GP surgeries “on their knees” across Wiltshire will be shaken up as part of plans to amalgamate 48 current practises into 11 Primary Care Networks.
Primary Care Networks will increase GP opening times, make appointments longer and create more health care staff, say the NHS.
Wiltshire CCG presented plans to the Health Select Committee this week which showed that by July, groups of surgeries will be joined together to form one network for communities of between 30k-50k people.
The aim of the network is to bring together “fragmented” community health services.
Funding for primary care in each community will be given to the Networks, made up of up to five doctors surgeries.
Primary care services include GPs, dentists and pharmacies. It is hoped GPs will be able to focus on patients with complex needs and community nurses, physiotherapists and pharmacists will be used to see other patients.
Across England, primary care is set to have £3.5bn invested between now and 2024, some of which will be used to invest in Primary Care Networks.
Primary Care lead for Wiltshire CCG Jo Cullen said: “We have a number of areas where we have strong older people teams and a mix of staff come together. GPs are enthusiastic we have been reorganised.
“What they’re interested in is their service for patients to meet demand. Pharmacists, paramedics and physios will all be involved. Most funding will come through the networks moving forward so the surgeries will have to work together.”
She added that Primary Care Networks in other parts of the country has led to GPs offering 30 minute appointments.
Wiltshire’s GPs met on March 14 to find out more about plans, and Ms Cullen said doctors were “really eager” to start the networks.
When asked by Health Select committee member Cllr Clare Cape why the change was causing so much enthusiasm, Ms Cullen said: “A lot would say they’re on their knees and this is the only show that will deliver their care.” While surgeries in Devizes and Trowbridge have already begun merging, all networks are set to be in place by July 1.
The 11 networks will be:
Sarum South including Salisbury
Sarum West
Sarum North
Devizes
Trowbridge
Bradford and Melksham
Westbury and Warminster
Chippenham, Corsham and Box
Calne
North Wiltshire boarder
East Kennet
Awaiting responses to request for comments from doctor surgeries.
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