The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Dominant conceptualisations of access to health care are limited, framed in terms of speed and supply. The Candidacy Framework offers a more comprehensive approach, identifying diverse influences on how access is accomplished. ⋯ The Candidacy Framework has considerable value as a way of understanding access to general practice, offering new insights for policy and practice. The original framework would benefit from further customisation for the distinctive setting of general practice.
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Access to GP appointments is increasingly challenging in many high-income countries, with an overstretched workforce and rising demand. Various access systems have been developed and evaluated internationally. ⋯ This synthesis provides a useful tool in understanding access systems' aims, design, and implementation. With focus on alleviating demand, patient-focused outcomes appear to be underinvestigated and potentially overlooked during design and implementation. More recently, digital services have been promoted as offering patient choice and convenience. But a context where demand outweighs resources challenges the premise that extending choice is possible.
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Access to GP appointments is increasingly challenging in many high-income countries, with an overstretched workforce and rising demand. Various access systems have been developed and evaluated internationally. ⋯ This synthesis provides a useful tool in understanding access systems' aims, design, and implementation. With focus on alleviating demand, patient-focused outcomes appear to be underinvestigated and potentially overlooked during design and implementation. More recently, digital services have been promoted as offering patient choice and convenience. But a context where demand outweighs resources challenges the premise that extending choice is possible.