Over the past two years, NHS Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley has been talking to local people about local urgent care services and how they can be improved. The CCG has already received valuable contribution to this work through previous listening events and surveys.
Gerrie Adler, programme director for the urgent care review said of previous patient feedback: “We’ve heard that people want services that are easily accessible, joined up, available for both urban and rural communities, fit for the future and which encourage and support prevention and self-care. We’re now ready to start building the detail of the services we’re proposing and the help of local people to do that. If you have an interest in local NHS services, we would urge you to come along to our event on 19 October to hear what we’re planning and support us to refine the specifications we’ll be putting out to tender.
“Nationally and locally, NHS services have been facing increasing demand and changes need to be made to the ways in which local and urgent care are provided. Changes are planned for emergency and urgent care services at Darent Valley Hospital and the event will also include a chance to hear about plans there and have your say.
“The CCG and our partners in health have been focusing on the minor injuries unit at Gravesham Community Hospital, the walk in GP service, GP out of hours appointments, NHS 111, and planning to build up health ‘hubs’ around existing services. If you cannot attend the event you are encouraged to take part in our online survey which closes on Friday 13 October at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/DGSUrgentCare2017/.”
Plans include improving NHS 111 and putting a better service in place with more support from GPs and other clinicians and keeping similar urgent care services to those currently provided at the community hospital in Gravesend but boosting it with a GP walk-in service.
The event will take place on Thursday, 19 October 2017 at 6pmand will be held in The Park Suite, Dartford Football Club, Princes Park Stadium, Grassbanks, Darenth Road, Dartford, DA1 1RT For more details and to book your place, contact dgs.communications@nhs.net.