This year’s patient survey was carried out over a few weeks during October. Patients were questioned on many topics: waiting times, telephones, staff, quality of care etc and also made additional comments if they wished to.

To give you some examples:

12% more patients than in 2006 were using this service. These appointments are now nearly always used. Patients seem to be more aware of this facility to speak to a doctor, and find it useful for advice/queries. Please ask Reception for more information.

The Telephone System glitches seem to have been sorted out now, since we made some changes after last years survey comments. 78% of patients rated their satisfaction as good, very good or excellent, an increase of 7% on 2006.

There were the usual comments about the car park, but unfortunately there is nothing we can do about the space available. However, we will be having some of the bushes chopped back on the central island and we will be installing security lighting at the front of the building to help in winter.

the practice. This is not to say that we will become complacent about the services we offer to patients and if you have any comments/ideas/complaints to make about your experience with the practice, please contact the Practice Manager in the first instance.

39% of patients wished to see additional weekend opening and 26% wished for evening appointments.

In response to last year’s survey (2006) we did offer more early morning appointments aimed at working people, with Dr Jones, Dr Grady and Dr Hinton offering 8.10 and 8.20 am early morning appointments one day a week. These have proved popular and are always fully booked.

The Government is removing funding from GP Practices from April 2008 unless they offer extended opening hours. We did trial two Mondays with two Doctors starting early, two mid morning and two late working through until 8pm. We also had Chris Macklin Triage the emergency calls (which already happens on Friday afternoons).

The Government wants us to provide additional routine appointments for working people who cannot come during "normal" opening hours. This too is under discussion.

There was a slight down turn in satisfaction from 2006 regarding this issue. However, 84% of patients still rated continuity of care as good, very good or excellent.

When the survey was discussed with some Patients Representatives, it was felt that in an emergency, then having to see a different doctor should not be a problem, but it is nice to be able to see the same Doctor for ongoing problems.

We do try as a Practice to keep to familiar faces. Regarding Locums, we always use Doctors we know or who have been highly recommended by other practices, or who have worked here as GP Registrars e.g. Dr Claire Eely-Sedding. This contributes to good team working and the familiar welcome we always strive to create at Hartley Corner.

Here are a few of the comments from the 2007 Surveys:

Patients seem generally very happy with

If it does happen, the surgery will NOT be open for emergency appointments as it was previously, as the Out Of Hours Service will still be operating. Neither will the surgery be open for telephone calls, or prescription collection, just routine pre-booked appointments.

We will be having new entry doors installed at the end of April. These will open automatically as you approach and there will be push-pad to press to open the door to exit the building.

There will also be an intercom system installed.

This month sees the retirement of one of our longest serving members of staff, Mrs Pat Fahey. Pat has worked here as a Medical Secretary for almost 16 years and has always provided a calm and efficient service to both patients and colleagues. She will be sorely missed by us all and we are sure you will join with us in wishing her and her husband, Roger, a very long, happy and healthy retirement together.

Caroline Friedman joins us now as Pat’s replacement and we welcome her to the team!

Claire Eely-Sedding was our GP Registrar over the past 18 months who many of you will have got to know. Claire will still be seen here occasionally as a Locum, but she has taken a job in Australia as a Flying Doctor so we wish her all the best with that challenge!

Dr Grady now does a Thursday Morning Clinic at the surgery for patients needing a gynaecological examination and consultation. These appointments are slightly longer than normal. We would please ask that you book into this clinic should you need that kind of appointment with her.