Beccles Medical Practice has announced changes to their system and the times patients can contact them.

A statement has been published on their website as they look to reduce the number of times that GP's are the first point of contact.

It comes as the practice is 25pc down on their number of GPs as well as an aim to work in a more 'integrated' way with their health colleagues in the wider community.

The changes will come into place on Monday, April 10.

Times people can contact are;

8am to 11am – Telephone consultations with receptionists who will direct you to the right healthcare professional or source of advice – which may not be a doctor. If you are put on the call back list the GP will expect you to have resourced and tried other areas first.

After 11am – To make an appointment for a practice nurse or health care assistant

After 2pm – Results or general enquiries

People who are unable to ring at those times are asked to visit the practice's website where they can book or cancel appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view test results and aspects of their patient record.

A statement from the practice on their website said: 'Increasing workloads and patient expectations mean that we are now looking at new ways of working that build on current good practice to reduce the number of GP first point of contact.

'Patient's expectations have increased and by analysing our calls we know that about 60pc of patients on our GP call-back lists could have sought advice and guidance for their problem from another source.'

For people who need a clinical opinion the same day they will be added to an urgent list for the day and be contacted by an appropriate clinician.

A statement has also been produced on behalf of the surgery's doctors to their patients.

It said: 'This transformation will take time and will need the involvement of you, our healthcare population to feedback, support and advise as we go along this journey together.'

To read the full statements visit www.becclesmedical.co.uk/news.aspx

What do you think? Email kieran.lynch@archant.co.uk