Extended Primary Care Service
One of the key aspects of the service is it’s commitment to delivering same-day minor illness appointments, 365 days a year.
This means patients can be assessed quickly, either in person or remotely, ensuring that their acute health concerns are addressed promptly, improving both patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.
At a time when there are considerable pressures on all healthcare services this service enables patients to receive high quality, responsive, urgent and convenient care when access to their own registered surgery is not available or where they may have otherwise inappropriately attended A&E.
The clinicians support improving patient health and wellbeing through better clinical outcomes and patient experience, whilst promoting confidence in self-care and maximising independence.
Operating from hubs in Easington and Sedgefield, the service provides appointments in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends, and can be accessed through 111. Patients can be seen in person or assessed over the phone.
During peak times such as winter, additional services are stepped up to provide dedicated, same day access that both 111 and practices can utilise. The Acute Respiratory Service being an example of this; enabling patients to receive targeted care, quickly and closer to home, preventing unnecessary A&E visits.
