LONG waiting times to see a GP in parts of Oxford are placing even more pressure on already stretched A&E departments, according to a new report.

The study of health care services across Oxford found that some patients face waits of up to four weeks to see their GP, with many people saying they have attended the John Radcliffe Hospital A&E department to receive quicker treatment.

Find out the best and worst GP surgeries in Oxfordshire for making an appointment. 

Healthwatch Oxfordshire staff spoke to 450 people in the Greater Leys, Rose Hill, Littlemore and Temple Cowley areas, and collected 315 patient feedback forms during the two-week project.

A number of concerns over health care in Oxford were highlighted by the report, including the cost or availability of dental services, the added pressure placed on care health services by new housing developments and a lack of suitable public transport making it particularly difficult for elderly people to access health care.

However, it was the effect that GP waiting times are having on the wider health system that was laid bare by study.

Healthwatch received 94 responses specifically about GPs, with by far the most responses concerning Donnington Health Centre and The Leys Health Centre.

Each was given an average rating of three and a half stars out of five, as were St Bartholomew’s Medical Centre and Summertown Health Centre.

One patient told Healthwatch: “The wait for appointments is two to three weeks, too long…If I ever had a problem I wouldn’t come here, I would go to the John Radcliffe…I wouldn’t bother with that lot, I would go to the JR.”

Another said: “Even when I have a discharge note from the hospital saying that my son must be seen, I don’t get an appointment, I don’t even try to get one sometimes, I think that is why we end up in hospital so much.”

While a third added: “It’s really hard to get an appointment, I can understand why people go to Accident and Emergency (A&E)…they are just so busy.”

In January at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, 53 patients were forced to wait more than 12 hours in A&E waiting rooms, while the trust continues to miss its four-hour A&E waiting time target.

Almost 600 non-elective operations were postponed over the winter period to cope with the added demand placed on emergency departments.

And earlier this year, the British Medical Association warned that the so-called NHS winter crisis would turn into a year-round problem as demand on A&E services continues to grow.

Executive director of Healthwatch Oxfordshire Rosalind Pearce said: “Pressure on GP surgeries continues to be a problem in our county, and this in turn is causing increasing pressure on acute care services such as hospitals.

“While there certainly needs to be more provision for GP surgeries, this is not something that can be solved overnight.

“Therefore people can also play their part by choosing which service they really need before going to an A&E department.

“In many causes, a minor injuries unit or a pharmacist may be more appropriate. A&E really should be just for emergencies.”

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said it had already developed a draft plan aimed at improving primary care access.

The plan includes a new primary care visiting service, improved referrals to non-clinical services, a focus on reducing pre-disease risk factors, and the expansion of the ‘minor ailments scheme’ to all pharmacies in Oxford.

A CCG spokesperson said: “Oxfordshire CCG welcomes the report from Healthwatch and can confirm that we have been working with local people in Oxford City to develop a plan to address some of these concerns.

“We work closely with all partners and are aware of many of the issues raised in the Healthwatch report.

“A number of the issues are highlighted in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Health Inequalities Commission report.

“We continue to work closely with the Oxfordshire County Council and local NHS organisations to address the concerns raised in the Healthwatch report.”

Spokesperson for Oxfordshire University Hospitals, Matt Akid, said the trust would analyse the areas for improvement highlighted by Healthwatch in the report.