Patients carry out survey of medical practice in Wellington
A group of Wellington residents concerned about the service at their local surgery have surveyed other patients and found that well over half (60%) were either not sure or would not recommend the surgery to someone new to the area.
The group surveyed 100 patients from Wellington Medical Practice on the appointments system, reception service, doctors and the access to the surgery. The survey took place over two weeks and at varying times of day.
The results of the survey showed that well over half (67%) of respondents said that the booking system was either poor or very poor and almost half (47%) were not able to book in advance. A 82% of those durveyed also said they would prefer their own doctor assigned to them.
Jayne McDermott from the group said:
"our survey showed that we aren't the only ones who have concerns about the surgery. We were aware that letters with concerns about the surgery had been written to the Shropshire Star and following a Freedom of Information request we knew that complaints had been made and that patients were registering elsewhere, but nothing seemed to be improving. On top of that, the surgery is seeking new patients but we believe that improvements need to be made first. Our freedom of information request showed that almost 1,000 patients (987) Wellington Medical Practice patients registered with other practices in the Telford area between October 2010 and October 2011."
Patient comments taken at the survey also suggested that if patients were not able to get an appointment they will use the option of going to the walk-in surgery at the Princess Royal Hospital. This is not good for the doctor/patient relationship as you begin to realise that you cannot rely on making an appointment to see your regular doctor. The poor appointments system is demonstrated by a photo (attached) which shows the queue at 8.10am to try to see a doctor when the surgery does not open until 8.30am. As one patient explained: "You're asked to turn up at 8.30 on the day as there will be appointments. You turn up at 8.30, no appointments."
Tom Bolger who surveyed patients said "we thought there was a problem, but that maybe it was on a small scale. Now we know that it isn't, that it's widespread and needs to be sorted out. It's because we care about the NHS and our surgery that we have done this. We have also approached the local ward councillor, Cllr Pat McCarthy, who has agreed to help us take this forward so that everyone benefits from an improved service."
The group has requested an appointment with the senior doctors at the surgery to detail their findings.
