Over 360,000 face-to-face GP appointments made in Dorset during September
That's the highest in two years
GP satisfaction in Dorset is again on the rise – as surgeries start seeing more patients.
Latest figures show an 88 per cent satisfaction rate with GP visits while a national survey puts the county as the third highest for offering face-to-face appointment.
In September 67.5% of appointments were face-to-face, Dorset councillors have been told.
Figures presented to them by the health commissionng body said that in September 363,000 GP appointments were made – the highest for two years as people regain their confidence following the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
A rolling figure for the year shows 4.3million appointments to the end of the month, compared to 3.6million in both 2020 and 2019.
Dorset Council’s people and health scrutiny committee was told that GPs were now working with the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and other partners to rebuild and improve on services – including making better use of digital tools.
For elective care Dorset’s delays peaked at more than 230 people who had been waiting over two years for a procedure which has now been reduced to 168, although there continues to be pressure in some areas including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, dermatology and urology, much of the challenges caused by staff shortages. In some areas average waiting times are still longer than a year.
Despite this Dorset has been consistently second placed in the South West for elective procedures.
The figures are expected to be helped by the opening of new walk-in ‘high flow’ clinics at the former Beales store in Poole’s Dolphin Centre in early December and, following that, a similar clinic opening at the Dorset Council building in South Walks, Dorchester in the New Year. The site may also offer orthopaedic services outside the main hospital.
The CCG acknowledges that these are likely to increase demand for surgery and has put in bids for national funding to pay for updates to equipment and operating theatre capacity.
Part of the strategy going forward will be to offer guidance and support for patients who may eventually need surgery to manage their condition while they wait.