Nearly 65 per cent of people think there is not enough information about out of hours GP services in Sheffield, according to a recent survey.
And the research, carried out by the Central Sheffield GP Consortium, revealed that more than 15 per cent of respondents do not know how to access medical treatment out of hours.
The online survey found that the range of health care options in Sheffield confuses people who want to access services when their GP practice is closed.
As part of the consortium’s recently launched website - Sheffieldhealth.co.uk, the survey aimed to find out what patients think of current out of hours services and how they can be improved.
Sharon Turner, Practice Manager at Northern Avenue Surgery and a leading member of the Consortium, said: “The survey has highlighted a few issues concerning the awareness of out of hours services across the city.
“It is clear that we need to start taking steps to ensure people better know where they can get access to treatment, and when.
“There are a lot of facilities available in Sheffield for people who need medical attention at evenings and weekends. But if people aren’t aware of what’s out there or how they can gain access to it, then it is of limited use.
“We will be using these survey results to begin making changes to the way we promote and inform our patients about out of hours services.”
The out of hours survey marks the first in a series of online questionnaires designed to help the Central Sheffield GP Consortium improve the quality and delivery of medical services within the city.
Sharon added: “The survey also brought some positive points to our attention. For example, more than 82 per cent of participants felt that their experience of out of hours treatment met their needs. It’s proven to be a fantastic way of finding out what people really think about healthcare in Sheffield.”
The Central Sheffield GP Consortium was launched in 2006 and is made up of 90 GPs from 28 practices across the city, who work together to meet the healthcare needs of more than 135,000 people.
Their website, Sheffieldhealth.co.uk, is designed to provide up-to-date healthcare information and advice for patients, as well as giving people the opportunity to have their say on health services in Sheffield.
For more information please visit: www.sheffieldhealth.com
ENDS