As part of a planned series of improvements to urgent primary care services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has introduced a new appointments system within its GP out-of-hours service on a permanent basis.

The new arrangement will help create a more robust, reliable and sustainable service by reducing waiting times, enabling discrete appointments and improving access to GP out-of-hours services while also ensuring social distancing can be observed at urgent primary care centres.

In addition to having a scheduled appointment, patients will also have the opportunity for telephone consultations with GPs. Attend Anywhere, which allows for virtual consultations to take place, is being implemented across sites later this month, and combined, the new arrangement means patients will have access healthcare without having to travel to an urgent primary care centre.

The system, which has shown to be effective in other healthcare settings, officially launched on 1 June, 2020. Patients will now access a GP out-of-hours appointment by phoning NHS24 on 111. Acting as the first point of contact, NHS 24 will advise on the most appropriate care pathway. This system mirrors the current COVID-19 care pathway in place for patients who require urgent primary care.

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