Response to Healthwatch Cornwall report on GP access

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) has responded to Healthwatch Cornwall’s report into GP access, thanking both Healthwatch and the many people who shared their experiences, which will be used to shape further plans to improve local access to GP services.

Dr Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB said:

“We are grateful to Healthwatch Cornwall for listening to people’s views. Every patient story matters – and we must learn where things haven’t gone well as local people deserve timely, safe and effective care – which is why we are committed to seeing access and experiences improve across our general practices.

“We are pleased that many local people report getting a good service from their local GP practice, this is backed by national GP survey results, which show 77% of Cornish patients rate their overall GP experience as good – higher than the national average.  However, we know access isn’t consistent across Cornwall and that is why we are supporting local practices to make further improvements.

“We are investing in wider local services to tackle this – including working with GP practices to deliver an extra 3,500 appointments per month in 12 primary care hubs, 16 new integrated neighbourhood teams working together to provide joined up care in local communities, and supporting local practices to implement new digital tools and ways of working that free up phone lines and staff time for people who prefer to call or visit in person.

“Our practices are also responding to the needs of a growing population and the seasonal pressures of tourism, while continuing to provide safe, effective care. Every year the number of GP appointments increases, in the last year over 4 million general practice appointments were provided, with almost half happening on the same day as requested.

“We thank GP teams for their commitment and hard work, and we are determined to support them with ongoing investment, training and targeted help for practices where patient experience scores may be lower.”

As part of national plans to improve access to general practice, NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB is working together with 55 local GP surgeries, the GP collaborative and the Local Medical Committee to implement the delivery plan for recovering access to primary care, published in 2023. Changes already made across Cornwall to improve access to avoid the 8am rush for appointments includes:

• offering thousands more general practice appointments through primary care hubs
• expanding community pharmacy services to provide treatment and medication through Pharmacy First
• adopting new technologies such as digital telephony and online consultation.

The ICB will continue to work closely with Healthwatch Cornwall, GP practices, partners and local communities to act on the recommendations made in the report and to ensure that GP access and inconsistencies in services improve and GP services become fair, inclusive and responsive to people’s needs.

Read more about General Practice in Cornwall and the improvements to access and services that are underway.