Impact of same-day appointments on patients satisfactions with general practice appointment systems

Abstract

Following recent concerns about patients' inability to book appointments in advance, this study, examined the relationship between the proportion of GP appointments reserved for same-day booking, and patient satisfaction with appointment systems. In a survey of 12 825 patients in 47 practices, it was found that a 10% increase in the proportion of same-day appointments was associated with an 8% reduction in the proportion of patients satisfied. Practices should be wary of increasing the level of same-day aqpointments to meet access targets. © British Journal of General Practice 2008.