting, as a result of the findings, that older people feel family doctors 'want them out the door as soon as possible' rather than giving them time to voice all concerns.
'GP teams are working incredibly hard to see increasing numbers of patients,' an NHS spokesperson said. 'But these findings make clear there is more to do to improve patients’ satisfaction and experience in accessing primary care services.'
How do I prepare for a GP appointment?
According to Rethink Mental Illness, some tips for reducing anxiety before a short GP appointment include:
Making notes on what you want to talk about, any questions you have and the outcomes you want to get from the appointment
Writing down reminders about symptoms, especially if they get worse at certain times, or medication you are currently taking
Taking someone with you to an appointment - though you may need to inform your GP surgery beforehand, whether they go in with you or wait in reception is up to you
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Related links
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