Primary Care Enhanced Access Service

 

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

 

GP practices across north east London are changing the way they provide evening and weekend appointments to ensure patients can get help more easily when they need it. From Saturday 1st October 2022, appointments will be made available outside of normal practice hours (8am to 6.30pm on weekdays).

image depicting extended access

 

Who an access the service?

Patients will be able to book GP appointments or things such as vaccinations, health checks, and cancer screening. These appointments may take place by phone, video, or face-to-face depending on clinical need. These appointments can be booked via your GP practice in the usual way on the phone or online and will either take place at your local surgery or at a nearby NHS site in your local area. 

 

What are the opening times?

The opening hours are 6.30pm - 8pm weekdays and 9am - 5pm on Saturdays.  

 

What can I expect at a consultation?

One of the added benefits of the primary care extended access service is that the clinician will have access to view your medical record during your visit to the primary care access centre. Having access to view your medical record means that the clinician will have a greater understanding of your medical history and health needs and can then choose the treatment that is right for you. The clinician will ask you for your consent before accessing your medical record.

Using this service will not affect your registration at your usual GP practice.

 

Who will have access to my medical record?

Only authorised staff within the service will have access to view your medical record. Clinicians can only review your medical record if you have given your expressed consent. If you do not consent then the GP will not be able to continue the consultation. Your medical information will be treated with the strictest of confidentiality.  All City and Hackney GP practices have agreed to sign up to a data sharing agreement which sets out what information will be shared, how and when.

 

What if I don’t want my medical records to be shared?

If you don’t want your medical records to be viewed then you will need to tell the receptionist or GP at your own practice when they are booking the appointment. They will then offer you an appointment at your own GP practice.

 

Your views and feedback about the primary care extended access service.

At the end of the consultation with the GP you will be asked to complete a patient experience survey. Your views and feedback are important and will help us to make improvements.

 

Tests and referrals

The GP’s in these centres will send any requests for tests and referrals back to your own GP practice to action – in a small number of cases your own GP practice might recommend a different management plan to the extended access GP.