Extended Access

SOUTH CUMBRIA EXTENDED ACCESS SERVICE

Background

As a result of the National drive to ensure everyone has convenient access to GP services, 7 days a week, GP practices and Cumbria Health On Call, the local Out of Hours service provider, are working together to offer GP, nurse and health care assistant appointments in the evenings, at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

The Service, running since September 2017, includes pre-bookable and same day general practice appointments on weekdays from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm and on both Saturday and Sunday.

What is currently available?

The South Cumbria Extended Access Service is provided by Cumbria Health on Call (CHOC) from four sites:

Site Services Offered

Furness General Hospital

Barrow-in-Furness

 

Monday to Thursday

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm GP and Health Care Assistant appointments

Saturday and Sunday

9.00 am to 1.30 pm Health Care Assistant appointments

Sunday only

9.00 am to 1.30 pm OR 1.30pm to 6.00pm GP appointments

9.00 am to 3.00 pm Practice Nurse appointments

Westmorland General Hospital

Kendal

Monday to Thursday

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm GP and Health Care Assistant appointments

Saturday only

9.00 am to 1.30 pm GP and Health Care Assistant appointments

Sunday only

9.00am to 1.30pm Health Care Assistant appointments

9.00 am to 3.00 pm Practice Nurse appointments

Ambleside Health Centre

Tuesday and Wednesday

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm GP, Nurse Practitioner and Health Care Assistant appointments

Grange Health Centre

Monday and Thursday

6.30 pm to 10.00 pm GP, Nurse Practitioner and Health Care Assistant appointments

 

GP appointments are for all routine conditions but exclude patients with on-going chronic conditions which require continuity of care from their usual GP, e.g. patients with severe on-going mental health issues.

Nurse Practitioner appointments are for all routine conditions. However Nurse Practitioners cannot see patients who are pregnant, children under 2 years of age, and patients with ongoing chronic conditions requiring continuity of care from their usual GP, e.g. patients with severe on-going mental health issues.

Practice Nurses provide annual reviews for adults over 16 years old with a long-term condition, e.g. COPD, Asthma, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Health Care Assistants can carry out Venepuncture (blood testing); basic patient observations (monitoring and recording patients’ conditions by taking temperatures, pulse, respirations and weight); blood sugar and urinalysis; new and annual patient health checks; and ECG recording. They CANNOT undertake ear syringing or dressings. HCAs will see children 12 and over if accompanied by an adult and 16 years and over unaccompanied.

How to Book

Patients can book any of these appointments via their practice receptionist as usual or by calling the service direct on 03000 247 247.

Potential Future Developments

CHOC are working with the CCG to develop the service to potentially include:

  • Expansion to other sites, e.g. telehealth appointments at Millom
  • Cervical Cytology