Call to use your GP at weekends
PATIENTS in Halton have been urged to make use of a service offering general practice (GP) appointments in the evenings and weekends as the NHS looks to cut waiting times and ease winter pressures on the health service.
A GP Extra scheme has already been up and running in the borough for over a year, meaning residents can see a doctor outside normal hours at either Widnes Health Care Resource Centre on Caldwell Road or at Heath Road Medical Centre in Runcorn.
NHS England said an evening and weekends service has now been rolled out across Cheshire and Merseyside three months early in a bid to ease winter pressure on the NHS.
It is hoped that the service means patients can see a doctor, nurse or other team member at a more convenient time.
An extra nine million appointments are expected to become available in Cheshire and Merseyside each year.
NHS England said that £3.5bn is to be invested in primary medical and neighbourhood services under the NHS Long Term Plan, which is expected to improve access to weekday normal hours appointments.
According to the latest NHS GP patient survey, 25% of patients in Halton waited a week or more to see a GP after asking to make an appointment, while 44% saw a doctor the same day, 9% the next day, 17% a few days later and 5% said they could not remember.
Dr Farah Kassim, a Halton GP based in Widnes who also works for the extended access service, said: “Local practices are working together to offer patients better access to appointments with a GP or other health professional which means patients will be able to see someone when it is most convenient for them.
“We want to provide a seamless service to patients so we are seen as an extension of their own practice.
“To find out how it works in your area, speak to your practice ● receptionist.”
Dr Kieran Murphy, NHS England medical director for Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “Strengthening general practice is an important part of the NHS long term plan and local health services have worked hard to ensure patients have access to our excellent general practice services right across the country.
“Because of this hard ● work, we have been able to make these extra appointments available months ahead of schedule and before winter really starts.’’
Dr Murphy continued: “As well as offering convenience and choice to patients, it will help to reduce some of the pressure on general practice and A&Es and ease some of the wider system pressures we saw last winter.”