Some Bucks residents struggling to access remote GP appointments
Healthwatch Bucks have shared a report on the issues people face
Some people across Buckinghamshire are struggling to access remote GP appointments.
Between April 2020 and Mach 2020 2.3 million GP appointments were held in Buckinghamshire, with around half of those being remote.
While lots of people have been unable to adjust to this new way of accessing medical advice and support, some have struggled.
A report from Healtwatch Bucks explains the biggest issues some are facing:
- Disability or health conditions
- Unable to access necessary technology or unable to use it
- Issues with communicating over the phone / video
- 30 people across Buckinghamshire who had at least one remote appointment and struggled to adapt shared their experience for the report.
Zoe McIntosh from Healthwatch Bucks told us they're hoping more appointments can happen in-person now:
"We hope that practices will continue with a hybrid model.
"So people really needing face-to-face for whatever reason will be able to have access to that service, but obviously some people do prefer other modes of appointments."
Zoe says despite the last year, many still want face-to-face appointments:
"We also found that those who were dependent on carers were more likely to be happy to use any method of contact, as long as it had been set up and organised for them and they had the help that they needed to continue with that appointment."
The recommendations have been sent to Bucks CCG for them to consider and implement.