Shropshire GP appointments extend to evenings
GP practices across Shropshire will begin offering weekend and night time appointments for patients starting on Monday.
Patients will be able to make appointments later on a weekday and for longer on weekends than ever before.
In some places appointments will now end at 8.30pm on weekdays, and those that are ill will be able to see a doctor early on Saturday mornings.
The changes are part of a national extension of access to primary care and have been brought in aiming to offer a greater choice of times to attend.
People will not always be able to go to their own GP, but will be able to find somewhere within their local area to travel to.
Nicky Wilde, director of primary care at NHS Shropshire CCG, said: “We understand how important accessibility to appointments can be – nine to five doesn’t always work for everyone.
“This is where the Extended Access scheme can really benefit members of our local community – it offers choice and enables patients to have more flexibility around when they can access the care they need.
Feedback
“Extended Access also adds to the existing range of healthcare services already available in Shropshire to help patients including pharmacists, NHS 111, the walk-in centre, minor injury units, and A&E, which is there 24/7 for life threatening serious emergencies only.”
Decisions on when and where to open were informed by feedback from a survey given out earlier this year.
The extended service will include access to GPs, nurses and other healthcare assistants, and staff will be able to access patients’ medical records with consent.
It will not offer any extra walk-in service, and patients wanting to take advantage of the additional times will need to make appointments.
People will need to call the surgery they are registered with and ask about the service.
The newly created South Shropshire Medical Group will be running the scheme in South Shropshire.
The new extended hours service will run from seven ‘hub’ sites across that area, it has been revealed.
They are located at Albrighton Medical Practice, Bridgnorth Medical Practice, Highley Medical Practice, Ludlow Portcullis and Ludlow Station Drive Surgeries, Bishop’s Castle Medical Practice and The Meadows Surgery in Clun.
Information to help patients understand more about Extended Access is available on the NHS England website, by searching for Extended Access at england.nhs.uk
