Today’s guest blog is by Dr Hugh Reeve, senior partner at Nutwood Medical Practice in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria. Not exactly a population pyramid, with 40% of patients over 65 Nutwood boasts more of a population parasol.
Below is his series of almost daily tweets over the two weeks since launch, and I think as the story unfolds you will be moved as I was.
Over to Hugh…
6/2/19 Day 1 AskmyGP. Wow – all today’s work done today. Online take up impressive for day1. Staff coped – 2 said it was best Weds ever! positive pt feedback. Drs slightly frazzled getting head round new system and strange only seeing f2f 30% of usual numbers 😀
7/2 Day 2 @askmygp 89 yr old sent me online message about her shoulder! Our salaried GP cleared all her admin & finished at 5.30-first time she’s left before 6.30 in 3 years. We had 62 new requests for help -phone and online-of these saw 15 people f2f. We’re cautiously optimistic!
8/2 Day 3 @askmygp GPs managed am and pm coffee breaks. 76 problems sorted – 32 f2f and one home visit. 89yr old who emailed yesterday sorted – one phone call and joint injection arranged next Tues. Old system would have taken at least 2 weeks! Next Monday’s rush the real test!
9/2 One of my partners told us of the incredulity and gratitude of a patient who was seen in surgery one hour after sending an email for a non-urgent problem.
Anyone that needs a physical examination we arrange to come in and see us – the same day they contact us , or visit at home. We now also get tests/xrays etc done first and then see people. Previously we phoned about 25% of pts and saw 75%, early results we see about 30% now.
Our access not bad at all but as you know continuity a real issue. Early signs are it could really help this.
11/2 Day 4 @askmygp – best Monday in 13 years at Practice. Gobsmacked! Pt with ?intracranial bleed after HI 10d ago-sorted CT-pt wanted routine appt, 10d wait on old system. Colleague spent 40 mins with pt who burst into tears at reception, she still left at 4.45pm with clear desk!
13/2 Week 1 @askmygp A revelation! 373 contacts of which 71% by phone and 29% online- this for a practice where 40% patients 65 or over. Of these we saw 30% f2f. Staff love it – no more telling pts no appt. Feedback from pts so far almost totally positive No downsides yet! I’m 😄
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Pt feedback from pts at our Practice using online service @askmygp in week 1. Amazing Wonderful Excellent Brilliant Worked perfectly Professional Quick Instant Superb Astonishing First class modern service Time saver Reassuring Good technology. This is surely what it’s all about😀
14/2 Real test for new @askmygp system today. One GP sick leaving 1.5 GPs to do today’s work. Real benefit of no full surgery to rearrange-just one person booked in. At end of day all work sorted. One GP had 48 contacts 40% f2f, said still better than when crisis hit under old system!
15/2 No signif downsides as yet Peter. However have to make sure enough capacity available each day and understand the predictable demand for each day of the week otherwise the system will grind to a halt.
20/2 2 wks @askmygp. Getting used to system and love it. Pts seem to as well 34/37 online users think it’s better. 33% of all contacts coming in online and increasing by the day. More time to follow things up, phone people with results etc. Waiting time for a routine f2f appt <1 day!!
We still have work to do adjusting to a radically new way of working. Also fair bit of preparation beforehand. But so far gone better than we expected!
We book very little in advance now, starting the day with near empty schedule and as far as possible deal with today’s work today. At present we see f2f about a third of people who contact us and deal with rest either on phone or online.
Thanks Sam. Have never fallen out of love with general practice but was definitely very jaded. Now in my early 60’s and feel like the embers are starting to glow and real energy returning. Sounds a bit corny I know but true. This will keep me working – because I want to 😀
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