Improving GP access in Hull
NHS Hull has teamed with Assura East Riding LLP to open a new city-centre-based GP Practice. The Story Street Medical Practice completes NHS Hull's programme to provide six new practices. The other new builds are in Kingswood, Bransholme, Holderness Road, Priory Road and Orchard Park.
Dr Ric Harrison, a GP and member of Assura East Riding LLP, said: “We are delighted to be working with NHS Hull to provide this additional access to a GP or nurse for the local community. We look forward to providing patients in Hull with high quality, easy and convenient services, when they need it, with or without an appointment, and that includes those not already registered with a doctor locally or elsewhere.”
Keith Parsons, Assistant Director of Primary Care and Procurement for NHS Hull says together the six new practices are creating an extra 27,750 places for patients, all of whom will be able to benefit from evening and weekend appointments and guaranteed access to a female clinician if necessary.
The Story Street Medical Practice will be based in a temporary building until 2011 when its permanent home at the Wilberforce Health Centre completes the £5.8 million investment. Parsons says: “Having been under-doctored for some time, it’s really encouraging to see the number of GPs practicing in the city rise and to see more patients benefiting from the extra choice and convenience this brings.”
Explaining some of the benefits of the new practice he says: “Until recently, we have been fairly limited in Hull in terms of the health services and advice we have been able to offer people outside of normal working hours. This has resulted in people choosing services, which may not necessarily be the most appropriate for their needs, such as Accident & Emergency for minor ailments and infections.
All of that though is set to change. The new GP Practice will open from 8am to 8pm, every day of the year (including Bank Holidays), and will offer patients guaranteed access to a female clinician if required. Parsons says the new practice is adding 2,750 places for patients who wish to register there. The practice also offers a drop-in facility for people who are not registered patients of the practice and who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend their own GP surgery for treatment.
The GP practice will provide people with a central, convenient place to get advice on health problems, regardless of whether they have registered with the practice or not. “For those using the drop-in service, there may be a short wait, but seeking help in this way will be much quicker than some of the alternatives which are designed to deal first and foremost with urgent care needs and emergencies.”
Parsons explains: “The opening of the Story Street Medical Practice is the final, and most far-reaching element of our five-year, £22 million investment programme to improve access to GP services in Hull. We are pleased to be able to offer yet another opportunity for people to access GP services outside of normal working hours; over the weekend and during Bank Holidays in particular; and in a location which is accessible to people across the city.”
“The new practice will offer choice and convenience not only for those people who live nearby, but also for those who come to work or spend leisure time in the city and who need health advice whilst they’re here. We are keen to encourage residents to register with the practice, but as you never know when or where you’ll be taken ill, it’s great to be able to offer an additional walk-in-style facility for local people to get help if they have a problem whilst out and about.“
