Have your say on care services

PATIENTS and residents are being given the opportunity to have their say on urgent primary care services in Oldham.

NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has asked people to share their experiences of using the Walk in Service, Out of Hours and seven-day extended GP access among other healthcare provision.

Although a range of services are already available to Oldham patients requiring urgent care, the CCG said it is "eager to improve these further" to help minimise "unnecessary A&E visits."

A survey has been launched to collate the views and experiences of Oldhamers which will then be published ahead of a formal public consultation.

Chief clinical officer at Oldham CCG Dr Ian Wilkinson said: "We think urgent primary care services can be more joined-up and offer a better experience for patients as well as improved clinical outcomes.

"We want the public to bring their experience to bear by sharing their thoughts with us through this survey. At the same time, we will be talking to the various clinicians involved and other experts in the field for their perspectives.

"When our proposals for the future are fully worked up, we will publish them and formally consult the public ­- hopefully later this year."

The CCG ­- a membership organisation comprising all GP practices in Oldham ­- said it wants to ensure staff at the Royal Oldham Hospital's A&E department are able to "focus on those patients who really need their care."

Dr Wilkinson said: "We are all aware of the pressures placed on A&E. So it's in all our interests to ensure those in need of urgent care can access the right treatment at the right time and at the right place.

"By urgent primary care, we are talking about treatment which could be delivered by a GP or practice nurse for example, but which still require urgent handling."

There are a range of services provided by the NHS in Oldham focused on urgent primary care.

The CCG urged residents to share their ideas for how these services can best be delivered in the future via an online survey which can be completed until Monday, September 11. The survey is available at www.oldhamccg.nhs.uk.