Improving Access for All

NHS England is committed to ensuring everyone has easier and more convenient

access

to GP services, including evening and weekend appointments, based on local evidence. Services are required to address issues of inequalities in patients' experience when

access

ing general practice. NHS England has backed a route for patients. approach to tackling inequalities developed by the University of East Anglia. The pathway is part of a new resource that will help commissioners and providers consider how inequalities may arise when people access general practice services. Step 1. Difficulties in recognizing health problems. For example, being socially isolated or with poor health literacy may have difficulty recognizing health problems.

Advertising services and health campaigns can help patients recognize possible symptoms of poor health and when to seek help. Step 2: Decide whether to seek help or not. Some may not be sure if they should do it. see someone about their problem or may not want to be a bother others may be unsure of their rights or overly concerned about the impact of their residential status people with negative experiences may feel hesitant to seek help services such as pharmacists care navigators NHS one-one - an app NHS Choices GP practice websites and other online services can provide help and advice step 3 actively seeking help not knowing where to find the right care can be a barrier lack of access to the internet, not being registered with a GP or confusion about how NHS work can cause difficulties, for example some older people may be less confident in using technology and vulnerable groups, such as the homeless, They may not understand their rights when registering with a GP, others, such as LGBTQ+ people, may fear prejudice or discrimination.

Active signage can help people. Getting the right care in the right place at the right time Navigators can help patients who find it difficult to negotiate the system Step 4 Getting an Appointment Getting an appointment at a convenient time can be difficult for some who were worried about being absent access to appointments at a variety of times, locations and different types can help, such as evening and weekend appointments in central locations. Better training for receptionists is expected to help help patients access the right type of appointment the first time. Step 5: How to get to the appointment Those who rely on public transportation may find access more difficult, especially those in rural areas with low income or mobility issues, working with transportation services can help technology and newer types of appointments, such as video consultations, online consultations and telephone consultations, mean that traveling to appointments is not always necessary step 6 seeing or speaking to someone and the overall brighter service communication between healthcare professionals and Some groups may be difficult due to linguistic or cultural disability differences, for example, visually impaired patients, autistic people, all those with learning disabilities may need longer appointments or wish to attend at a time of day when the waiting room It is calmer.

Cultural competency training and access to interpreters will assist in conducting an assessment of the impact of inequality and equity on health. They will help commissioners and providers consider equality issues by

improving

access to general practice services for more people. information on how to reduce inequalities and improve access to general medicine services visit the links provided