With an average of 580,000 appointments taking place in local GP practices every month, healthcare teams are providing more appointments year on year. “Get the care you need quicker” goes one step further, informing residents about the many ways they can get quicker, more efficient access to local NHS and community services, in many cases without having to contact their GP practice.

The campaign website at www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk/getcarequicker has tips and advice to help residents get the care they need. This includes making the most of digital platforms like the NHS App, taking appointments with one of the many healthcare professionals providing care in GP practices, and making use of healthcare services you can refer yourself into without having to contact your surgery.

Using local healthcare services in this way not only helps patients get the care they need quicker, it also frees up GP appointments so they can treat patients with more complex care needs.

Dr Taz Syed, GP Partner at the Pall Mall Surgery in Southend, is encouraging more patients to use these tips to access the care they need. He said:

“Thanks to hardworking teams, thousands more appointments are being delivered every month compared to previous years, and plans are in place to make it easier for patients to access the care they need. All GP practices are upgrading how they work to help bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments and make sure patients can get the right care at the right time, regardless of how they contact their practice. Part of the plan is to promote all the ways that patients can get help – often without needing to pick up the phone at all. I encourage all patients to take these opportunities to access services differently, because not only will they benefit from getting the care they need more quickly, but it also supports us working at the surgery.”