GP led Walk-in Centre in Sheffield and Rotherham; Another way of urgent health

care provision

by: Dr Mubashir Arain

Prof Jon Nicholl

Prof Mike Campbell

School of Health & Related Research (ScHARR)

The University of Sheffield

United Kingdom1

Contents

• Background

• Aims and objectives

• Methods

• Results

• Conclusion

• References

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Background

• Resources are limited & it is important to allocate them efficiently for the health care services

• It is evident that Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are over loaded with patients

• Unnecessary visits to A&E not only causes delay in urgent care provision but also increases cost

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Background cont...

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Background cont...

The Government started a number of urgent care services to compliment A&E in the last decade

Nurse led Walk in CentreMinor Injuries Unit GP out of hour serviceUrgent Dental ServiceNHS Direct

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Background cont...

• In 2009, another Walk-in service started, where GPs, along with trained nurses, provide urgent care service, called GP Led walk-in centre

• It is expected that, in the presence of GPs and longer opening hours, these centres will help in diverting patients with minor health problems from A & E

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Aims & objectives

Primary• How efficiently the GP led walk-in centre services are

working in Sheffield and Rotherham (under or over utilized, patients’ satisfaction, convenience of location etc)

Secondary • Effect on other NHS urgent care services in Sheffield &

Rotherham

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Methods

Design: • The Cross sectional survey of patients was conducted

in Sept and Oct, 2011 Study settings:

Sheffield GP-led walk in centre

Rotherham GP-led walk in centre • Previously validated questionnaire was used with

modification • Questionnaire included characteristic of patients,

patients choice of service and patients’’ satisfaction and consent to participate in a POST-VISIT survey

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Survey Results

 • We were able to distribute 1821 questionnaires• 1030 questionnaires were returned (response rate

57%), 64% at Rotherham and 51% at Sheffield• According to the centre routine data estimates,

around 30% received the questionnaire• We compared some demographics of patients

participated in the survey with routine data• Mean age of patients in years was 30.66 in

routine data and 32.1 in the survey data

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Results cont…

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Results cont…

Overall satisfaction is significantly higher in Rotherham Centre as compared to Sheffield centre

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Results cont…

Able to look after problem yourself after the visit?

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Intention to use other NHS service after visiting the centre

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Children Hospital

A&E data2008-2010

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Adult Hospital

A&E data2008-2010

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Minor Injury Unit data

2008-2010

ConclusionGP walk-in centres have increased accessibility to health care service through

Longer opening hour GP access without appointments Central location

Shorter waiting time than A&E

Thus, opening of such primary care centres can potentially reduce unnecessary patients’ load at A & E

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Thank you

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