Tighter tests on GPs' two-day target

GP practices will face tougher tests on GP appointment times as part of a drive to ensure all NHS patients can see a family doctor within two days.

Under the plans, announced by Health Minister Lord Warner, Primary Care Trusts (PCT) will telephone surgeries on a random day every month to ensure that the two-day access target is being met. Practices will also be asked when their third free appointment slot falls, as well as the first, to better judge the depth of access.

Lord Warner said that the new tests would tackle claims that GPs, who currently know in advance when their PCT will contact them, are able to prepare their bookings to deliver success on just one day a month,

In July 2005, PCTs reported to the Department of Health that virtually all patients had the opportunity to be see within the 24/48 primary care access target time frames. National figures have been at more than 99% for over 12 months.

However, the government said that this was not fully consistent with reported patient experience. In September 2005, the annual Healthcare Commission PCT Patient showed that 12% of patients had been unable to see a a GP within 48 hours.

Lord Warner said: "Access to NHS GPs is undoubtedly improving. Our target of patients being able to see a GP within two working days is leading to quicker care and has largely ended the problem of people waiting a week or more to see a doctor - but our plans to give patients better GP access don't stop here.

"Our thorough examination of GP access should help solve the mystery of why there is a real difference between what patients and practices report.

"All patients should have fast access to a GP every working day of the month. At the same time, practices need to offer advance appointments. There must be no excuses or exceptions."

However, Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said: "It has always been the responsibility of primary care trusts to carry out checks on GP surgeries to assess the 48-hour access target.

"Improvements to seek to ensure that the 48-hour target is measured accurately are welcome, but the changes will have little impact on how practical the target actually is.

"Access to GP practices is clearly important to patients and GPs too wish to offer flexibility, as well as speedy access, to patients.

"Doctors will always see patients with an urgent medical problem straight away. However there can be problems with the 48-hour access target because it does not allow doctors to prioritise their patients on the basis of need, particularly at busy times."

(KMcA/SP)