PATIENTS in Gwent who telephone for an appointment with a doctor may instead be offered one with a nurse, or be directed to their local pharmacy, under a new scheme to ease demand on GP practices.
GP surgery receptionists have during the past three months undergone training to enable them to advise patients on who is best placed to treat them.
Options will include a practice nurse, an advanced nurse practitioner, a local pharmacist, or a practice-based pharmacist if the patient's surgery has one.
The aim is maximise the options for patients who may have a health condition that does not necessarily need to be dealt with by a GP, freeing up the latter to treat more serious cases, and often providing a more convenient alternative for patients.
The scheme is one of a number that are part of a Care Navigation programme that Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has been working on with its Neighbourhood Care Networks (area 'clusters' of GP practices) and community services, to improve the delivery of primary care in the face of growing demand.
Dr Liam Taylor, the health board's deputy medical director, said that relieving pressure on GP practices is vital.
“We’re committed to ensuring that primary care provision across Gwent is effective for all our patients, and sustainable in years to come," he said.
"This programme is about making sure our community feels supported and cared for when they need it most.
“Primary care services play a vital role within the wider healthcare system in Wales and with local services coming under increasing pressure from rise in demand and constraints in capacity, our Care Navigation programme is more important than ever.”
Care Navigation services include: Community connectors - to help patients with emotional, social and practical needs to access local, non-medical and non-clinical services; social prescribing, where people can be referred to support such as befriending groups; maternity support; and physiotherapy, amongst others.
For more information about the services available across Gwent, visit http://www.wales.nhs.uk/mylocalhealth
This page will be updated frequently with further details and useful information.
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