Your experiences of GP practices in North Yorkshire

We asked people across the county to tell us what it's like to contact and use their GP practice, including what's working well, what could be improved and whether they're able to get the help they need.

People shared a range of experiences with us – positive, frustrating and somewhere in between. We're now looking carefully at all the responses to identify the main themes and what people think could make a difference.

Why did we ask?

GP practices are often the first point of contact for healthcare, but accessing help isn't always straightforward. People contact their practice in different ways, including by phone, online, in person and through the NHS App.

We wanted to understand:

• how easy it is to contact a GP practice
• any barriers people face when trying to get help
• whether information about appointments, prescriptions, test results or referrals is clear
• how well GP practices communicate with patients
• what could make accessing GP practices easier.

Building on what we've already heard

Every year, GP practices invite patients to take part in the GP Patient Survey, an independent survey commissioned by the NHS. The survey asks millions of people across the country about their experiences of GP practices, including making appointments, contacting their practice and the care they receive.

Earlier this year, we looked at the latest results for North Yorkshire, which highlighted both positive experiences and ongoing challenges around access, communication and continuity of care.

We've also carried out our own research into people's experiences of accessing healthcare. Earlier this year, more than 200 people shared their experiences as part of our Making health appointments work for everyone project, which explored whether people receive the reasonable adjustments and communication they need to access healthcare.

Our GP practice survey built on both pieces of work by focusing specifically on people's day-to-day experiences of contacting and using GP practices across the county.

Helping people get the most out of their GP practice

We also have a Getting the most out of your GP practice guide.

We developed the guide after hearing from local people who told us they found it difficult to understand how GP practices work, book appointments and get the right help. Many people also said communication wasn't always clear and they weren't sure who they should see or what would happen next.

Produced with Healthwatch volunteers, GPs, GP practice managers and other healthcare professionals, the guide explains how GP practices work and answers some of the questions people ask us most often. It includes information on:

• booking appointments
• when to see a GP or another healthcare professional
• your rights as a patient
• repeat prescriptions and other common queries
• giving feedback or raising concerns
• getting extra support if you have additional needs.

We hope the guide will help people feel more confident about accessing their GP practice and getting the right help.