Joint application by 137 GP practices in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge to the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund to improve access to primary care has been successful.

Dear Healthwatch Associates

Please see below a message from Dr Jagan John who led the BHR GPs’ bid to the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund to improve access to primary care. 

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Message sent on behalf of Dr Jagan John:

I am delighted to report that the joint application by 137 GP practices in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge to the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund to improve access to primary care has been successful. 

We have been awarded £5.6M to implement our plans, which focus on two strands of work:

• Improved Access - for patients through better access to appointments within and outside of core hours, with a simpler point of entry.  We will offer local people more urgent week day appointments between 6.30pm and 10pm, with extra urgent appointments at the weekend – all in addition to normal GP opening hours

• Complex Care - focussing on complex patients with increased need for specialist skills.  Local GPs can support people with complex health problems with a dedicated team of clinicians including a GP, practice nurse and consultant.

This additional funding will help us to really look at how best we meet the needs of our patients, rather than simply doing things as we always have. As everyone knows, local health services are under real pressure, and GPs are determined to do our bit to help improve care for patients across our area.

Local GPs know that the bid being successful is just the start. We have to put our exciting plans into practice now and start making a difference for our patients. Our ambition is not just to reduce appointment waiting times by offering better access to GPs, but also to give patients better, innovative care more tailored to their individual needs. 

The additional funding will enable local GPs to lead the way in creating sustainable, innovative and high-quality primary care services for local people and we’ll keep you updated as we work together to implement it. 

Dr Jagan John

On behalf of all of our 137 GP practices in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge