We’ve had a role in influencing the content of the GP contract for 2026/27 as well as previous changes that came in from 1 October 2025 on online booking.
We want to assess the challenges patients still have with booking appointments via different methods and understand how these affect patient preferences.
We will use this evidence to highlight latest public evidence on GP access and to inform the future role we play in GP contract talks for 27-28.
We are looking to commission Healthwatch to run focus groups for us. Each focus group will be with a specific demographic group. All participants must have had a GP appointment in the last year. The groups we want to hear from are:
· People aged 70 plus
· People in full time work (ie at least 35 hours a week)
· People aged under 60 who have a long term condition
· People on low incomes living in a deprived area
We will provide £5,000 of funding per focus group.
These experiences will be complement national polling we will commission separately.
If your Healthwatch is interested in taking part in this project, please complete this survey by 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026.
The survey asks you to:
- provide the name of your Healthwatch
- State up to two of the groups for which you'd like to run focus groups and how you'll target and recruit people for them
- Provide details of your Healthwatch staff and volunteers' expertise in running focus groups
- A commitment that you will provide us with the focus transcript by Friday 17 July 2026 and that someone from your Healthwatch can attend the kick off meeting on 21 May 2026.
All questions are mandatory.