Improved Access Services aim to provide additional appointments across the weekday and weekend to make access to health care. We also aim to provide new and innovative services that will benefit our patients and practices.
As of March 2020 all face to face GP Improved Access Services were cancelled to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.
This winter is going to be challenging for everyone as a second wave of Covid occurs and the normal seasonal illnesses also begin to make their impact. For general practice it is a double whammy as practices are working really hard to restore normal services, deliver the most flu vaccinations ever, and work to catch up with the important clinical work that was put on hold during the start of the pandemic. NICS in consultation with GPs in the area have decided to open “GP ACUTE ILLNESS CLINICS” to enable practices the ability to book patients with fevers, coughs, and any symptoms that may be Covid into a safe clinical environment for examination by an experienced clinician in a timely manner. By doing this we can ensure quick and safe treatment for those with acute illnesses whilst keeping the surgeries free from these symptoms and so minimising the spread of Covid and other viruses to potentially vulnerable people and keeping practices open.
These appointments can only be booked once a clinician at your practice has assessed your condition over the phone and determined that you need to be seen and there is a risk that it might be an infectious illness like coronavirus. THERE IS NO WALK IN SERVICE AT THESE CLINICS.
There are three clinics in North West Surrey, based in Woking, Walton and Ashford. Once you are booked in you will be sent a text by your practice with the directions and the instructions. Please make sure that your practice has your correct mobile phone number. All the clinics are based near a car park so once there you will be given a phone number to call to let them know you have arrived. The clinic clinician will phone you to talk through your symptoms and get a detailed history of your illness. They will then call you into the clinic and ask for you to use sanitising hand gel on your hands. The clinician will be wearing PPE. You will be examined and then asked to wait back in your car whilst the clinician takes off the PPE and then phones to let you know the plan and treatment for your condition and arrange any prescriptions that you may need.
If you feel too unwell to manage your symptoms at home you can use the 111 coronavirus service or contact your local GP surgery. All NWS practices have websites with online forms that can be used to ask for clinical help from the practice. If you think that it is an emergency then call 999.
Call 999 for an ambulance if you or someone you care for:
Tell the operator you might have coronavirus symptoms.
NICS provides the patients of North West Surrey the chance to book Primary Care appointments for Weekday Evenings and Saturday Mornings. This gives patients more flexibility and the choice of when to see a clinician.
NICS provides nurse and phlebotomy appointments on weekday evenings and saturday mornings.
First Contact Physio appointments are available to all NICS Patients. If you have back or neck pain, or any other muscular or skeletal pain, then a detailed assessment by an experienced physiotherapist my help you. Appointments are held either by phone or over a digital platform.
No. All in person serveices have been stopped. However, First Contact Physio is still running through video call appointments.
To book any Extended Access Services go through your local GP practice.
You will receive confirmation of your Improved Access appointment by text message. You can cancel this appointment by replying to this text message prior to your appointment.
You will be seen by an experienced GP or Nurse, but it is unlikely that you will see your own GP or nurse.
Your medial record will, with consent, be available to the GP, Nurse or Physiotherapist that sees you, to ensure they have the information they need to give you the best possible care.
If you have issues or complaints about our improved access services please get in contact.
