Healthwatch Bucks wanted to hear from people about their experience of GP and hospital appointments during the first lockdown period.
An online survey ran from 15 June to 20 July 2020.
We wanted to find out (for appointments due to happen after 23rd March) if the appointment had:
- Taken place face-to-face – at the GP or hospital or at someone’s home
- Taken place remotely by telephone or online
- Had been cancelled or postponed by the GP or hospital
- Had been cancelled or postponed by the patient.
We asked what people thought about:
- the communications and advice they may have been received about their appointment
- the precautions that were taken, if it was a face to face appointment, and how safe they felt
- whether the appointment had been successful or not if the appointment happened
- whether there were any effects on their health and wellbeing if the appointment had been cancelled or postponed.
We had a great response to our survey. Our recommendations, based on what we found, are about:
- improving the experience for those having a remote appointment
- providing people with information about what to do if they are concerned their health has been impacted by missed appointments or tests, or what to do if they are still waiting to hear about a cancelled or postponed appointment.
