PATIENTS at a local doctors surgery are to see radical changes to the way they book appointments from next month.

Beacon Medical Practice is to roll out a new appointments system across its practices in Skegness, Ingoldmells and Chapel St Leonards from March 1 to try and improve its service.

The new system, called 'doctor triage', works by prioritising calls and should make it easier to get an appointment.

Patients will call the surgery as normal but instead of making an appointment straight away, the receptionist will ask for some basic information about what is wrong so that the doctor can call the most urgent cases as soon as possible.

Patients will be asked to confirm their telephone number and keep the line free. The doctor will then call back to arrange the appropriate follow up which could be an appointment to see a doctor, nurse or health care assistant, telephone advice with a doctor or nurse or a home visit.

Dr Patrick Cotton has been taking the lead on the new system and is hopeful it will have a positive impact on the quality of service offered by the practice.

Dr Cotton said: "The main difference with the new system is that instead of phoning up and making an appointment, receptionists will either put patients through or give them a time when the doctor will phone them back. The more information people can give the receptionist, the easier it will be for the doctor to spot things that are more urgent although if people do not wish to give any information over the phone they don't have to.

"The most important thing to know is the new system will try to improve the quality of service by improving access and hopefully improving the quality of care. Patients will also be able to speak to a doctor sooner and if necessary will be able to get an appointment sooner."

A leaflet has been made available for patients both online and in the surgery and over the next month, patients will get the opportunity to find out more details and ask any questions they have.

Patients are also being asked not to 'follow' their favourite doctor to another surgery and instead allow another doctor to deal with their problems.

Dr Cotton added: "All the partners here are always looking for ways to improve our service and following discussions with other practices, were all in agreement that this is something that will help to improve patient care."

For more information visit www.beaconmedical-skegness.org.uk or pick up a leaflet from the surgery.

Are you a patient of Beacon Medical Practice? What do you think of the way the new system is planned to work? Email sarah.payne@targetseries.co.uk or write to Target Letters, 20 Cornmarket, Louth, LN11 9PY