People across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been assured they will have improved access to evening and weekend appointments via their GP practice this winter.
From October 1, 2022, Primary Care Networks (groups of local GP practices) will provide Enhanced Access Services to help meet the needs of their local patients.
This means more appointments outside of normal GP practice hours, between 6.30pm and 8pm Mondays to Fridays and between 9am and 5pm on Saturdays.
“People will have access to face to face, telephone, video, and online appointments that will take place either at their local GP practice or another nearby NHS service,” said a spokesperson for the . NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, part of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System
“This includes same day appointments, as well as ones that can be booked in advance.
“Appointments will be delivered by GPs, Practice Nurses, Advance Nurse Practitioners and Health Care Assistants to offer a range of services, including ‘routine’ services such as screening, vaccinations and health checks, in line with local need”.
Jan Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, part of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System said: “Ensuring good access to primary care appointments for local people is a key priority for us.
“From next week there will be over 950 hours of evening and weekend primary care appointments available across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
“Our GP Practices are working together to tailor their offering to meet the needs of local communities, offering everyone greater flexibility and choice with more appointments, when and where you need them.
“By offering more appointments out of hours with a range of skilled healthcare professionals, will help to free up access to more urgent, on the day appointment slots in practices.”
This is part of NHS England’s wider support programme being rolled out in advance of the winter which includes the expansion of roles within primary care and improving access for patients throughout winter.
Jan added “We welcome the recent announcement from NHS England that enables our GP practices to have more flexibility around funding for additional roles to help support improved access and we continue to work alongside GP practices to maximise these opportunities in line with local needs.”
Within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough there are 22 PCNs.
Each PCN looks after approximately 30,000 – 50,000 patients and they offer care on a scale which is small enough for patients to get the continuous and personalised care they value, but large enough to be resilient through working in partnership with others in the local health and care system.
To book an appointment, contact your practice or visit your practice website. Appointments may not be at your usual practice, but if you talk to a receptionist, they will help you find the right service and at a time that is convenient.
FOOTNOTE: The Enhanced Access Service is a national requirement that will replace the current extended hours service and extended access service.
