At Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness, we believe that listening to people’s experiences is key to improving health and social care services. At our recent pop-up at Alfred Barrow Health Centre, we spoke to several local residents about their experiences with their GP surgery.
Many shared positive feedback about the care they receive, while also highlighting areas where improvements could be made.
GP experiences Alfred Barrow
“Absolutely marvellous”
One woman we spoke to had recently been to her GP surgery for an MOT check-up. She described the staff as “absolutely marvellous”, emphasising how friendly and helpful they are. Living nearby, she appreciates the convenience of having a local surgery and she finds it easy to book appointments when needed.
When she calls to arrange a visit, she feels that it’s never too much trouble to get an appointment and she values the efficiency of the service. On the day we met her, she had just had a blood test and was pleased to learn that her results would be back within two days – a quick turnaround that reassured her about the responsiveness of the practice.
“Brilliant care but long waits for appointments”
Another woman, a retired local resident, shared her experience of visiting the surgery with her visually impaired husband. Both she and her husband are happy with the care they receive and she spoke highly of one particular female GP, describing her as:
- Easy to talk to
- A great listener
- Someone who makes her feel valued
However, while she trusts this GP and has a lot of confidence in her, she did express concerns about waiting times for appointments.
Recently, she had to wait three weeks for a consultation, which she found frustrating. However, once she was seen, she felt well cared for – the GP immediately booked her in for blood tests during the appointment and even offered her a selection of time slots for convenience.
Despite the initial wait, she was pleased that her blood test appointment was scheduled within just two days and that she didn’t experience any delays when attending. She also expressed gratitude to the GP for diagnosing a heart condition, reinforcing her confidence in the level of care provided.
The importance of patient feedback
These stories highlight both the strengths and challenges within GP services. While many patients appreciate the friendly, efficient and thorough care, long waits for appointments still remain a concern.
At Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness, we are here to listen to your experiences – both positive and negative. Your feedback helps us understand what’s working well and where changes are needed. If you have a story to share about your health and care services, we’d love to hear from you.
Have your say! Share your experiences with us and help shape the future of healthcare in your community.