Introduction

General practices provide care for people of all ages and with all kinds of needs- from helping people to stay well and get better when they are unwell through to support for them to live with long-term illness or when they are at the end of their life.

This means access is complex- sometimes people have problems that need care on the same day, and at other times they need access to care from the same person- someone who understands their story and knows them and their family.

The GP practices in North H&F are working to improve access to services. By reviewing how we work, making better use of local resources, and working with residents, we aim to create services that better meet the needs of our patients.

Main Improvements

Improving how we work

We’re reviewing how we handle calls and online consultations to identify ways to respond faster when you contact us with problems or needs.

Helping people access the right care

General practice is the gateway to health and other services, so we are improving how we handle requests to ensure people access the right service or resource.

Support for vulnerable patients

For patients with complex problems, we aim to provide better continuity. This means they can see staff they know, and who know them and will help us be more proactive.

Helping patients use technology

The NHS is increasing the role of digital tools such as the NHS App in navigating care. We’re supporting this and offering help for those who need assistance to get started.

Summary and next steps

We’re committed to making services more responsive, accessible, and patient-focused but we can’t make improvements on our own. We need your help, so please contact us if you’re interested in getting involved.