1. Getting an appointment with a GP is a major concern

    Response -

    1 in 4 face difficulty booking an appointment on the phone according to new GP patient survey results.

  2. Disabled people struggling to access GP appointments

    News -

    Most people say they are satisfied with their GP but research from our network suggests that there are significant issues of concern for some groups of people, particularly for those with hearing, visual and mobility problems.

  3. What help do you need to look after your health in the future?

    Report -

    By analysing over 11,000 conversations the Healthwatch network has had with the public about this issue, we found five common areas where people wanted to see improvement.

  4. Primary Care: A review of local Healthwatch reports

    Report -

    Find out what we found when our network spoke to more than 11,000 people and visited over 550 GP surgeries, pharmacies and opticians across the country.

  5. Our response to ‘A very general practice’; the Citizens Advice report on non-health visits to GPs

    Response -

    New report states GPs spend almost a fifth of their consultation time dealing with non-health issues, such as personal relationship problems, housing and unemployment.

  6. Our response to Monitor's GP report and patients survey

    Response -

    A third of people are dissatisfied with availability of appointments at their GP and almost half struggle to book an out of hours appointment according to a review by Monitor. Read our response.

  7. Major issues with GP access being tackled in Derby

    News -

    Many people in Derby face significant issues accessing GPs. Healthwatch Derby City listened to people views and called for change.

  8. Addressing GP access issues for people in Hertfordshire

    News -

    Patients struggling to access GP services helped by Healthwatch Hertfordshire

  9. GP surgeries updating good practice in registering new patients thanks to local Healthwatch

    News -

    Almost all GP practices in Southampton routinely ask for proof of identity, potentially denying many people access to care in Southampton.

  10. Our response to the National Audit Office report on GP access

    Response -

    New report finds that while patient satisfaction with access to General Practice remains high, it is declining.

  11. People's experiences of primary care

    News -

    Accessing GP services is a key concern people share with their local Healthwatch. Here are some of the issues people from different communities face.

  12. Perspectives on primary care part 1: Mothers of young children

    News -

    Being able to access primary care services is a key concern that the public have raised with local Healthwatch. Our first in a series of blogs focuses on what one group of mothers in Southend-on-Sea told us.

  13. What help do you need to look after your health in the future?

    News -

    Read our new report on how people want to play a bigger role in looking after their own health and care and what would support them to do that.

  14. People's experiences of primary care

    Report -

    Most people when surveyed say that they are satisfied with the care they get from primary care services, but this does not tell the full story.

  15. Would you use a pharmacist instead of visiting your GP for advice?

    News -

    One in three people said yes when asked this question in a recent England wide poll. We spoke to Healthwatch Cornwall to find out more about changing attitudes to pharmacy services.