SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS INCREASE FRUSTRATION
Released 27/08/2008
Research shows that same-day appointments may reduce levels of patient satisfaction
Same-day appointments reduce patient satisfaction, according to an analysis in the September issue British Journal of General Practice.
Researchers at the University of Bristol surveyed 12,825 patients in 47 practices across 12 PCTs. They found that increasing the proportion of same-day appointments available by 10 per cent reduced the proportion of patients who described themselves as satisfied with the access arrangements by eight per cent. The inverse relationship was more pronounced in older patients.
The research group, led by Professor Chris Salisbury, concluded: "The findings support previous concerns that the benefits of increasing same-day GP appointments for some groups of patients may be outweighed by the difficulties in booking appointments in advance experienced by other groups of patients."