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- Page navigation anchor for RE: The open access general practiceRE: The open access general practiceOur practice operates as an open access surgery where between the hours of 0830 – 1030 and then 1600 – 1800, patients can ‘sit and wait’ to see a doctor similar to A+E. Alongside this ‘unique’ service, pre-bookable appointments allow traditional follow ups. We are a suburban practise with a list size of 6000 and consist of 3 partners, 4 part-time salaried and one registrar.Open access allows patients not to worry about availability whilst clinicians can utilise effective safety netting to review unwell patients potentially within 24 hours. Despite being asked to wait sometimes up to 60 minutes, patients continue to express gratitude for being seen which is reflected in their satisfaction particularly comments from our Patient Participation Group. Some will enquire about waiting times and decide to present at a quieter time acknowledging their query is more routine. Benefits are also seen in the wider team where receptionists can facilitate access for patients rather than endure difficult negotiations about appointment availability.However, clinical workload is invariably affected – with 10 to 50 patients presenting in a session – this understandably affects logistical planning. The model requires 2-4 doctors which reduces our ability to provide more follow up appointments running simultaneously. Patients often request to see specific doctors during open access,...Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.