Shaping the future of primary care in guildford
Local residents in Guildford and those who live in Westborough, Stoughton and Stoke are being invited to share their views on the future of primary care services at a number of engagement sessions being held throughout July. The ‘Shaping the future of primary care’ programme is focusing on how these practices, working with NHS Guildford and Waverley CCG will address some of the challenges GP Practices and their workforce face. Primary care covers all the healthcare services provided in the community by GPs and other healthcare professionals (e.g. Practice Nurses, Midwives, Healthcare Assistants) located in a GP practice. This is often the first point of contact for people who are seeking medical advice or treatment. Over recent years primary care has been facing increasing challenges. These include:
• Growth in the number of registered patients. People are living longer with multiple long-term health conditions.
• Insufficient space to develop services. The practices do not have capacity to provide additional services due to lack of space in their buildings.
• Easy access. Some of the buildings do not lend themselves to provide easy and inclusive access for all our patients.
• Enhance ways of working. Capacity within the workforce limits the ability to develop how services are delivered. Work has been progressing in recent months on the pressing requirement to review options for the delivery of primary care at a local level and these options and thoughts are now ready for sharing with the local community.
Dr Abi Hosangady, GP, Guildowns Group Practice said: “We want to ensure we have services in place to meet the health and wellbeing needs of our local population now and for the future. We have a population that is living longer with multiple health conditions and we want to ensure we have a health service that can support patients.”
Professor Simon de Lusignan, GP Woodbridge Hill and Professor of Primary Care and Clinical Informatics added: “We really want to discuss this programme of work with Guildford residents particularly those who live in Westborough, Stoughton and Stoke. We want to understand what factors are key in the location and services provided within primary care and it is important we hear the views of patients, carers and the local community on our initial thoughts.
For more information please visit www.guildfordandwaverleyccg.nhs.uk or contact GWCCG.Info@nhs.net You can also contact the CCG via telephone on 01483 405450 or by text 07917 087 560