Enhanced access to General Practice

The General Practice Forward View published in April 2016 set out plans to enable clinical commissioning groups (now integrated care boards) to commission and fund additional capacity across England to ensure that, by 2020 everyone has better access to general practice services including sufficient routine appointments at evenings and weekends to meet locally determined demand, alongside effective access to out of hours and urgent care services.

Public satisfaction with general practice remains high, but in recent years patients have increasingly reported, through the GP Patient Survey, increased difficulty in accessing services including a decline in good overall experience of making an appointment in general practice.

Good access is not just about getting an appointment when patients need it, but also about ensuring access to the right professional whether that be GP, nurse, pharmacist or other professional, providing the right care, in the right place at the right time.

Enhanced Access at West Kent Primary Care

West Kent Primary Care is working in partnership with Primary Care Networks (PCN’s) to provide the week day and Saturday appointments. West Kent Primary Care provide cover on weekday evenings and on Saturdays via two GP ran hubs, Rusthall (Tunbridge Wells) and The Vine (Maidstone).

Working with and supporting our 9 PCNs and GP practice members in their unique approach to provide Enhanced Access in West Kent.

Pre bookable and same day appointments are available:

• On Weekdays  – Same day or next day telephone appointments the in evenings between 18:30 – 20:00
• At Weekends – Pre-bookable face to face appointments on Saturdays between 09:00 – 17:00; at two GP hubs in Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone.
•  Depending on the day, your appointment may not be with your regular GP, however, the professional undertaking your appointment will have access to your health records.
• An alternative to a face to face appointment may be offered to you including telephone or video consultation.

How to book

Ask your practice receptionist about what evening and weekend appointments are available to you.

*Chaperones are not available for patients using the Saturday Service. Family and friends are not permitted to act as chaperones as they do not have the knowledge or required training. These appointments will need to be book with your GP practice.

Feedback

We would like to hear from you about your experience of Enhanced Access as this helps us to continuously improve the service. Feel free to email westkentprimarycare.federation@nhs.net or call 01892 481821.