Increased Doctor Surgery Hours

A local Milford on Sea resident who is a member of the local Patient Participation Group and has informed us of some interesting news about the NHS Vanguard Project where local GP's initiative has been successful in getting funding from the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund for a trial project.

This all sounds very grandiose, but it has a direct benefit for everyone in Milford on Sea. 

click image to enlarge

Seven local GP surgeries have recently joined together to open an extra doctors surgery at Lymington Hospital. This extra surgery is called ‘The Practice’ and is available now.

It should now be easier for you to get an appointment at a time to suit you, as The Practice is Open from 8am to 8pm Seven Days a Week. A team of local GP’s, nurses and other health professionals will staff the surgery. (This is not a Walk In Unit, and it is based on an appointment service only.)

If you wish to make an appointment or need same day attention you should first contact the Milford Medical Centre Surgery, they will agree the best place for you to be seen. Our Local Surgery is computer linked to the ‘The Practice’ so if your appointment is there, then your medical history will be available and notes can be added to your records as usual.

Outside usual Milford Medical Centre Surgery hours you can telephone The Practice to make an appointment on 01590 630545.

If this arrangement proves successful the plan for the future is to create a ‘one stop’ service, based at Lymington, which works closely with diagnostic services, including X-Ray, endoscopy and phlebotomy and adjacent to the Minor Injuries unit and Community Health teams.

Do register on the Milford Medical Centre website to keep up to date with future service developments (www.milfordmedicalcentre.com), simply select 'Online Patient Access' in the right hand menu for details. Alternatively complete a registration form that is available from reception in the surgery.

Once you are registered you will be able to book your GP or Nurse appointments and order repeat prescriptions on line.

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The national news have regularly covered stories relating to the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund: which has the objective of 'Improving Access to General Practice.'

The National Association for Patient Participation (N.A.P.P.) was pleased to see the initial evaluation of the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund. N.A.P.P. welcomed the range of projects that have increased patient access to GPs, including through extended hours, increased telephone access, and the introduction of online diagnostic and video consultation technology. The evaluation also indicates a reduction in people going to Accident & Emergency in participating areas, helping to take pressure off the wider NHS.

The Practice at Lymington Hospital is part of this project, and a partnership of seven local GP practices, including Wistaria and Milford Surgeries. Thisr pilot was chosen by NHS England to be amongst 37 schemes nationally to test new ways of organising, delivering and involving people in the design of local healthcare. This is an additional service to the one provided by Wistaria and Milford Surgeries. Patients should consider 'The Practice' as a branch of their own surgery.

Milford Medical Centre

www.milfordmedicalcentre.com