News / Bristol
Pioneering new approach to healthcare in Bristol
Patients waiting weeks to see their GP could be a thing of the past, thanks to a pioneering new approach to healthcare being piloted in Bristol.
The model aims to move away from doctors being ‘gatekeepers’ to treatment and enables people to see the right clinical professionals upfront, either in their homes or community, in a bid to speed up treatment.
Dr Trevor Dean, a partner at The Merrywood Practice, said the new approach has the potential to really transform healthcare for patients.
is needed now More than ever
Services that have already launched in south west Bristol include community clinics for patients with lower leg wounds. These sessions enable people to see a clinician, but also provide chance to stop and have a cup of tea and a chat, giving those who are potentially isolated a valuable opportunity to socialise.
Bristol Ageing Better is providing support and funding for these clinics and has commissioned Age UK Bristol to run the social side and arrange patient transport.
Primary care practitioners have also been recruited to support GPs by visiting and assessing unwell patients at home early in the day.
A total of six GP practices in Bristol and the city’s community healthcare provider are working together to trial the approach.
Speaking on behalf of all collaborating GPs, Dean said: “When fully functioning, our model will result in faster appointments with the right healthcare professionals and increased GP capacity, allowing us to undertake longer appointments with patients who really would benefit from it – for example, those with multiple and complex long term conditions.”
The plan is to evolve the system over the next 10 years to achieve a more integrated service involving all parties, from mental health practitioners and therapists, to community nurses and voluntary sector workers.
Over time, GP roles will change from being a ‘gatekeeper’ of care, to a ‘director’ of care, overseeing the professional team and providing one to one consultations for patients with the most complex healthcare needs.
Julia Clarke, chief executive at Bristol Community Health, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this partnership. By collaborating more effectively with our GP practices and other care providers, and coordinating care, we can have the most tremendous impact on local patients, so that they receive the maximum and best service they can possibly receive.”
Lennard Surgery, Grange Road Surgery, Hillview Family Practice, Crest Family Practice, Hartwood Healthcare, The Merrywood Practice and Bristol Community Health CIC are all involved.
The community clinics take place every Thursday morning in the Withywood Centre, with more to follow in Knowle at a later date.
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