Some 300,000 patients in Medway can now benefit from improved access to GP services.

From 1 October 2018, patients registered in Medway can book GP appointments in the evenings and weekends at one of the new Primary Care Hubs within Healthy Living Centres.

Stuart Jeffery, Chief Operating Officer at Medway Clinical Commissioning Group, which is responsible for planning and buying local NHS services, explained: “Primary Care Hubs have been developed to improve the availability of GP services, and we are very pleased to offer this extended access to appointments.

“Patients do not need to do anything different to book, they simply contact their own surgery in the usual way. This should make it easier for people to arrange an appointment at a time which suits them at one of three sites across Medway.

“Later in the year we aim to further extend this service, with plans already being drawn up to enable patients to book to see nurses or other healthcare professionals too.”

The appointments are available on weekdays until 8pm, from 9am-4pm on Saturdays and 9am-2pm on Sundays. The Primary Care Hubs are located in Rochester, Rainham and Lordswood Healthy Living Centres. Although appointments may not always be provided at patients’ own practices, the GPs treating them will be able to see their full medical records, with their consent.

This change is part of a national drive to improve access to GP services and give people the opportunity to have an appointment at a time that suits them.

Stuart Jeffery added: “We hope these changes will make it easier for people to get a GP appointment but we’d like to remind patients that anyone needing urgent medical assistance when their practice is closed should continue to dial NHS 111.”

Primary Care Hubs are funded by Medway CCG, which has commissioned Medway Practices Alliance to deliver the service. Feedback can be emailed to mpa@nhs.net and will be responded to within 14 days.