What do we want to change?

In summary, the CCG is consulting on proposals to:

• Improve the way people access services
  Improve the system so people can contact their practice or 111 and be assessed over the phone quickly. They will then be booked an appointment or signposted to the right place for the care they need.

• Change the way people get urgent GP appointments
  Groups of GP practices (known as neighbourhoods) will work together to offer urgent appointments within 24 hours. People will be assessed to decide if they need to see their own GP or can be seen by at a different GP practice in their local area. You can find out which Neighbourhood your GP practice belongs to here.

• Change where people would go for minor illness and injuries
  Currently, there is a walk-in centre in the city centre which treats minor illnesses and a minor injuries unit at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital that deals with adult minor injuries, while children with minor injuries are seen at the emergency department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. These would be replaced with two urgent treatment centres – one at Northern General Hospital for adults, treating both minor illness and minor injuries, and one at Sheffield Children’s Hospital for children - which would treat minor illness with minor injuries continuing to be treated at the Children’s Emergency Department. The Urgent Treatment Centres would offer booked appointments as well as walk-in appointments.

• Change where people go for urgent eye care
  Currently adults needing either urgent or emergency eye care are seen at the Emergency Eye Clinic at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. In the future, urgent appointments would be offered at locations across the city with extended opening times making it easier for people to get care closer to where they live. Emergency eye care (for sight-threatening conditions) would continue to be provided at the Hallamshire.

There are three options for how the urgent treatment centres could work for adults and children, which are set out in the consultation document. The CCG wants to know people’s view on these proposed changes and which options people in Sheffield prefer.

Under all of the options, the advice to anyone that needs an urgent appointment would be contact your GP practice or NHS 111 first. 

Improving access to urgent appointments with GPs and other health professionals in the community would mean people across Sheffield would be able to get the care they need as close to home as possible, which is what they have told us they want.

Replacing the walk-in centre and minor injuries unit with urgent treatment centres that are open longer will make it simpler for people to get the care they need quickly when GP practices are closed and is in line with national policy. 

Read our frequently asked questions for more information