| answer text |
<p>The Government is committed to improving access to general practitioner (GP) services
as part of our plan for a seven day National Health Service, and has invested £175
million in the GP Access Fund to test improved and innovative access to GP services.
Across the two waves of the Access Fund there are 57 schemes covering over 2,500 practices
and 18 million patients, testing a wide variety of approaches that will ensure a patient-friendly
services. These include opening 8am-8pm on weekdays and weekends; better use of telecare
and health apps; more innovative ways to access services by video call, email or telephone;
and developing more integrated services with a single point of contact to co-ordinate
patient services.</p><p>GPs are contractually required to provide essential services
to meet the reasonable needs of their patients within core hours. Under the NHS constitution,
patients have the right to express a preference for using a particular doctor within
their GP practice, and for the practice to try to comply. The 2015-16 (July 2016)
GP Patient Survey found that 91% of patients who had a GP they preferred to see them
at least some of the time, and 92.1% of patients who got an appointment found it was
convenient. If a patient believes they are not receiving this standard of care they
have the right to complain; any complaint made must be acknowledged within three working
days and be properly investigated.</p>
|
|
