NHS wants to hear your experiences of GP practices during COVID-19 pandemic

People living across Lancashire and South Cumbria have been asked to share their experiences of GP practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NHS in the region has launched a survey asking for feedback and suggestions as it looks to improve services for people.

It comes as demand for GP practice services continues to soar above pre-pandemic levels.

The survey, which is available online at www.bit.ly/GPSurv21 will remain open from now until 3 January 2022.

Dr Peter Gregory, a GP and associate medical director for the Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership, said: “While the way they have operated had to change for some time initially, GP practices have been here and remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They have continued to offer appointments, both face-to-face and over the phone. In September, NHS England data shows that in September this year there were 20 per cent more appointments taken than in September 2019. More than half a million of these appointments in Lancashire and South Cumbria were face-to-face.

“This is in addition to GP practices being a huge part of the COVID-19 vaccinations programme. In fact almost 1.4million vaccines have been delivered by practices – that’s 54 per cent of the total vaccines – in addition to their normal workload.”

Dr Lindsey Dickinson, also a GP and associate medical director, said: “We are experiencing huge levels of demand within GP practices and that doesn’t seem likely to let up anytime soon.

“Our priority remains the same, however. We want our patients to be healthy and happy and we will do everything we can to help. We want people to be able to get to us when they need to and to feel as though their needs are being met.

“To help us do that, we would love to hear about people’s views and experiences. We will look at all the feedback we get from this survey and use it as we work together to improve the services we offer.”  

The survey is anonymous and open to anyone who lives in Lancashire and South Cumbria. It is available online at www.bit.ly/GPSurv21