Soon you won’t have to restrict being ill to office hours.
York patients will soon be able to consult GPs in the evenings and the weekends, thanks to the launch of a new service.
A group of city GP practices called Nimbuscare Ltd has won a contract to deliver an extended access primary care service in central York.
It will launch on October 1 and be available to patients of these practices:
- Haxby Group
- Priory Medical Group
- York Medical Group
- East Parade
- Old School
- Front Street
- Unity
- My Health
- Jorvik – Gillygate
- Pocklington
- Elvington
- Dalton Terrace
How it will work
Appointments will be available between 6.30pm and 8pm each weekday, with additional slots available at weekends and bank holidays.
The appointments will be pre-bookable, by telephoning surgeries or by contacting NHS 111.
It will be based at four hub sites:
Stonebow Surgery, Central York
Pocklington Surgery, Pocklington
Future plans include allowing people to have a virtual consultation on their smartphone, tablet or computer.
Biggest investment for years
More information will soon be available in GP surgeries. Dr Russell Saxby of Nimbuscare Ltd and My Health Practice said:
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This is fantastic news for patients. It is the biggest investment in primary care for some years and we are delighted and proud to be at the forefront of this new service in York.
We know people currently find it difficult to get a face-to-face or telephone appointment at their GP practice, at a time to suit them.
This new service will give people a better choice of appointment times and more options to speak to a clinician, or even, eventually, have a virtual consultation on their mobile device or computer.
He said there was a lot of work to be done before the October launch, including making sure “all our systems are linked, staff are trained and rotas established to be able to offer the service”.
Dr Kevin Smith, the CCG’s executive director of primary care and population health, said:
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We asked the Vale of York community to tell us what is important to them about local healthcare services and providing extended access to primary care services was identified as one of the main themes.
Our investment to increase access to primary care services is the start of a very exciting journey that is transforming the delivery of local healthcare.