It seemed a good idea, signing up for 'Patient Online' at our surgery, not only for repeats prescriptions, but booking appointments etc.
At least it was until the receptionist gave DH the very poorly photocopied and faded, almost illegible form he had to complete to go online. Given that many older people are computerate but their eye sight is not good, wouldn't it be an idea to actually have a form that was readable?
No thought at all has been given to the design of the form. It is just line after line of cramped prose with little or no space between lines The first few questions are not too bad, name address etc, except the address has to be on one line and the space to write it on is less than 10cms/4inches long (Including postcode). Our address at its shortest contains 25 letters or spaces. The full postal address another 10 letters.
Having struggled through the first part of the form form, he was asked to tick boxes that say he has read and understood 5 almost illegible statements, he now has to appear at the surgery in person with his passport/driving license, utility bill. No indication about what to do if for any reason you have never had/no longer have any of these documents.
The form was designed by the Royal College of General Practitioners. I think they could have afforded to employ a graphic designer to design and layout the form and then get it professional printed so that, apart from anything else you can have confidence in the new online system.
If they cannot even get a decent paper customer interface (form) to get the patient online, what does it say about the system itself.
Anxiety over gc going on days out
Have you stopped buying papers?
Retiring and living frugally in money from downsizing after years of stress
