CONT_07LeadingContinuity of Care
Adjust Appointment Lengths to Support Continuity and Workforce Retention
Summary
Review appointment structures to ensure safe workloads, reducing GP burnout and improving continuity.
Supporting information
10 minute appointment slots create pressure that undermines quality of care, continuity and clinician wellbeing. Flexible appointment lengths improve care quality, reduce stress, and support workforce retention.
Approaches to implementation:
- Analyse consultation patterns to understand which patients or groups may require more time
- Pilot different appointment lengths for different consultation types, including interpreted consultations
- Build flexibility for clinicians to extend appointments when needed
- Monitor impact on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes
Key benefits: Improves care quality for complex patients while supporting clinician wellbeing and retention, creating sustainable models for addressing health inequalities.