The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has launched a new guide to help older people and their families better understand their rights when accessing their GP practice, and the kinds of services and support that should be available.

The guide includes information on a range of topics, from communicating with your practice, to finding the right service and professional, to the support that should be offered to help meet your needs, to what you can do if you’re not happy with the service you are receiving. 

Versions of the guide are available in BSL, Audio and Easy Read formats, alongside summaries in other languages.

If you would like a hard copy of the guide, please call 03442 640670. The report will also be available at the Older People’s Forums.

Making an appointment with your GP (From ‘GP Practices in Wales: A Guide for Older People’ – Older People’s Commissioner)

When you contact your practice to make an appointment, the practice MUST offer you an appropriate consultation if it has assessed that you have a clinical need to access their services. The practice should offer you the appointment when you first contact them. You should not have to contact them again. If a clinician decides that your need is urgent, you must be offered an appointment on the same day.

If your need is not so urgent, you MUST be able to book an appointment in advance. Your practice should normally book you in for an appointment within two to three weeks, but they may make appointment slots available up to six weeks in advance.

GP Practices should no longer be releasing all appointments at 8am for that day.