07.11.12
Location variation
The new report from The King’s Fund highlights that there are clear clinical benefits, and even cost savings, to increasing patient access to GP surgeries.
It is not just some fluffy extra that will boost patient satisfaction scores; increased access improves performance, and encourages patients to comply with medical advice, taking greater responsibility for the management of their conditions.
This adds up to reduced costs for the NHS, due to less unexpected A&E visits from patients who cannot see their GP, and less complications or worsening of conditions due to poor compliance.
Hopefully the results will also push those surgeries which are performing poorly to improve, and for resources to go to the places that need it most: deprived areas and surgeries with only a few GPs.
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