1. HOW THE PRACTICE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM WORKS DR FIRST

2. DR FIRST APPOINTMENT SYSTEM GP’S START MAKING CALLS AT 8AM FINISH CALLS 10.30AM START SEEING PATIENTS FROM CALLS MADE FACE TO FACE FROM 10.30AM – 12.30PM DEAL WITH PRESCRIPTIONS UNTIL 1.30PM

3. MAKE HOME VISITS PAPERWORK START TELEPHONE CALLS AT 3PM SEE PATIENTS FROM CALLS MADE FACE TO FACE FROM 4PM – 6PM

4. PAPERWORK REVIEW PATHOLOGY RESULTS TIME FOR HOME BETWEEN 8PM – 9PM

5. ABOUT 60% OF THE CALLS TAKEN FROM PATIENTS DO NOT NEED TO BE SEEN, SAVING TIME FOR PATIENTS AND GP’S ABOUT 30% OF PATIENTS NEVER NEED TO SEE A GP AND COULD LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES VIA SELF-HELP, PHARMACIST HELP/OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION

6. DR FIRST APPOINTMENT SYSTEM HAS INCREASED OUR CAPACITY AND DEMAND BY 19% WE NOW DEAL WITH 505 GP TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS PER WEEK AND 100 NURSE TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS PER WEEK WE SEE 320 PATIENTS FACE TO FACE PER WEEK 925 TOTAL PATIENT CONTACTS PER WEEK (PRIOR TO DR FIRST SYSTEM WE HAD 539 CONTACTS PER WEEK)

7. T HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE WAYS OUR PATIENTS CAN HELP US RUN TO TIME Please try not to have more than one problem to deal with in your appointment Please think clearly about your problem before the appointment ( how long have you had it, when does it happen, what makes it better or worse, how does it feel, any other symptoms etc.) Please do not say your problem is urgent or an emergency if it is not. Please order repeat medication on time- 'emergency’ prescriptions cause interruptions for the duty doctor ( we are the only surgery in Warrington who turn repeat prescriptions around in 24 hours.