Primary Care News

Volunteers to help raise awareness of online access service

People visiting their doctors in Fylde and Wyre this week (19-24 June) could get a special demonstration of how to book appointments and order prescriptions online. Volunteers will be on hand at a number of practices across the area to help people get to grips with Patient Access – a website allowing people to access GP services from a computer, mobile phone or tablet.

The volunteers are members of their surgery’s patient participation group (PPG), which gives people the chance to communicate directly with their practice and provide views and suggestions for service improvements.

The PPGs are working with NHS Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to promote the use of Patient Access during the national PPG Awareness Week, which is designed to raise the profile of the groups and get more people involved.

As well as booking appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions, people can use Patient Access to view their health records.

Kevin Toole, Governing Body lay member for engagement at the CCG, said: “It is important that more and more people start to use Patient Access as it will really help free up those busy phone lines at our local GP practices. It also provides an opportunity for patients to check their health records and make sure the information is correct.