Last year Bradford4Better conducted an evaluation on behalf of the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) to assess access to GP services in the BD5 area. We gathered feedback from patients through focus groups and surveys to understand the key challenges they face in accessing primary care.
The reports highlighted a number of issues, including long wait times when calling for appointments, difficulties getting through on the phone, appointments booking up very quickly, and more. Many patients expressed deep frustrations with accessing GP services.
The local NHS ICB reviewed the reports and is now in the process of making improvements based on the patient feedback received. They are working to continually enhance the services provided to patients across Bradford.
Additionally, we conducted an evaluation of the “It’s a GP Practice Thing” social media campaign from the ICB, which aimed to educate patients on the range of services offered by GP surgeries and how to access them. Our assessment provided suggestions to improve the clarity and accessibility of the materials amongst other improvements and suggestions.
In response, the ICB stated:
“The Bradford 4 Better evaluation report has helped Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership to refine and develop the ‘It’s a GP Practice Thing’ campaign. New materials have been developed and rolled out across the whole of West Yorkshire that have been influenced by the feedback we received…”. The full response is available to read here: [Click here to view].
You can also read both GP 4 Better reports written by us here:
- “Service Evaluation: To explore how access to GP services can be improved and to understand the BD5 communities experience of contact with GP surgeries” [Click here to view]
- “Social Media Content and Material Evaluation Summary: ‘It’s a GP Practice Thing’” – [Click here to view]
We are glad to see our efforts and those of the community contributing to positive changes in primary care access and health literacy across Bradford. As a community platform, we look forward to continued partnership with the local NHS ICB to amplify patient voices and collaborate on improving services. There is still much work to be done, but this represents an encouraging step on the path to ensuring high quality, accessible healthcare for all in our communities.
We’re always looking for volunteers to help us in our mission for a better Bradford so if you would like to get involved in the work we do to help improve the city please don’t hesitate to drop us a line at hello@bradford4better.com. You can also call us on 01274 044244.
