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14 June 2024

A new online educational campaign continues in North Cumbria that aims to help patients better understand the ways in which primary care and modern general practice work to support them.

The third week of the campaign explored new options available for patients with modern technology and how this in turn helps both the practice and help to relieve pressure on other channels for patients who are unable to access through these channels. (This was highlighted across the myhealthncumbria social media accounts).

As technology develops over time it means more options become available for patients. One tool highlighted to patients was the NHS App which patient groups recently highlighted to us that after some frustrations with the initial set up, they found it to be a really useful tool, especially for things like repeat prescriptions and appointments.

The key messages within this campaign very much encouraged the people, who already use apps and online options for lots of other things, to consider adding some health options into the mix. Traditional methods continue to be available to communicate with local GP surgeries, but new options working alongside help to provide more support especially with the unprecedented service demand across the health sector.

Patient Access Educational Campaign Background:

  • The Primary Care Services North Cumbria team has been in contact with some of the local Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and Practice Managers over the last few months to discuss what topics they thought it would be most useful to explore.
  • These 'hot topics' very much helped to set the scene for the subjects, which are now being explored across the myhealthncumbria social media accounts. This will run for four weeks across the months of May and June.
  • It aims to encourage patients to think a bit more about wider healthcare roles and help with providing a better understanding and encourage more patience of processes within modern general practice and primary care.

Speaking about the project Paul Day, Communications and Media Project Manger for Primary Care Services North Cumbria said:"A massive thank you goes out to all the patients and staff who were involved at the start of this project for their invaluable input that helped inspire us to shape some new resources and determine what the most important talking points should be.

"This initial research and discussion meant there was a much more co-produced approach to this project and brought up interesting themes across meetings including demand and expectations, the wider scope of teams within primary care, generational differences, online and face to face options, patient behaviours and many other things.

"We hope that this joint campaign across North Cumbria will start conversations and start to change perceptions looking at both sides of the service. We know there is a lot of pressure throughout all health and care systems at the moment, but the hope is that some understanding of the frustrations experienced from both sides will help with expectations and explore new channels."

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