Our response to the Public Accounts Committee's report into GP Access

In 2014–15, there were an estimated 372 million consultations in general practice.

When accessing their general practice, patients need to be able to get a convenient appointment which does not require them to wait too long and with the same doctor if that is important to them.

The Public Accounts Committee has today published their report 'Access to General Practice in England'.  In response to the report, our Interim Chair, Jane Mordue, said:

“While it is great to see the committee recognise the important work that Healthwatch up and down the country do to help improve access to GPs, in particular for vulnerable and minority groups, it is clear there’s still a wide range of regional variation.

“Local Healthwatch stand ready to work with family doctors, practice nurses, pharmacists and other care professionals to use patient experience to improve the way services are provided and ensure access is driven by need and not by location, age or ethnicity.”