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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/06/some-patients-benefit-from-group-appointments-gps-say
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| Some patients benefit from group appointments, GPs say | Some patients benefit from group appointments, GPs say |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| GP surgeries in England that offer shared appointments for groups of patients with similar conditions have had very positive feedback, family doctors say. | |
| Some patients said they had benefited from group appointments after receiving support from other participants, according to the head of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP). | |
| Doctors are said to find the sessions effective in dealing with a variety of health issues, such as diabetes, arthritis and obesity, because they do not have to repeat the same advice individually. | |
| Group appointments with up to 15 people with the same condition have been trialled at surgeries in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle and Berkshire, the Daily Telegraph reported. | |
| Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, the chair of the RCGP, said: “We are already aware of practices that are offering ‘shared’ appointments for patients with similar conditions and the feedback has been very positive. | |
| “Some patients have even said they have benefited from the support they receive from their fellow patients, in addition to the care they receive from their GP. | “Some patients have even said they have benefited from the support they receive from their fellow patients, in addition to the care they receive from their GP. |
| “However, this approach will not work for everyone and GPs will know what best suits their patients and practices – and there is no pressure on patients to participate if they would prefer to continue seeing their GP in a one-to-one consultation.” | “However, this approach will not work for everyone and GPs will know what best suits their patients and practices – and there is no pressure on patients to participate if they would prefer to continue seeing their GP in a one-to-one consultation.” |
| The Patients Association said group consultations could help some people by providing an opportunity to discuss their conditions with others in the same situation. | The Patients Association said group consultations could help some people by providing an opportunity to discuss their conditions with others in the same situation. |
| The chief executive, Rachel Power, said: “It could also be reassuring to patients to see others share their concerns and challenges, and can provide the benefit of peer support. | The chief executive, Rachel Power, said: “It could also be reassuring to patients to see others share their concerns and challenges, and can provide the benefit of peer support. |
| “But patients must be given the choice as to whether to participate, or to continue with more traditional GP services.” | “But patients must be given the choice as to whether to participate, or to continue with more traditional GP services.” |
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