This resource updates practices regarding the identification of GP appointment categories. Appointmetn categories have been standardised across England so that data on GP appointments and their utilisation collected by NHS England (since 2018) accurately reflects local GP practice data aggregated across PCNs, CCGs , and wider footprints. The funding for undertaking this work is included within the 2021/22 Investment and Impact Fund (IFF) – Indicator ACC – 01. NHS England advise on the basis of piloting this exercise it should only take one hour, but depending on the complexity of each practices appointment system.
All practices should read the guidance which is called Standarised GP Appoinmtent Categories 2021/22.
Appointment definition
All appointments should be recorded in a practice appointment ‘book’, this includes appointments undertaken by General Practice employed/engaged staff and ARRS staff, in all modes [F2F, telephone, video or on-line] and in all settings, including at the practice, the patients place of residence, or community settings, such as access hubs. DNAs should be also recorded.
The following should not be recorded as appointments:-
- Purely administrative interactions between practice staff and patients.
- Work that does not involve patient contact such as MDTs, case conferences, referral letter preparation, reviewing results.
- Clinical supervision activity.
- PPG meetings
Further details are included in the linked guidance.
Practice IT providers are introducing functionality for this change and practices should be notified when this occurs.
GP appointment categories
There are four available service settings:-
- General Practice: all appointments delivered under the primary medical service Contract, which will be the majority.
- PCN: appointments delivered by ARRS staff or under the scope of the PCN DES, such as Care Home ‘rounds’ or structured Medication Reviews, except for,
- Extended Access: such as Extended Hours appointments.
- Other: appointments delivered in the practice by another provider, if recorded in the practice appointment ‘book’
General Practice appointments are of three sorts:-
- Care related encounter
- Care related activities
- Administrative and practice staff activities (however, practices are not expected to use their appointment ‘book’ to record these, some practices however do so)
The guidance noted above gives multiple examples of the different types of activity occurring in General Practice as examples to aid categorisation; this is likely to be helpful for practice staff to understand appointment types, noting the majority of appointments will be General Practice care-related encounters.