ANNEX V : topic guide, GP Services
Focus group topic guide: GP Services
Where do you usually go first when you feel unwell?
- General discussion about what people do when they need to speak to someone about their health - include GP practice, Out of hours, NHS24, pharmacist, A&E department.
What is important to you about your GP practice itself?
Prompt on
- location
- accessibility
- transport
- building/ facilities
- receptionists
What is important to you about contacting or making an appointment at your GP practice?
Prompt on:
- getting through on phone
- telephone manner
- getting same day appointments
- making future appointments
- choice of times
- opening hours
- choice of doctor
- option of phone consultation
What is important about your GP/family doctor?
Prompt on:
- e.g. skills and knowledge
- familiar with your medical history
- confidence & trust
- friendliness
- honesty
- respectfulness
- interest in you as an individual
- listening
- explains things properly
- sympathetic
- thoroughness
- takes you seriously
- tactful
Out of the things that you've mentioned, what do you think is most important about your GP/family doctor?
Are there different characteristics that you would find important in a nurse or other healthcare professional?
Prompt on:
- e.g. skills and knowledge
- familiar with your medical history
- confidence & trust
- friendliness
- honesty
- respectfulness
- interest in you as an individual
- listening
- explains things properly
- sympathetic
- thoroughness
- takes you seriously
- tactful
Out of the things that you've mentioned, what do you think is most important about nurses and/or other healthcare professionals?
What is important when you visit your GP practice for a consultation?
Prompt on:
- being seen on time
- the GP spends enough time with you
- the nurse or other health professional spends enough time with you
- involvement in decisions about your care/ treatment
- given options where appropriate
- enough information to make decisions
- information about what to do after you leave
- details of who to contact for more information
- getting medicines
- explanation about medicines / possible side effects
- know how to get test results and when they will be ready
- choice about any outpatient referrals
- information about referrals
- advice and help with health matters such as diet or smoking
Are the things that are important when you need to see someone or get advice out-of-hours different from what's important about your own doctor?
Prompt on:
- how easy it is to get an appointment
- location
- transport
being seen on time - being seen quickly
- whether seen by doctor or nurse
- how much time they spend with you
What is important to you about Home Visits?
Prompt on:
- how easy it is to get a home visit
- the person arrives at pre-arranged time
- whether seen by doctor or nurse
- how much time they spend with you
- demeanour of the person
- how they communicate with other services
What is important after your appointment?
Prompt on:
- can easily pick up medicines
- that the pharmacist explains about your medicines
- that repeat prescriptions are managed well
- can order repeats without going in
- that you get test results quickly
- the way test results are communicated from the surgery
- outpatient appointments - timing, results, information, etc.
- followup appointments
- Doctor shares important information with others e.g. carers, social work
Have you ever decided not to go to your GP when you thought you needed to? What reasons?
Anything else?
- Are there things that we haven't discussed that are important?
- Was there anything particularly good about your GP services care?
- If there was one thing that needs to be improved the most what was it?