After consultation with the Patient Reference Group (PRG), it was agreed that the following three questions should be raised:
These questions are similar to those be asking at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and other medical establishments. It was agreed that the responses would help to benchmark The Old Exchange for the future.
Less than 1% of responders rated a 3 i.e. not so likely to recommend
Comment
|
Reason for being unable to implement
|
Request to extend opening hours
|
Due to insufficient interest from patients and because of lack of resource (personnel and finances), the Practice has been unable to offer extended hours. This situation is reviewed annually and patients will be informed should this change.
|
Do not close at lunchtime
|
We close at lunchtime because morning staff need to handover to the afternoon staff; the duty doctor needs to carry out home visits; and for staff meetings to take place.
|
Do not have afternoon closures
|
Afternoon closures are arranged by other NHS Departments so that all NHS staff can attend critical meetings about NHS reforms, the Care Quality Commission etc. The Practice advertises closures as far in advance as possible but it is difficult to 'catch all'. We will review our communication systems to see if these can be improved.
|
Request to have more than one month’s supply of medication
|
We are not permitted to provide more than one month's supply of medication due to safety reasons and the potential to waste medication. Please be aware that unused and wasted drugs cost the NHS at least £100 million a year. If a patient is going away on holiday or for business reasons, it may be possible to provide more than one month's supply of medication. This is considered on a case-by-case basis.
|
Reduce turnaround time for repeat prescriptions from 48 hours to 24 hours.
|
The accepted turnaround time for prescription requests within the NHS is 48 hours (within working hours). The Practice can turn these around in less than this time if it's an emergency. The 48 turnaround period reduces the risk of errors and provides the doctor time to fully review patient notes for a number of reasons e.g. to ascertain whether or not the patient should continue on the medication, does the patient need a review? etc.
|
On site car parking for all patients
|
Unfortunately we are constrained by the physical site of the Practice. The only way we could offer car parking facilities for all patients would be to relocate.
|