Problems with a ‘target’ approach to access in primary care: a qualitative study |
| |
| Authors: | Kate Windridge Carolyn Tarrant George K Freeman Richard Baker Mary Boulton Janet Low |
| |
| Affiliation: | Clinical Governance Research and Development Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester. kcw@leicester.ac.uk |
| |
| Abstract: | We report an analysis of the qualitative phase of a study of patients' and carers' views of primary care services, focusing on their experiences of access to face-to-face general practitioner (GP) consultations during the period when new access policies were being implemented. Practices interpreted the new policy in various ways; restricted interpretations, including restriction of access to telephone booking, could cause distress to patients. Patients and carers welcomed flexible interpretations of the policy that offered choice, such as a choice of GP, or of booking in advance. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
