As the Modality Mid Sussex Patient Participation Group (PPG), we always support improvements that benefit patients, particularly when it comes to access to GP services. You may have seen a poster from Healthwatch England, highlighting "6 changes you can expect" when the new GP contract begins in April.

You should not be told to call back tomorrow

Healthwatch: You should not be told to call back tomorrow. NHS Expectation: Practices will still need to provide patients with a timely response confirming next steps, but this will be required by the end of the next working day. Modality: All of our triage requests are assessed and an outcome provided on the same day.

Urgent requests get a same-day response

Healthwatch: Urgent requests get a same-day response. Modality: Digital triage products, such as Rapid Health, help us assess the urgency of cases.

Online systems should not cap requests

Modality: Modality Mid Sussex currently does not cap online requests. Rapid Health is open from 0600-1830. We are also running a digital inclusion program in conjunction with the PPG and Age UK.

Advice and guidance will be used more often

Modality: We will continue to use this service where appropriate; we are not planning to change our referral process.

Registration will go online

Modality: Our registration process is already online, so there will be no change for patients.

As a Patient Participation Group, we support improvements to GP services but also believe it is essential that patients fully understand what proposed changes mean in practice.