Improving Access
The Government has set targets for access to doctors and other health care professionals.
Hathaway Surgery has always had a system for patients being able to see doctors on the same day that they contact us and will continue to do so.
Meeting the Government targets has to be viewed in the context of increasing patient demand, increasing expectations and a national shortage of GPs.
We can meet these targets and deliver an improving service with your help.
To do this we need to increase the use of other health professionals who are trained to meet your needs. These staff may be medically trained (nurses, physiotherapist etc) or trained in NHS administration procedures.
To enable us to help you we need to know what the problem is.
The doctors have asked our administrative staff to ask you if you can give us an idea of why you want to see the doctor.
Please be assured that patient confidentiality is absolute and that the staff are constrained by the same regulations governing confidentiality as the doctors and nurses are. If you are unhappy to discuss the problem with a non-clinical member of staff you can ask to speak to a nurse.
Our staff will help direct you to the most appropriate clinician or member of staff.
The staff do not make any clinical judgement. They follow procedures that are written and approved by the doctors.
If they are unable to help you they will pass you to the nurse or ask the nurse to phone you.
To make this successful we need you to be as open as you feel you can be and to trust our staff. You do not have to tell us the problem, but it will help us to help you if you do.
By doing this we will be able to meet your needs more quickly more effectively. You can also be assured that, when you need a doctor, appointments are available within a few days.
