One of our aims is to bring health services closer to local people by delivering more primary and community based services and we are doing this in a number of ways. 

The first is by developing community facilities such as Yate, Cossham, Frenchay and Thornbury. The health centre and integrated children’s centre at Yate is due to open in late 2009 and it will offer a range of services. When it is up and running local people will not need to travel to a specialist hospital for these services as they did in the past. Cossham will also offer a far greater range of services than it did in the past and the first part of building work is set to begin in late 2009. NHS South Gloucestershire is working with partners to determine which range of services should be provided in Frenchay and Thornbury.  

We are also looking at the services we buy for patients to see if they could be provided more effectively in communities.  

Example 1

Our CATS (Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service) service is open to patients with hand, elbow, shoulder, ankle and foot problems - conditions, which previously GPs could only have referred to hospital. Now specialist physiotherapists and GPs with additional training and experience assess whether a patient needs surgery, or whether non-surgical treatments are more appropriate, making referrals to the right treatment quicker.  

Physiotherapists and GPs decide whether a patient needs to be quickly referred for an operation or whether non-surgical treatments – such as physiotherapy, podiatry, exercise or pain management techniques - would improve joint mobility and function. CATS is able to treat those patients who need joint injections. The service has clinics at Thornbury and Cossham hospitals and Chipping Sodbury Clinic.  

Example 2

We have also established a one-stop consultant-led diagnostic and assessment service for common urological conditions. All tests and clinical diagnosis are carried out and completed in a single appointment and patients leave with a copy of their test results and the letter that will be sent to their GPs. The service is provided at a clinic in Bristol that is easily accessible and has good parking facilities. 

Example 3

Our primary care paediatric service located within local GP surgeries. The service is staffed by two GPs with expertise in managing medical problems in children. The aim of the service is to provide children with specialist care close to home, reducing the need for parents and children to travel to hospital. With the service children also enjoy shorter waits for appointments.

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