The University of
Northampton
students

The pressure on all areas of the NHS, including General Practice, has been unprecedented over the recent period as we continue to manage the additional demand and constraints of the pandemic alongside a significant increase in demand from patients requiring health interventions.

We are now delivering 17,000 appointments per day in General Practice across Northamptonshire, which is more than 2,000 per day higher than two years ago. However, there are times when the demand for appointments is more than the increased capacity available. We understand this is frustrating for our patients and there may have been times when you may have struggled to get through on the phone due to this increase in demand.

Patients are advised if they are able to download the free NHS app, they can book appointments, order any repeat prescriptions and get health advice via this route. NHS 111 online can support with urgent but not-life-threatening medical needs, and will help you right away or if needed, a healthcare professional will call you. The service can direct you to the right service and even book appointments there, saving you time sitting on the phone or in waiting areas. NHS 111 can also support you outside of practice hours.

Before they book an appointment for you, our reception team will ask you some questions about why you are calling – this is nothing to worry about and anything you say is completely confidential. We have a whole range of highly skilled specialists within our team ranging from Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Physiotherapists to Social Prescribing Link Workers. Patients will be asked to give information when they first contact with their practice so that they can be offered an appointment with the health professional who is best placed to treat your condition. If you call about a minor illness, such as a cough or a cold, it may be more suitable for an appointment to be offered with a local pharmacist.