PATIENTS got to find out just what happens behind the scenes at a doctors surgery when one went live online for the day.

Penketh Health Centre had a team tweeting live from the waiting room to explain just what the team at the surgery do on a day-to-day basis.

Dr Dan Bunstone, GP and partner at the medical centre was behind the live tweeting and posting day idea.

Dr Bunstone who is also the long-term conditions lead and a governing body member at Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We wanted to give people an insight into the way a general practice works, what a normal working day is like for GPs and practice staff, and what kind of health problems people book appointments for.

“We also wanted to highlight that not everyone needs to see their GP.

“Sometimes people are better going somewhere else or even staying at home looking after themselves and getting rest.

“The live tweets and website updates showed this with some patients being better going to hospital with their symptoms and others such as a patient who had a three-day old cough who would have been advised to stay at home and not book a GP appointment.

“If you need urgent medical help and are not sure where to go then call 111.”

The live updates saw comments from staff and patients about the service on offer.

One GP had seen 34 patients during last Monday, when the live updates took place.

Dr Andy Davies, local GP and chairman of Warrington CCG, added: “Some of the biggest issues in our practices are patients booking appointments with a GP for problems that could be dealt with in another way and others missing their appointments altogether.

“We know that 30 to 40 per cent of patients across Warrington don’t actually need to see their GP and can be dealt with via pharmacies, practice nurses or even over the phone by talking to practice staff.

“Obviously, this has a huge knock-on effect, meaning that those who do need to see a doctor have to wait longer or struggle to get an appointment when they need one.”