Patients across Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield are being asked for their views on the delivery of local health care services started in April last year.
Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group (DDES CCG) carried out a public consultation and implemented nine new primary care services (PCSs) across the region in 2017. This meant that patients could be seen for an urgent healthcare need up to 8pm during the week and 1pm on a weekend.
Patient feedback from those who have used the primary care services has stated them as overall excellent.
From the patient feedback 93 per cent of patients said it was easier to get an urgent, same day appointment since the changes and 98 per cent of patients said they would recommend this service to their friends.
The usage of some of these services are low, which results in some healthcare professionals spending valuable time being unproductive as they have no patients to treat resulting in many unused available appointments.
DDES CCG is now asking patients for their input to help find out what could be improved or changed.
Joseph Chandy, Director of Engagement at DDES CCG, said: “We will be out within the DDES area talking to groups and also trying to reach as many people as possible with an online survey to find out how people are accessing urgent care services. We are also attending the PCS services talking to the patients who use the service to understand if we have the model right.
“We’d like to make sure we are delivering services that patients want, so please fill in the survey and give us your views, even if you haven’t had to use the primary care services before.
“Primary care services are there for anyone who needs them and your opinion will help shape decisions we make moving forward.”
To join in the conversation, visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Srvmodel
For more information on DDES CCG, visit https://www.durhamdaleseasingtonsedgefieldccg.nhs.uk/.
