New service launching to help North Somerset residents access support
News for Weston-super-Mare Central Ward from local councillors Mike Bell and Robert Payne : serving you on North Somerset Council and Weston-super-Mare Town Council Learn more
by mikebell on 29 November, 2019
A health commissioner which runs a Weston town centre surgery said it still has ‘a lot of work to do’, following criticism of difficulties on seeing a doctor.
Dr John Heather, chairman of Pier Health Group Limited, which took on the running of Graham Road in June, said staff are working hard to alleviate the problems.
He said: “We took on the running of Graham Road at short notice and without the kind of preparation that would have ensured a really smooth transfer.
“That’s not an excuse for poor patient experience, but it’s a big part of why things aren’t yet working as well as they should be.
“We know we still have a lot of work to do, and that includes improving access to appointments.”
Staff at other practices have stepped in to help cover shifts at Graham Road.
The surgery received £1.4million of NHS emergency capital funding following the closure of nearby Clarence Park and its patients transferred to Graham Road.
Dr Heather added: “We’re investing in a major upgrade to our telephone system, with work taking place in the coming weeks. We will also be offering video consultations with GPs, which we know work really well for people with access to the technology at home.
“We are also really pleased to be bringing in the AskMyGP online consultation system in the New Year, which allows people to request an appointment by email as well as phone, and are then contacted within an average of 15 minutes by an appropriate clinician – be it doctor, nurse or physiotherapist.
“As well as these immediate changes, we are working hard to attract the GPs we need here in Weston over the longer term.
“Our national recruitment campaign is underway, and its success will be crucial to the sustainability and quality of our primary care services into the future.
“We take patient feedback incredibly seriously, and we know we haven’t got everything right just yet.
“I’m confident our planned changes will mean a much better service and experience for people, and we’ll continue to work closely with the local community, the local clinical commissioning group and our patient groups to make sure that’s the case.”
Councillor Mike Bell said: “I’m pleased to see recognition that service at Graham Road surgery needs to improve. I’m working to get a new health centre for central Weston and it is on track to open within the next year or so. But in the meantime, NHS and practice management need to deliver for patients today.”
2 Comments
I had an appointment with Ann Bailey at Graham Road Surgery on 7 November 2019 and she was going to arrange for me to have an MRI scan at Weston General. It is now the 30 November and the hospital has still not received the request, I telephoned the Surgery and have left three messages for the referral secretary (who apparently only works Saturdays), I also spoke to the Surgery and asked for a callback from Ann, I have written to the Practice Manager about it and have been totally ignored by everyone and will be making a formal complaint
We feel very vulnerable as the health care in Weston has gone down so quickly you cannot get anywhere twice I have been misdiagnosed and nobody cares something must be done .