Urgent health care services reviewed across Hampshire with residents invited to share their experiences
NHS seeks public views on future urgent care services
The provision of urgent health care services are being reviewed with residents across Hampshire invited to share their experiences.
The NHS is seeking people’s views to help shape how urgent care services such as GP out-of-hours services, night nursing services and urgent treatment centres (UTCs) are delivered, with the cotracts for the provision for urgent care being reviewed.
Urgent care services provide medical help when it is needed quickly but is not life-threatening, offering an alternative to attending emergency departments, with UTCs in place locally at St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth, Petersfield Community Hospital and Gosport War Memorial Hospital.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight is reviewing its urgent care contracts as existing agreements come up for renewal in 2028, which it says creates an opportunity to look at how services work together and how people access care. However it sad that no immediate changes to services are planned as part of this work.
A public survey and programme of engagement events are now underway to gather feedback from local communities which will directly influence how urgent care services are provided in the future across Hampshire.
Dr Tom Bertram, GP and Clinical Lead for Primary and Local Care for NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said: “Thousands of people use urgent NHS services across our area every day, and these services play a vital role in helping people get the right care in the right place.
“This is a real opportunity for people to influence how these services are delivered in the future. We want to hear what works well, as well as where improvements could be made.”
This work supports delivery of the new 10 Year Plan and wider national priorities to improve urgent and emergency care, making services easier to access, more joined-up, and better able to meet people’s needs closer to home.
The services to be reviewed include:
- The Clinical Assessment Service that sits inside NHS111. This is where a clinician reviews your case to decide what care you need.
- Out-of-hours GP services, including face-to-face appointments and home visiting.
- Night nursing services.
A short survey has been developed to gather feedback, alongside targeted engagement sessions delivered by Action Hampshire to ensure a wide range of community voices are heard.
Dr Bertram added: “While many people receive timely and effective care, the NHS recognises that people’s experiences can vary and that some may face challenges accessing services.
“Feedback is welcomed from anyone who has used urgent care services, including those who may find services harder to access.
“Alongside the online survey, we are working with Action Hampshire and identifying specific groups within our communities who may already be higher users of our urgent care services, may experience language or access barriers or carers that have different perspectives on using services.”
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, is anonymous and open until Sunday June 21. A survey for health and care professionals to share their experiences of working within urgent care services is also available and open until Sunday June 21.
Alternative formats, including Easy Read, large print and translated versions, are available on request, alongside support to complete the survey. Email [email protected]