Extra GP appointments to support Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent patients this winter

Extra appointments are being made available across general practice to support patient access this winter in the form of Primary Care Winter Hubs.  These hubs are designed to provide access for patients who need a same-day appointment and who are able and willing to travel to a central hub location.

The enhanced offer means that around 3,000 additional appointments are available every week to patients across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. All appointments are accessed through your own GP practice, who may offer a hub appointment to people where this is appropriate.

Patients are also reminded that many minor ailments, which are typical at this time of year, can be easily treated at home with over-the-counter medicines or dealt with by community pharmacies. The Pharmacy First scheme can help patients with common conditions such as earache for children aged one to 17, sore throats for children and adults above the age of five, sinusitis in children and adults over 12 and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women ages 16-64.

Paul Edmondson-Jones, Chief Medical Officer for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent said: “During these winter months, it’s important that people take care of themselves by taking simple precautions such as wearing several layers of clothing to keep warm, keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet and keeping up to date with vaccinations.

“Our community pharmacies are well-equipped to deal with a wide range of common conditions but if you’ve tried over-the-counter medicines and are not seeing an improvement then your local GP practice is there to help and that is why we are putting on additional appointments to support people this winter.”