Wigan GP Access Alliance – Using the MIG to improve access to GP services
Wigan Borough GP Access Alliance have used the Detailed Care Record to improve access to GPs in Wigan. This project was live in just three months and is an excellent example of how the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund was used to improve and extend patient access to services.
Background
On 29 October 2014, GP practices were invited to apply to take part in the second wave of the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund. In 2015/16 there was £100million of funding available for GPs who could demonstrate how they would use the money to improve and extend patient access to services. Priority was given to bids that helped GP practices open for longer such as 08.00-20.00, seven days a week.
On the 27 March 2015, NHS England announced that 37 applications, covering 1,417 practices had been selected to lead the way in the second phase, testing innovative ways of increasing access and delivering wider transformational change in general practice.
Wigan GP Access Alliance were successful in their bid for this fund and in just three months they provided extra GP appointments, seven days a week, for the people of Wigan Borough.
How does it work?
The 3 GP Federations across Wigan are working to provide the right care at the right time. In each of the extended hour settings, using TPP System One as the patient’s record system, patients can access care on evenings and weekends.
Providing the patient gives explicit consent at the consultation, GPs can have access to any Wigan Patients GP record in real time. This allows them to utilise the successful Wigan SharetoCare programme, which is powered by the Medical Interoperability Gateway (MIG).
“The GP record is seen as the most up to date and clinically rich data available, it is important to have access to this relevant information to assist with consultations and medication prescribing, which MIG provides in real time and in a seamless way.”
What are the benefits?
In July 2015, Wigan went live at two locations, with opening hours of 18.30 – 20.00 Monday to Friday and 10:00 – 16:00 Saturday and Sunday. By providing a central call handling service it means that patients who are unable to get an appointment with their regular GP can easily book an appointment with the extended hours service at a time to suit them.
One patient explained the benefits of the service.
“This service is really helpful; I have been able to make an appointment at 19.00, after work meaning, I didn't have to leave work early. I travel to work with a colleague using a car share scheme, this has not been disrupted as I can book in before work or at the weekend.”
What’s next?
“Over the coming months we plan to increase the roll out from two to nine locations and there is the is a plan to include more innovative methods of patient access as well as clinics for long term condition reviews, etc. The existing information available from the MIG will mean that both previous test results and history will be available which is imperative in dealing with long term conditions. The MIG’s ability to share a more discreet or specific data set around long term conditions will come into its own during these reviews.”
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