Residents have attended a jam-packed public meeting focused on local GP service provision and the a new online appointment booking system rolled out by local health provider Modality.
Organised by local campaign group Steeton Health Centre Action, the meeting covered four themes of patient access, challenges of travel from Steeton to Silsden for patients, health and community, and featured a panel with local MP Robbie Moore and representatives from the Modality group.
Speaking after the meeting, Robbie Moore MP said:
“Our GPs and their clinical teams do a fantastic job and this was very much recognised within the meeting - but the challenge of simply getting through Modality’s Patient Access System was the main topic of discussion.
It was clear from the views in the room and from the levels of correspondence I receive that there are still a significant number of patients having problems booking an appointment using Modality’s ‘Patient Access System’ which was introduced in May. Ensuring equitable access to healthcare services is a must, and it is therefore absolutely vital that telephone or face-to-face contact is maintained for individuals who can’t use Modality’s online system. Likewise, improvements have been suggested to the online system itself - as some find it difficult to use.”
From my discussions with Modality, I know they are working to improve their booking system - and that they will implement further improvement measures.
It is also important that as both Steeton and Eastburn continue to grow, as well as neighbouring settlements such as Silsden with huge amounts of housing being approved by Bradford Council, now more than ever must Modality and the Integrated Care Board consider an increase in service provision being operated from their Steeton Medical Practice to ensure residents local healthcare needs are met now and into the near future.
I commend the Steeton Health Centre Action Group on their months of hard work and for organising this meeting, which was incredibly well attended.”
