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| Shared GP appointments trialled - and patients 'like' them | Shared GP appointments trialled - and patients 'like' them |
| (2 days later) | |
| Shared appointments at doctors' surgeries are being trialled across England - and patients like them, a group of GPs has said. | Shared appointments at doctors' surgeries are being trialled across England - and patients like them, a group of GPs has said. |
| Up to 15 patients with the same condition have shared GP appointments as part of tests at some surgeries, the Royal College of GPs said. | Up to 15 patients with the same condition have shared GP appointments as part of tests at some surgeries, the Royal College of GPs said. |
| It said patients benefited from support from other people, while GPs said it stopped them repeating advice. | It said patients benefited from support from other people, while GPs said it stopped them repeating advice. |
| But Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard said the approach would not work for everyone. | But Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard said the approach would not work for everyone. |
| The idea first came from the US around 10 years ago, but small scale trials have been increased in recent years across England, Prof Stokes-Lampard added. | The idea first came from the US around 10 years ago, but small scale trials have been increased in recent years across England, Prof Stokes-Lampard added. |
| The appointments have been used for people with conditions ranging from raised blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis, to chronic back pain and asthma. | The appointments have been used for people with conditions ranging from raised blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis, to chronic back pain and asthma. |
| Mary Henfrey regularly attends shared appointments near her home in Northumberland and thinks the sessions are useful. | Mary Henfrey regularly attends shared appointments near her home in Northumberland and thinks the sessions are useful. |
| "The good part about it is people ask questions that you might not have thought of asking yourself," she told the BBC. | "The good part about it is people ask questions that you might not have thought of asking yourself," she told the BBC. |
| "It is nice to see other people, talk to them and get their experiences as well. And everybody who is there seems pleased to be there." | "It is nice to see other people, talk to them and get their experiences as well. And everybody who is there seems pleased to be there." |
| The sessions last for up to two hours and involve everyone signing a confidentiality agreement. | The sessions last for up to two hours and involve everyone signing a confidentiality agreement. |
| Mrs Henfrey added: "I know the first time I ever went to one of the group sessions... everyone was reminded of confidentiality. | Mrs Henfrey added: "I know the first time I ever went to one of the group sessions... everyone was reminded of confidentiality. |
| "But once you have been to a number of these group sessions, you know everybody there and the confidentiality thing just doesn't arise. | "But once you have been to a number of these group sessions, you know everybody there and the confidentiality thing just doesn't arise. |
| "Everyone is interested in their own thing." | "Everyone is interested in their own thing." |
| Dr Frazer Birrell, who runs groups in the North East, said there were more than 300 shared sessions taking place across England. | Dr Frazer Birrell, who runs groups in the North East, said there were more than 300 shared sessions taking place across England. |
| "It won't suit everyone, but what we are trying to do is offer people choices. | "It won't suit everyone, but what we are trying to do is offer people choices. |
| "The big trouble is we don't have enough nurses, we don't have enough doctors and waiting times are worse than we want. | "The big trouble is we don't have enough nurses, we don't have enough doctors and waiting times are worse than we want. |
| "So this is one possible solution where if we see people together, we can offer them better care... and we can see the people with chronic conditions more regularly." | "So this is one possible solution where if we see people together, we can offer them better care... and we can see the people with chronic conditions more regularly." |
| Patient choice | Patient choice |
| Prof Stokes-Lampard said the idea of group education has been around for many years, including antenatal classes and group cardiac rehab sessions. | Prof Stokes-Lampard said the idea of group education has been around for many years, including antenatal classes and group cardiac rehab sessions. |
| "Those are just about information giving. This is something different. This is a two-way interactive process." | "Those are just about information giving. This is something different. This is a two-way interactive process." |
| She said the sessions would never replace private one-on-one consultations, adding: "This isn't going to be something that everyone is going to be offered and it would never be appropriate for huge numbers of people. | She said the sessions would never replace private one-on-one consultations, adding: "This isn't going to be something that everyone is going to be offered and it would never be appropriate for huge numbers of people. |
| "Sometimes being unwell can be a very lonely place, and learning from colleagues, friends, and other patients can be a very powerful way of realising you are not alone." | "Sometimes being unwell can be a very lonely place, and learning from colleagues, friends, and other patients can be a very powerful way of realising you are not alone." |
| She said the number of shared appointments is likely to continue to grow over the next decade. | She said the number of shared appointments is likely to continue to grow over the next decade. |
| The Patients Association said group consultations could be "reassuring" as people could see others who shared the same concerns and challenges caused by their condition. | The Patients Association said group consultations could be "reassuring" as people could see others who shared the same concerns and challenges caused by their condition. |
| But the group's chief executive, Rachel Power, added: "Patients must be given the choice as to whether to participate, or to continue with more traditional GP services." | But the group's chief executive, Rachel Power, added: "Patients must be given the choice as to whether to participate, or to continue with more traditional GP services." |