PRESS RELEASE: Victory for Brighton GP Surgery patients (17/2/22)
The U-turn has come about as a result of the intervention from Healthwatch Brighton and Hove.
Patients had expressed their concerns about the changes, which were forcing them to travel for up to 30 minutes and on two buses to the alternative service at Carden Surgery.
Healthwatch Brighton & Hove was asked to facilitate an online meeting that brought together patients, the Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group and Carden & New Larchwood GP Practice. Patients spoke about mobility issues, carer responsibilities and mental health concerns that have been negatively affected by the reduced service.
Healthwatch also conducted a patient survey, which confirmed the negative impact of the Practice’s changes.
As a result, the Practice has promised to recruit staff and extend hours.
"We need the surgery open every day for the elderly, vulnerable and those unable to access Carden surgery."
"We are very pleased to see our residents' views are being listened to in such a meaningful way and thank Healthwatch for their work in highlighting how the reduced hours in New Larchwood Surgery in Coldean is having a detrimental impact on more than 2000 registered patients that use the service, and especially so for some of the more vulnerable groups. We support the recommendations from Healthwatch to revert to the original opening hours and reinstate the nurse practitioner role and call on the CCG to consider this seriously."
Key Headlines
On 1st April 2021, New Larchwood Surgery reduced opening hours from every day to 2 mornings a week. Patients complained about the reduced local service & having to travel half an hour to the alternative surgery.
Healthwatch Brighton & Hove conducted a survey during the summer of 2021 and 385 patients (18% of registered patients at New Larchwood Surgery) told us:
Service has become worse since reduced hours: 56% of patients found booking an appointment at New Larchwood Surgery had become worse since the change;
Dissatisfaction with new hours: 81% of patients wanted to see New Larchwood Surgery open for longer than the current hours of two mornings.
Impact of change on patients: 75% of patients provided negative examples of how the reduced hours had affected them.
People found booking an appointment, and/or traveling to the alternative surgery difficult.
People experienced negative impact on their mental health.
16 people avoided making an appointment due to this change.
"Vulnerable family members have not sought the care they need as the ‘hassle’ now involved with wait times and booking puts them off."
" Healthwatch welcomes the way in which local doctors have listened to patients at New Larchwood Surgery and are making changes to improve future services."
Response from Brighton & Hove Clincal Commissioning Group and Carden & New Larchwood Practice
" Together, we look forward to continuing to engage with patient and community groups who were involved in the survey and report findings to listen to the feedback and work together to find solutions to help improve patient experience."
- The CCG confirmed there were no plans to close New Larchwood Surgery.
- Practice Partners confirmed they were recruiting for a nurse practitioner and had plans to recruit another GP for New Larchwood Surgery.
- Practice Partners confirmed that with successful recruitment of nurse and/or GP, that opening hours could be increased.
- Patients pressed the importance of having New Larchwood Surgery open every day.
- Patients offered to provide voluntary services to counter the challenges of lone-working staff; Practice Partners agreed to liaise with patients about this.
- Practice Partners offered to update their website with the current service offer and recruitment plans; and provide the same for the Coldean Residents’ Association newsletter.
- A second review was agreed for between 2-3 months’ time.
This is part of our ongoing work challenging the Clinical Commissioning Group about a reduction in GP access.
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Press queries
David Liley, Chief Officer, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove
david@healthwatchbrightonandhove.co.uk / 07931 755343
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