Have your say on getting a GP appointment in Barking and Dagenham

News - 16 October 2026

Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham is inviting residents to share their experiences of accessing GP appointments as part of a new project exploring public perceptions and the reality of getting an appointment.

Getting a GP appointment is an important part of accessing healthcare, but how easy or difficult do residents feel it is to get one? And does their experience match what they expected? Through our new NHS GP Access: Perception vs. Reality Survey, we want to hear from people across Barking and Dagenham about their experiences, expectations and views on accessing GP services.

What do we want to find out?

The survey will explore several aspects of GP appointment access, including:

  • Public perceptions: How easy or difficult residents believe it is to get a routine appointment and how confident they feel about accessing urgent, same-day care.
  • Real-life experiences: What happened when residents last tried to arrange an appointment, including how long they waited and whether they were able to get the care they needed.
  • Online booking systems: Residents’ awareness and use of digital booking options, and whether these systems meet their needs.
  • Barriers to access: Difficulties such as busy telephone lines, appointment availability, long waits, language or communication needs, and accessibility challenges.
  • Alternative routes to care: What people do when they need medical advice but cannot get a GP appointment.

We also want to understand whether experiences differ between residents, including older people, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.

Why is your feedback important?

Understanding both perceptions and actual experiences can help us identify what is working well and where improvements may be needed. By listening to residents, we aim to build a clearer picture of the challenges people face when accessing GP appointments and the factors that influence their decisions about seeking care.

Everyone’s experience matters. You can take part whether you have recently tried to book a GP appointment, have not needed one for some time, or have never tried to book one. We are interested in your views as well as your experiences.

Your feedback will help Healthwatch Barking and Dagenham understand residents’ experiences and share the findings with relevant health and care organisations to support improvements in services.

Have your say

If you live in Barking and Dagenham, we encourage you to take part in our survey and tell us about your experiences and expectations: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GPbooking

Your voice can help us better understand GP access in our borough.

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