City Patients Urged To Have Their Say, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Sheffield GPs are urging patients to have their say on out of hours healthcare in the city, following a reported 16% increase in calls to the NHS Direct 24-hour phoneline over the Christmas period.

According to figures released by NHS Direct, the helpline received 255,562 calls between 20 December 2008 and 1 January 2009 - an increase of more than 34,000 calls compared with the same period 2007-2008.

Paul Wike, lead manager of the Central Sheffield GP Consortium said: "With the recent influx of cold and flu outbreaks as well as the winter vomiting bug, a lot more people have been seeking out of hours healthcare.

"Sheffield has a range of out of hours services available, from walk-in clinics at the Hallamshire Hospital to a 24-hour phoneline and we want to hear what the public think of them."

The consortium has launched an online survey asking patients for their views and experiences of out of hours services in Sheffield, including waiting times and the quality of access and treatment.

Paul added: "The results of the survey will be used to improve out of hours services and care in Sheffield."

The Central Sheffield GP Consortium, which was launched in August 2006, brings GP practices together to develop innovative solutions to improve the quality and delivery of medical services within the community.

Its website will feature regular surveys on a variety of different aspects of healthcare, allowing patients to have their say and influence the way health care services are provided in Sheffield.

To take part in the out of hours patient survey, please visit: http://www.sheffieldhealth.co.uk

Notes

- Commissioning is the process of identifying the health needs of the population and making prioritised decisions to secure care to meet those needs within the available resources

- The Central Sheffield GP Consortium is a group of doctors' surgeries working together to make healthcare in the city better.

- Founded in August 2006, the group is made up of 27 practices, who act as one to identify ways to improve access to, and standards of, healthcare services for patients.

- The Consortium has the majority of inner city GP practices within Sheffield with high levels of deprivation, chronic disease and social need and works to develop innovative solutions to improve the quality and levels of care within its local community.

- The Consortium is committed to reducing health inequalities and actively seeks the views of clinicians, nurses and patients in redesigning local health services.

The Central Sheffield GP Consortium