Patients reminded of extra doctors’ appointments over Easter weekend
Patients who need to see a healthcare professional over the Easter break can access extra doctors’ appointments across East and West Suffolk.
Suffolk GP Federation will be running its GP+ service in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Leiston, Wickham Market and Haverhill this Bank Holiday weekend.
The service allows patients to book an appointment with a GP, nurse or physiotherapist at a time that fits in with their working week.
People can ask reception staff at their local surgery to refer them to GP+ or in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds they can be booked in at weekends and Bank Holidays via the NHS 111 telephone helpline.
The service is set provide a total of 77,076 extra appointments throughout East and West Suffolk in 2018/19 – 6,423 every month.
Paul Driscoll, Suffolk GP Federation Medical Director, said: “We’re very pleased with how the service has been performing and the feedback we receive from patients is overwhelmingly positive – with 98% saying they would recommend GP+ to friends or family.
“We’d encourage anyone who can’t get an appointment at their regular surgery to ask their receptionist about GP+. They will then be seen at a time and location that is convenient to them.
“At busy times of the year such as the Easter break it can play an important role in reducing pressure on GP surgeries and hospital A&E departments.”
Dr Driscoll continued: “The service is just one example of how Suffolk GP Federation and our wider healthcare partners are trying to tackle some of the challenges currently facing the NHS.
“As an organisation, we are continually looking at new and innovative ways to improve the way doctors’ surgeries can deliver healthcare in the county. We run several initiatives that aim to make general practice more sustainable – providing support for our members but also ensuring patients continue to receive the high level of care that they quite rightly expect.”
Dr Christopher Browning, a GP in Long Melford and chairman of NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “When you are feeling unwell please consider the most appropriate options of self-care, asking your pharmacist or NHS 111 for help and advice or using the GP+ service.
“By making the right healthcare choice you will be helping the NHS cope during this very busy time of year. You will also be helping yourself get better more quickly.”
GP+ operating times over the Easter weekend:
Ipswich
9am-9pm – every day including Good Friday and Easter Monday
Bury St Edmunds
9am-9pm – every day including Good Friday and Easter Monday
Leiston
9am-1pm – Saturday
Wickham Market
9am-1pm – Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday
Stowmarket
9am-1pm – Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday
Felixstowe
9am-5pm – Saturday
Haverhill
9am-5pm – Saturday
For more information about GP+ or Suffolk GP Federation, please visit www.suffolkfed.org.uk
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