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29
Oct 2024
Nidderdale doctors’ surgeries to change GP appointments system
A group of doctors’ surgeries across Nidderdale is changing the way patients book GP appointments.
Nidderdale Group Practice is made up of Feastfield Medical Centre in Pateley Bridge, Spring Gables Surgery in Birstwith and The Grange Medical Centre in Dacre Banks.
Currently, patients can call any of the practices to book an appointment, or book one online.
But under the new 'total triage' system, the group will ask patients to complete an online consultation form to request an appointment with a GP where possible.
A member of staff at the practice told the Stray Ferret those unable to do this are advised to ring the surgery and a receptionist will be able to complete the consultation form on their behalf.
GPs will read the forms and offer appointments based on the level of urgency.
As well as shortening the wait for appointments, the practice hopes the total triage system will mean patients will have equal access to care irrespective of whether or not they use the internet.
A spokesperson for the practice told the Stray Ferret:
[The new system] should enable receptionists to have more time for those unable to complete an online submission and will also mean that patients have a shorter wait to speak to a receptionist.
By having the same online submission for all patients (regardless of whether they complete this themselves or via the receptionists) the practice hopes to ensure equity for all patients accessing the services.
The new system will mean people are “triaged to the right person, at the right time”, the staff member said.
In a video to patients, Dr Locke, a GP partner, said the practice had become “increasingly aware of the disappointing wait for a routine appointment”.
She said the group was making “positive changes”, which GPs hope will help manage appointments.
Dr Locke added:
We can provide faster, more efficient care tailored to specific needs.
GPs hope the typical wait time for an appointment will be “noticeably shorter” as a result of the new system, Dr Locke also said.
Patients will still have access to face-to-face appointments, phone consultations and video calls with GPs.
The new system only applies to GP appointments and people can still call the surgeries to book blood tests or appointments with nurses.
The member of staff told the Stray Ferret the group recieved positive feedback from other local surgeries, which have already made the move to the total triage system.
The new system will begin on November 11.
People can find the consultation forms on Nidderdale Group Practice’s website or by scanning QR codes, which will be put up at each surgery.
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