NHS Walk-in CentresFlexible access to primary care is the key to delivering health services that meet the needs of modern society. The NHS has established a number of Walk-in Centres (WiCs) in England which complement existing primary care services such as GPs and hospital accident and emergency departments. They provide patients with a range of services without requiring an appointment. Contracts for two of the WiCs were awarded to Atos Healthcare. The first was opened in Manchester on 17 November 2005, and the Canary Wharf WiC opened on 21 April 2006. The services offer treatment for a range of conditions such as:
Patients can simply turn up at any time from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. If more convenient, they can also make an appointment. Treatment and advice is provided in purpose-built medical centres staffed by dedicated teams of doctors and nurse practitioners. Continuity of care is important so, with the patient's consent, details of key aspects of the consultation are sent to their GP. The performance and quality of the service provided by Atos Healthcare is monitored by the Department of Health and the host Primary Care Trust using reports generated by the centre's bespoke IT system. The centre operates under a robust clinical governance framework with clear lines of responsibility to Atos Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer. The Atos Healthcare run NHS Walk-in Centres in Manchester Piccadilly and Canary Wharf were recently awarded the Grand Prix: Best Operational Project across all sectors at the Public:Private Finance Awards 2007. The awards recognise the improvement in public services that the Walk-In Centres have delivered and the benefits that they have brought to the local community. According to Andrew Ridley, Director of Primary and Community Care Commissioning, Tower Hamlets PCT, Atos Healthcare demonstrated “a strong focus on collaborative working with local stakeholders”. To learn more about how we are helping the NHS provide primary care, contact Atos Healthcare. |
Walk-in Centres
