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Increasing primary care services and extending hours for patients
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Central Manchester CCG is improving access to primary care health services for 217,000 patients as part of a new service collaboration initiative.
By using EMIS Web®, patients from 34 practices can access an increased range of specialist primary care services – at extended hours – via newly established ‘host practices’. The project is being delivered by General Practice Provider Organisation (GPPO) Primary Care Manchester Ltd.
Colin Tate, commercial director at Primary Care Manchester said: “It means that practices can pool resources to offer their patients more services at times including evenings and weekends, without having to invest in additional resources."
“Using EMIS Web to create a secure, two-way patient data flow between the practices involved, also safeguards continuity of care – particularly important for patients with long term medical conditions.”
The 34 GP practices in central Manchester fall into 4 geographical areas. The agreement means that a host GP practice is available in each of these localities, to serve patients whose local practice may not offer the opening hours or specific health services they need.
Colin added: “Patients living in any of the four central Manchester localities have been able to book GP appointments between 6pm and 8pm during the week, or on Saturday and Sunday mornings, even if the GP practice they are registered with doesn’t open at these times.
The patient visits the designated host practice, which has secure access to their patient record - with their consent – to ensure any advice or prescriptions given are in line with existing medications, known conditions and past consultations. The host practice then automatically updates the record held by the patient’s usual GP surgery to ensure the flow of information is complete.”
Colin explained: “Patient care is at the heart of this project but we also hope that over time it will help reduce unnecessary A&E visits and admissions.”