The urgent out-of-hours GP service covering North East Hampshire and Farnham, and Surrey Heath residents is planning to move its base of operations - and is keen to hear residents’ views.
North Hampshire Urgent Care (NHUC) is looking to move from Whitewater Health GP Practice in Hook to Farnborough Centre for Health.
The service provides urgent medical care for people who need to be seen outside normal GP practice opening times.
The proposed move to Farnborough Centre for Health will be for its Frimley Primary Care Services, covering residents in Aldershot, Farnham, Farnborough, Fleet, Crondall, Yateley, Camberley, Frimley, Ash Vale, Bagshot, Lightwater, Sandhurst and Owlsmoor,
Felicity Greene, Chief Executive of North Hampshire Urgent Care (NHUC), said: “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, our out-of-hours service was based at Frimley Park Hospital but we took the decision to move from the site because of the pressure on the estate caused by the pandemic.
“We appreciate that moving to Hook has meant longer journeys for patients being invited for face-to-face appointments and it also adds to journey times for our home visits. Because of this we are now looking to move back nearer to our original site, using the new facilities at Farnborough Centre for Health.
“It is really important to us that we hear from you about Farnborough Centre for Health as a location for our out-of-hours urgent primary care service and we would like people to share their views by visiting https://insight.frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk/outofhours.”
NHS Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) plans and funds the majority of health services provided to residents of North East Hampshire and Farnham, Surrey Heath and East Berkshire, including the out-of-hours GP service.
Daryl Gasson, Executive Place Managing Director at Frimley CCG, said: “Farnborough Centre for Health has recently been re-designed and refurbished specifically for the delivery of primary and community healthcare.
“Its facilities present an excellent opportunity for NHUC’s Frimley Primary Care Service and the local population and also benefits from good access and parking.”
GP out-of-hours services can be accessed by patients through NHS111 when their GP practice is closed. The NHUC service operates from 6.30pm until 8.00am every day, as well as on weekends and bank holidays.
111 calls are assessed by trained call handlers who will advise on the appropriate action to take. If you are assessed as needing help from NHUC, your details will be passed to them and you will be advised what to do next.
Many concerns can be dealt with remotely via telephone or video consultation and use of electronic prescribing. When appropriate, patients will be invited to a face-to-face appointment. In some circumstances, clinicians will arrange a home visit.
Note to editors:
North Hampshire Urgent Care has two Primary Care Centres providing the service;
- Hantsdoc (covering Basingstoke, Hook and Hartley Wintney, Alton and Bentley)
- Frimley Primary Care Service (covering Aldershot, Farnham, Farnborough, Fleet, Crondall, Yateley, Camberley, Frimley, Ash Vale, Bagshot, Lightwater, Sandhurst and Owlsmoor).
Both services are currently located at Whitewater Health, in Hook, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The service is looking to relocate the Frimley Primary Care Service – to bring the service back to the area.
