Doctors’ surgeries across Caerphilly County Borough have been rated according to how easy it is for patients to book appointments.
Surgeries have to display the rating given to them by the Aneurin Bevan Health Board as part of its ‘A is for Access’ scheme.
The scheme is based on five services offered by local surgeries with each gaining an ‘A’ rating for having that service to patients.
The maximum number of ‘As’ a surgery can be awarded is five and would mean the following:
- Opens on or before 8am with a first appointment at 8.30am or earlier.
- Doors are open during the lunchtime period.
- Last routine doctor appointment is 5.50pm or later.
- Telephone access directly to a member of staff (not recorded message) is available from 8.00am – 6.30pm.
- Patients can book an appointment during one telephone call, without the need for calling back, or, book an appointment on line.
The scheme has been developed in partnership with local GPs, the Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council and Aneurin Bevan Health Board and is the first of its kind to be launched in Wales.
Dr Liam Taylor, Assistant Medical Director at the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to launch the ‘A’ is for Access Scheme in partnership with GP colleagues and the Community Health Council.
“This scheme has already fostered improved arrangements which will benefit patients and I’m sure will also contribute to easing some of the pressure on our incredibly busy hospital emergency departments. We also need the public to support us by making the right choices for their health needs.”
Not all practices were able to meet the essential qualifying requirements for the ‘A’ scheme as they have at least one half day closure. For these surgeries would still be reported against the same list of standards, but these surgeries would be given ‘B’ ratings.
Cathy O’Sullivan, from the Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council, said: “Good accessibility is essential to offering a good GP service. This award will give welcome recognition to those practices trying hard to be available to their patients and give others something to aspire to.”
There are 91 GP practices across the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and all have signed up to the scheme, since the table which is attached has been collated many surgeries have already taken steps to improve their overall rating.
Twenty-six surgeries have currently attained the maximum five ‘A’ rating, four have attained five ‘B’ ratings and the remainder are working towards improving their access rating.
The Welsh Government has welcomed the rating system.
Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: “The new access scheme will, I am sure, lead to an improvement in the continuity and quality of patient care.
“I am also pleased to see that an aspect of the new access scheme seeks to extend routine doctor appointments in the evening which will help to improve the accessibility of GP services, in particular, for working people.”
GP Surgeries rated on opening hours by Aneurin Bevan Health Board