While patient feedback on the quality of care from medical staff at Saffron Health Partnership remains consistently positive, access to appointments continues to be a concern. Some patients report feeling they must queue outside the practice early in the morning to secure a slot - an approach that is clearly unsustainable, especially during colder months.
Working Towards Improvement
Richard has held multiple meetings with Saffron Health Partnership, including joint sessions with representatives from the ICB and PPG. These discussions have shown a shared commitment to improving patient access, and several positive changes have already been made:
- Workload restructuring has created capacity for an additional 50–60 GP appointments per week.
- The phone system is being upgraded to route calls more effectively, reducing congestion in the appointments queue and improving access for non-urgent queries like test results and phlebotomy.
- One new GP has joined the practice this year, with plans to recruit another by the end of 2025 or early 2026.
The proportion of pre-bookable appointments has increased from 25% to 50%, helping to ease daily demand and better accommodate non-urgent cases. - Additional clinical space is being made available at the Biggleswade surgery to support improved patient flow and accommodate new staff.
- The Klinik triage system has been reintroduced and is currently available for 5–6 hours daily. From October, it will operate throughout surgery hours, helping to reduce the 8am rush and ensure patients receive timely, appropriate care.
While patient feedback on the quality of care from medical staff at Saffron Health Partnership remains consistently positive, access to appointments continues to be a concern. Some patients report feeling they must queue outside the practice early in the morning to secure a slot - an approach that is clearly unsustainable, especially during colder months.
Saffron Health Partnership has also expanded its team, allowing for more blood tests to be offered locally, including evenings and Saturdays. While Biggleswade may not meet all demand in the near future, any reduction in the need to travel long distances is a welcome improvement.
Although change within the NHS can be slow, feedback from the PPG indicates that patients are beginning to notice progress. Richard remains committed to monitoring developments, ensuring healthcare commissioners are held accountable and supporting ongoing improvements in local primary care facilities.