A new initiative between Branchalwood General Practice, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS 24, is aiming to increase the time available to GPs to focus on the cases that only they can help with.

The practice began trialing a new approach in November last year to manage requests from patients for same-day appointments as part of the PCMHTP.

Over the past year there have been significant changes within the Practice, with numerous staff shortages and a reduction in GP numbers, due to the nationwide challenge in recruiting General Practitioners.

The Practice already operated a triage service where patients are assessed by the GP or practice nurse and “signposted” to the correct healthcare professional. This has worked well in ensuring that the GP spends time with patients who have a health issue that only the GP can help with.

Now patients requesting a same-day appointment may receive a call-back from NHS 24 rather than the Practice.  NHS 24’s call handling and clinical staff process patient calls to the same high standards of care and confidentiality in line with the 111 service currently provided by NHS 24’s healthcare professionals.

Dr Paul Flanigan, who runs Branchalwood Medical Practice, said: “The Practice is engaging with our colleagues at NHS 24 to triage requests for on the day appointments in order to facilitate the signposting of patients to the most appropriate member of our Clinical team.  This will help to ease the pressure on appointments and benefit service provision to all of our patients.”

The trial has been working well in its first month of operation with positive feedback from patients and staff. A full evaluation will be carried out at the end of the trial.