The General Practice Forward View (GPFV), published in April 2016, is a five-year plan that details ways to improve and strengthen general practice services. One of the ways included in the plan was for GP practices to offer additional appointments outside the usual opening hours.
As part of the Prime Minsters Fund Initiative, Cannock Practice Network, renamed to Cannock Chase Clinical Alliance in June 2018 were awarded the contract to deliver the Extended Access Service for the 21 GP Practices within Cannock Chase CCG.
The Alliance provides a local locum workforce of over 100 GPs, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Pharmacists to deliver over 17,800 extended access appointments a year along with providing directly bookable 111 appointments. This service gives our local population faster and seamless access to expert care and advice when they need it reducing pressure on out of hours services and unnecessary Hospital attendances.
Patient’s book appointments through their own practice and can access a ‘routine’ appointment on the same day in our Extended Access Hubs in Cannock or Rugeley which are available weekday evenings (6.30pm-8pm), weekends (9am-1pm) and Bank Holidays (9am-1.30pm).
