New collaboration with Healthwatch on daily challenges faced by GPs

Whether it’s searching for a missing piece of equipment, dealing with an achingly slow computer, or trying to figure out what medication to prescribe to a patient whose discharge letter hasn’t arrived from the hospital, GPs face multiple challenges in going about their work.

Everyday problems in the working environment – often known as ‘operational failures’ – are very common. They can have very negative effects on GP’s ability to deliver effective patient care and on their experiences of work.

... the views of patients will be hugely valuable in understanding the whole problem

Researchers at THIS Institute recently surveyed GPs on Thiscovery, THIS Institute's platform for remote research, to ask which of these operational failures they would most like to target for improvement.

We’re just as keen to hear patients’ voices on what’s important to them too. So we’re very excited to be collaborating with Healthwatch, the independent national champion for users of health and social care services, to recruit a diverse group of patients. We know the views of patients will be hugely valuable in understanding the whole problem from multiple perspectives and in helping to find solutions.

...all of the local Healthwatch organisations involved are experts in community engagement and in capturing the experiences of local people

Healthwatch England Collaboration Manager, Olly Grice commented “Recruiting patients for any research study can be a challenge. Healthwatch have an excellent reputation for listening to and championing patients’ views and all of the local Healthwatch organisations involved are experts in community engagement and in capturing the experiences of local people.”

Patients invited to share views

To express an interest in taking part in our study or to find out more about the participating Healthwatch in your region, please find the links below.

Seven local Healthwatch are working with THIS Institute on this study:

• Healthwatch Blackpool (North West)
• Healthwatch Lambeth (London)
• Healthwatch Lincolnshire (Midlands)
• Healthwatch Luton (East of England)
• Healthwatch Medway (South East)
• Healthwatch Swindon (South West)
• Healthwatch Wakefield (North East and Yorkshire)