February 21, 2018 8.36 am This story is over 73 months old

GPs pilot out of hours service in East Lindsey

11 GP practices are in the pilot scheme.
The out of hours service will be be hosted at Louth County Hospital. Photo: ULHT

GPs in East Lindsey have banded together to offer an out of hours service for patients in their region.

The so-called ‘Extended Hub Service’ will provide patients of 11 practices in East Lindsey with access to a GP services in the evenings and weekends.

The service is starting on Monday, February 26.

Patients will be able to see a GP at a clinic in the Urgent Care Unit at Louth Hospital on a weekday between 6.30pm and 8.00pm, as well as between 8.00am and 7.30pm on a weekend.

Appointments are all available to be pre-booked through the patient’s own practice.

The 11 practices taking part in the trial are:

  • The James Street Family Practice, Louth;
  • Newmarket Medical Practice, Louth;
  • Tasburgh Lodge, Woodhall Spa;
  • The Kidgate Surgery, Louth;
  • The New Coningsby Surgery, Coningsby;
  • The North Thoresby Surgery, North Thoresby;
  • The Old Vicarage, Horncastle;
  • The Surgery, Market Rasen;
  • The Wolds Practice, Tetford;
  • The Wragby Surgery, Wragby;
  • Woodhall Spa New Surgery, Woodhall Spa.

The pilot scheme is part of a wider plan to strengthen Lincolnshire East CCG’s out-of-hospital strategy to integrate care within the community and improve collaboration between practices.

Dr Seng Keat Ko, GP and clinical leader of East Lindsey Locality, said: “We are really pleased to be introducing this pilot, which will be particularly beneficial to those patients who struggle to get an appointment during the daytime.

“Over the coming months we will assess how well it is working and will be asking people for their feedback. We also hope the scheme will reduce some of the pressure on other local health services.

“It is early days, and there are still some limitations, but extended access is just the tip of the iceberg of what the hub can offer in terms of the range of services that could benefit our patients in the future.”