GP practices in Gloucestershire are currently working together to provide 100,000 more appointments for patients.
The extra appointments will mainly be provided by GPs and nurses over the next year; with clinical pharmacists, paramedics, mental health workers and physiotherapists also now working in local surgeries.
The move has been made possible through 16 Primary Care Networks, one of the new national approaches outlined in the NHS’s Long Term Plan, it was noted.
The news comes shortly after NHS England announced the biggest reform to GP services in fifteen years – a new five-year contract for general practice across England, which will see billions of extra investment for improved access to family doctors, expanded services at local practices and longer appointments for patients who need them.
Dr Nikki Kanani, a GP and NHS England’s acting medical director for Primary Care, said: “Patients want to get an appointment as quickly as possible when they contact their GP surgery and it’s great news that in Gloucestershire there are now many more appointments available.
“Also a mixed team of health professionals including nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists or paramedics means patients can be seen quicker by the right health professionals for their needs, freeing up time for GPs to see the most complex patients.”
More appointments are available across the county from Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8pm and Saturday mornings, plus Saturday afternoon, Sunday and bank holidays.
