>October Events / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Health & Wellbeing / Waveney Valley October 1, 2018
People can find out how to book new routine GP appointments during evenings and weekends as well as more about the steps they can take to stay well this winter at a series of special market place events taking place this month.
NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) will host the face-to-face drop-ins at markets and libraries during October.
The events will give people the chance to find out more about a national drive to improve access to primary care by offering routine GP appointments in the evenings and at weekends.
The service in Great Yarmouth and Waveney began today (1 October). It has been shaped by feedback received by the CCG during a survey held last year, which showed that 67% of the 495 people who responded would be happy to see a clinician from another practice.
As a result, the new service will give any patient – regardless of where they are registered – the chance to book into evening or weekend appointments at Rosedale Surgery, Victoria Road Surgery, Crestview Surgery, Martham Surgery, the Lighthouse Surgery and Bridge Road Surgery. The surgery which they attend will depend on what time their appointment is scheduled.
In addition, the CCG will use the market place events to talk to people about the steps they can take to stay well this winter, as well as offering advice on self-care and the best place to get the right medical help to meet your needs. This includes pharmacists, who can give confidential, expert advice on a range of common illnesses and complaints, and NHS111, which can offer advice 24 hours a day for people who need urgent help but do not need to call 999.
Dr Paul Berry, a GP and clinical lead for primary care with the CCG, said: “We are really pleased that patients from across Great Yarmouth and Waveney can now book routine GP appointments outside of traditional office hours.
“The service we are offering has been shaped by feedback we have received from patients and should make it much more convenient for people who work to arrange to see a doctor without needing to take time off, in turn improving their experience of accessing care.
“We would encourage anyone who would like to find out more about these appointments, or about the steps they can take to look after their own health and stay well this winter, to drop in and see us at one of these special events.”
The events take place:
• Wednesday 3 October, 8am – 2pm, Halesworth Market, Market Place
• Thursday 4 October, 9.30am – 11.30am, Bungay Library, Wharton Street
• Friday 12 October, 9.30am – 5.30pm, Lowestoft Library, Clapham Road South
• Wednesday 17 October, 8am – 4pm, Great Yarmouth Market, Market Place
• Friday 19 October, 8am – 2pm, Beccles Market, Sheepgate
Everyone is welcome to attend.
