BMJ

1. The covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated access problems in general practice and patients have reported finding it difficult to book appointments and access treatment, a report by Healthwatch has found.
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3. The patients watchdog said that GPs must prioritise telling patients that they are open for face-to-face appointments wherever possible.
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5. Its latest report looked at how covid-19 had changed the way people access their GP and how this affected their experience of care. 
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7. It was based on 10 089 people's experiences of GP services between April 2019 and December 2020 and 458 local Healthwatch reports about GP services during the same period. 
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9.  Healthwatch found that while remote appointments were more convenient for some patients, they didn't meet everyone's needs, with some patients left "worried that their health problems will not be accurately diagnosed," the report said. 
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11. Wherever possible, Healthwatch said that GPs should offer patients a choice of the type of appointment they would prefer whether it be video, face-to-face, or a home visit. 
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13. The report also found that some patients struggled to get appointments for regular health check-ups, treatments, and drug reviews, meaning that some were unable to manage their condition.

Edited from here

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