'We're not Rottweilers': Behind the scenes at a GP 8am scramble
Summary
People in England often struggle to book a same-day appointment with their GP because many practices, like the Tudor House Medical Practice in Nottingham, start taking calls at 8am, leading to a rush. The government has promised more funding and changes to help make booking easier, such as allowing online appointments to reduce the phone queue.Key Facts
- Many GP practices in England open phone lines at 8am for same-day appointments.
- Receptionists handle a high volume of calls, often dealing with frustrated patients.
- Tudor House Medical Practice has nearly 7,000 patients and experiences high demand.
- Most appointments at this practice are booked within 25 minutes of phone lines opening.
- The government plans to invest an additional £889 million each year into general practices.
- New plans include online booking options to free up phone lines for urgent cases.
- More health professionals, like advanced nurse practitioners and clinical pharmacists, now work alongside doctors in some practices.
- The new model aims to give doctors more time for complex cases by having other staff handle minor issues.
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