Improving Access service

We continue to work in partnership with our 11 member GP practices to make additional appointments available in the evenings and at weekends for local people to access. The Improving Access service is available to patients registered at any one of our member practices across the city and means that we can offer more appointments between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, as well as additional slots at weekends and bank holidays. Appointments may not always take place at the practice where a patient is registered because the service is delivered collaboratively by all 11 practices. It was introduced in response to feedback from patients who struggled to attend appointments during the working day and is delivered by a range of clinicians, including GPs, nurses, primary care practitioners and healthcare assistants. Together, they provide a wide range of services, from cervical screening clinics and checks for long-term conditions, such as asthma and COPD, to blood tests, as well as telephone and face-to-face GP appointments.