Healthwatch Peterborough is inviting residents to share their experiences of getting a referral from the GP to another NHS service.

NHS services in the city are stretched from getting to see a doctor through to hospital waiting times.

Labour councillor and local NHS GP, Dr Shabina Qayyum is backing the survey and asking residents to get involved.

Councillor Shabina Qayyum said:

“I think that it is very important residents take part in Healthwatch Peterborough‘s latest survey asking about their experiences with referrals from GPs into other services.

“We all know too well the problems that patients have been facing – in not only accessing GP services but due to the backlog, as a result of Covid, there are numerous issues with reference to patients’ appointments either being delayed or cancelled by the local hospital.

“As a GP myself, a considerable amount of my workload is as a result of chasing up appointments at the hospital and at other services that have been otherwise cancelled due to a shortage of staff or because of the backlog where hospitals are having to prioritise urgent cases and that then results in routine referrals being delayed.

“So please take part in this survey so that Healthwatch Peterborough can relay this information back to the health scrutiny committee of Peterborough City Council – and councillors can then make their recommendations to the North West Anglia Foundation Trust and other organisations.”

To share you experience of referrals, contact Healthwatch Peterborough at enquiries@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk