Waiting times for GP appointments

Summary

The requester asked for average GP appointment waiting times per practice for each quarter of 2018, but the Department of Health and Social Care stated it did not hold data in that specific format. Instead, the authority provided a snapshot of next available urgent and routine appointment times for various practices as of January 2019.

Key Facts

• The Department does not hold quarterly waiting time data for 2018 as requested.
• Quarterly collation of this data is scheduled to begin from 1st April 2019.
• Waiting times provided are for the next available appointment as of January 2019.
• Routine appointment times vary significantly by practice, ranging from 1 to 18 days.
• Some practices utilize Advanced Nurse Practitioners to treat patients similarly to GPs.

Data Disclosed

• 2019-01-22
• 2019-02-05
• 2018
• 1st April 2019
• January 2019
• 18 days
• 5 days
• 2 days
• 4 days
• 1 day
• 3 days
• 14 days
• 713465

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the public authority

Original Request

Please can you tell me the average waiting times for a GP appointment and emergency appointment per practice in the Isle of Man for each quarter of 2018?

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC, Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas IM1 3QA

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 713465 5th February 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 22nd January 2019 which states:

"Please can you tell me the average waiting times for a GP appointment and emergency appointment per practice in the Isle of Man for each quarter of 2018?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. The Department collects the information you have requested during contractual reviews and in relation to individual surgeries as required. In that respect the information that you require is outlined below, however the frequency is not as you requested. This information is something that the Department does intend to collate on a quarterly basis from the 1st April 2019 onwards. January 2019 Practice Next available urgent appointment Next available routine appointment Kensington Today 18 days Palatine Today 5 days Snaefell Today 2 days Promenade Today With an Advanced Nurse Practitioner today or a GP in 2 days’ time Hailwood Today 2 days Finch Hill Today 4 days Ramsey Today 1 day Peel Today 4 days Laxey-Onchan Today 3 days

January 2019 Practice Next available urgent appointment Next available routine appointment Ballasalla Today 1 day Castletown Today 3 days Southern Today 14 days You will wish to note that some of the GP Practices have advanced nurse practitioners who have the ability to see and treat patients with certain conditions in the same way as a GP. These have been added to the above with notes in order that you may have a more full set of information.
It is also important to appreciate that the next available routine appointment is with any doctor in the Practice; patients wishing to see a specific GP may find the waiting time increases. Practices increasingly have systems in order to identify those patients who require an urgent appointment. Some Practices operate a doctor led triage system. I have detailed below the information that is held.

Please quote the reference number 713465 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

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Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely