Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage Visits Same Day Access Service
Local MP Caroline Dinenage got a first-hand look at Gosport’s new Same Day Access Service at the War Memorial Hospital last Friday. The pilot scheme, based at the hospital, is already shaking up GP access across the town.
Quick Fix for GP Appointment Woes
The Same Day Access Service aims to cut down long waits for GP appointments. It’s currently staffed by teams from four local GP practices:
- Waterside (Mumby Road)
- Stoke Road
- Brune (Rowner Road)
- Forton (Whites Place)
Registered patients can phone in for triage or book face-to-face appointments – all on the same day.
Meeting the Medics Behind the Service
Caroline met key figures leading the project, including Dr Donal Collins, GP lead for Better Local Care, Gethin Hughes, Director of Services at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Kerry Cooper, General Manager. She also spoke with Dr Sarah Brooks of Forton Medical Centre who laid bare the ongoing pressures on local GP surgeries.
“The new service is already easing pressures and frustration in Gosport’s GP surgeries,” Caroline said. “It’s encouraging to see practices teaming up to deliver faster, better care.”
Impressive Early Results
Since January, calls to the Same Day Access Service have resulted in:
- 665 GP appointments
- 694 nurse appointments
- 152 paediatric visits
- 94 physiotherapy sessions
Caroline is optimistic the pilot will expand, making quick GP access the new norm for Gosport.
For more info, visit BetterLocalCare.org.uk.
