Local MP, Maria Miller, chaired a community meeting focussed on the Beggarwood GP Surgery. The meeting featured a panel and Q&A, enabling direct discussions between patients and senior staff, 6 months on from the Surgery’s change of management.
Maria commented: “ "There has been new management at Beggarwood GP Surgery since February and I asked the GPs now leading the practice to meet local residents to update us all on how the practice is operating.
"It's clear the Beggarwood Practice, like others across the Borough, are experiencing a significant increase in demand for appointments, at a time when GPs are in short supply nationally. The Practice is using app-based technology and telemedicine to increase its capacity, as well as taking on more GPs and using an additional diverse range of qualified health professionals too.
"Saturday's meeting demonstrated the frustration some residents have with the changes that have been put in place, and the urgent need for more, clearer communication with patients on a regular basis. But it was also clear that the medical professionals in charge are trying to move heaven and earth to deliver the best for our community and they need our support to help make those changes happen."
The meeting, set up in coordination with the Beggarwood Patient Participation Group, featured GPs from the Surgery; senior staff from Operose Health, who took over operations in February; and from Hampshire’s Integrated Care Board, who oversee the running of Basingstoke GP services.
Since taking over the Surgery, Operose have been recruiting new GPs and support staff, currently with 12.4 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) GPs, about to rise to 12.6FTE. They continue to recruit permanent GPs and also have longer-term contract GPs in place. Operose have also rolled out new software, ‘Dr iQ’, for improving online services, including: appointment booking, prescription requests, and online consultations. Meanwhile face to face appointments are back up to between 60-70%, higher than the Basingstoke average.
Additional staff and improved online operations are welcome, given the increasing demand on GP services in Basingstoke and nationwide. In December 2021 there were 29.1 million appointments nationwide – 20% more than in Dec 2019. In an average month, Basingstoke’s GP surgeries deliver around 39,000 total appointments.