PATIENTS VIEWS’ are being sought on a newly-proposed, seven-day service.
Anyone registered with an Oldham GP practice can give their opinions on the plans, which include access to appointments with health professionals during evenings and weekends.
The plan at this stage is to offer patients extended access to primary care appointments at several pilot sites so thoughts are wanted on how and where these might be.
Six sites are being considered based on location, facilities, existing infrastructure: Oldham town centre, Royton, Saddleworth, Glodwick, Werneth, Failsworth and Chadderton.
Dr Bal Duper, local GP and Clinical Director for Primary Care at NHS Oldham CCG, explained: “We want to work with patients to hear their opinions on a number of factors relating to seven-day services.
“This includes which of the locations would work for them, whether they’d be willing to travel to access the extended hours appointments, what kind of care they’d like to be able to access and who they would prefer to deliver it.
“We want to make sure the money being invested in this provision is spent wisely and we end up with a service that is effective, responsive and serves our communities appropriately.”
The original submitted bid was presented at NHS Oldham CCG’s Primary Care Commissioning Committee in August, where it was well-received by attendees which included Healthwatch Oldham and the Local Medical Committee.
This new service model is an extension of GP services and aims to mirror the way GP practice currently works and provide additional options to current primary care services.
The current out-of-hours services, such as the A&E divert service and the walk-in centre at the ICC, will also remain in place.
The Seven-Day Services survey is open until Monday 4 January 2016. To take part online, visit www.oldhamccg.nhs.uk
To have a paper copy sent out to your address, please ring the Communications and Engagement team on 0161 622 6617.
Patients can also look out for the Seven-Day Services survey team in Saddleworth on Tuesday, December 15 to talk to them about how this service would work.
The team will be at Uppermill Library, Saddleworth Pool and Leisure Centre and on Uppermill high street throughout the day.
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