What does it mean?
We offer all patients additional appointments outside of core network hours. Designed to improve patient access, this service includes the following:
- Appointments are available Mondays to Fridays between 18:30pm – 21:00pm.
- Appointments are available Saturdays between 09:00am- 17:00pm
- Appointments will be both bookable in advance and available for same day
- A mix of services will be available within these additional hours with access to the range of health professionals
- The appointments offered include both telephone and face-to-face options
If a face-to-face appointment is requested, this will be at a GP practice in the local area – this may not be at your own GP practice, but at another nearby.
Our network has employed several healthcare professionals to help with some of the challenges that Primary Care is facing and to help reduce the health inequalities that arise due to workforce shortages in General Practice.
Each Practice has additional roles, tailored to their individual practice patients needs, to support their core Practice team.
Some of the roles we provide are:
Social Prescribing Link Worker (SPWL)– Social prescribing link workers connect people with local community activities and services that can help improve their health and wellbeing.
Trainee Mental Health ACP – The Trainee MH ACP offers assessments, brief intervention and referrals to secondary care mental health services where required.
SMI Healthcare Facilitator – Our Physical Health & Wellness Team are clinicians that work with the practices to bring patients in for their annual MOT check working with a specific cohort of patients. The team performs a blood test, blood pressure check, height and weight check in addition to reviewing care plans as part of the health check.
Paramedics – Paramedics can see patients with minor illnesses and acute problems as
well as do home visits.
Clinical Pharmacists – Clinical Pharmacists have expert knowledge and specialise in medicine
management. They can complete Structured Medication Reviews, help patients with
long-term conditions manage medication effectively and prescribe/issue
medication.
ACP/ANP – Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP)/Advances Nurse Practitioners (ANP) are registered professionals qualified to see patients with minor illness. They can provide assessments, diagnostics, health education/promotion and disease prevention advice for patients.
Trainee Nursing Associates – Trainee Nursing Associates (tNA) work as a vital part of the wider nursing team and this important role helps to bridge care between Healthcare Support Workers and Registered Nurses.
General Practice Assistants– General Practice Assistants (GPA) support GP’s in managing patients by completing administrative tasks and basic clinical duties.
First Contact Physiotherapists – The First Contact Physiotherapists (FCP) are the first point of contact for patients with musculoskeletal pain (muscles and joints). They give expert
advice on how to best manage conditions effectively and recover faster,
offering quicker access to diagnosis and treatment. They can also refer
patients onto specialist services if needed.
NHS Talking therapies previously known as IAPT is a service which provides psychological interventions and treatment for people with the following common mental health problems:
- Agoraphobia
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
- Depression
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Health anxiety (hypochondriasis)
- Mixed depression and anxiety (the term for sub-syndromal depression and anxiety, rather than both depression and anxiety)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Panic disorder
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias (such as heights, flying, spiders etc.)
If you would like to speak to a psychological therapist, contact your registered practice who will help you arrange an appointment.
The Friends & Family Test (FFT) is an important feedback tool for those who use NHS services to have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experience. Listening to the views of patients helps identify what is working well, what can be improved and how.
Watch this short video to learn more about the Friends & Family Test: