A scheme which is giving patients quicker access to their doctors and a faster response to their health needs is being showcased at a national healthcare innovation EXPO.
The Doctor First scheme has been running at the Cottage Surgery in Leicestershire and is transforming the way the practice provides services to patients. Under the scheme, patients who ring the surgery get put directly through to the GP or called back in an average time of 26 minutes. More than half of patients who ring can be directly helped through a phone consultation. Of those who do need an appointment more than 99% get one on the day of their choice, which is usually the same day. Appointments are organised to be more flexible and are scheduled for the appropriate length of time to meet the patients’ needs. As a result, the surgery has among the lowest A&E attendances and emergency admissions of any GP practice in the East Midlands.
At least 28 practices located all over England use an access system like Doctor First. 200,000 patients are enjoying the benefits of rapid telephone access, and they are about 29% less likely than average to attend A&E.
GP Dr Stephen Clay estimates that the scheme saves a normal practice over £100,000 a year by better management of appointment slots. He said: “It’s all about doing today’s work today. We can deal with a higher number of patients, more quickly and with less session overrun. Quality for patients is better because we can immediately respond to the patient’s needs – whether that is to agree for them to come in to see the GP for a longer time slot if needed, to direct them to the practice nurse for specific tests, to treat them or to issue a repeat prescription. This leads to greater patient, doctor and staff satisfaction.”
The project is one of a number of primary care innovations from the East Midlands being showcased at the national NHS Innovation EXPO later this month.
More than 10,000 delegates from across healthcare, education, industry and the voluntary sector are expected to attend the EXPO, the largest public sector health and social care event in Europe taking place in London on 9th and 10th March. There will be more than 150 seminars to attend, 250 exhibitors and 100 inspirational guest speakers including the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley and the NHS Chief Executive, David Nicholson. The focus of the event is on high impact innovations to improve patient care and productivity and for innovative practices to be shared to encourage widespread adoption across the healthcare system.
Kathy McLean, Medical Director and Lead Director for Innovation at NHS East Midlands, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing so many innovation projects from across the NHS in the East Midlands on this national platform. It highlights the fantastic work that has been taking place in the NHS since we launched the innovation journey in 2009 and the radical and exciting ideas that our frontline staff are turning into action, all to improve patient outcomes.”
