Appointment Times

Early Mornings (7:30am - 8am)

Evenings (6:30pm - 8pm)

Saturdays (9am - 5pm)

Sundays (9am - 5pm)

None of the above

Appointment Type

Blood Tests

First Contact Physiotherapy / FCP (to assess & manage musculoskeletal conditions)

GP Consultations

Health Condition reviews (such as, asthma, diabetes)

Health Screening (such as, cervical smears)

Medication reviews / Pharmacist review

NHS Health Check (a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74)

Support Groups (such as, Youth Drop in clinic, Mental Health support workers, Social Prescribers)

None of the above

Consultation Type

Telephone

eConsult

Video Calls

Face-to-Face

Online Messaging / Online Services

Same Day

Support Groups

Group Consultation (bringing together individuals into small groups for support with long-term conditions)

None of the above

The information gathered has helped us to plan our services around the needs of our patients.

As part of the NHS Enhanced Access service Foundry now offer:

Long wait times on the telephone lines

Lack of appointment availability

Long wait times for getting an appointment

Difficulty attending the GP Practice

Difficulty booking with preferred GP/Preferred GP Team

No access online – I do not have access to the internet

I am unable to attend appointments during core surgery hours (8:30am – 6pm, Mon – Fri)

None of the above

Other

Long wait times on the telephone lines
We are listening, and aware that our telephone system is not suitable for the demand and capacity we now face as a larger organisation. We are in negotiation to appoint a new telecommunications provider, with the potential to provide options such as automated call back and direct appointment booking. As well as a robust reporting system that can track trends and behaviours, so that we can be more adaptive to the needs of our patients.

We aim to ensure the new system works for all and are currently finalising arrangements that will see a group of volunteer patients assist our team in developing aspects of the new telephone services from the outset.

Lack of appointment availability
We operate a system that allows us to offer GP appointments either on the day - for clinically urgent queries, or within 1 week / within 4 weeks based on urgency and need. For most queries patients will be contacted on the telephone by a clinician and, if necessary, offered a face to face appointment in surgery. Many things can be dealt with safely and effectively over the telephone and do not always require a face to face review.

We also offer a variety of appointments with specialist clinicians, including First Contact Physiotheraptists (FCP), Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP), Paramedic Practitioners, Social Prescribers and Mental Health Support Coordinators. Patients may find that there issue can be dealt with quickly and more effectively utilising the expertise of these clinicians, without the need to see a GP.

Difficulty booking with preferred GP
We try to ensure that continuity of care is given to those patients in most need, often with complex health issues. Our receptionists will always endeavour to try and book a patient an appointment with their preferred GP, this however may result in a longer wait for that appointment.

No access online
We now have 2 Digital Ambassadors at the surgery. They can help and guide patients in accessing and using NHS online services and other digital health tools. This service is available to any patient registered at our surgery and can be accessed by calling and booking an appointment through our reception team.

Appointments at the UTC
We are now providing evening and weekend appointments as part of the Enhanced Access Service, with the majority taking place at the Lewes Victoria Hospital, Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC).  With support from our patients we are able to make the best use of the facilities and resources available to us.

Our GP's, whom are also based at the UTC during core practice hours, are able to offer support to and are supported by the UTC's Enhanced Nurse Practitioners, working together 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday to provide collaborative care to our patients. In addition to this, at the weekends our GPs are also on hand at the UTC to provide additional cover to our care homes and their patients.