Enhanced Access Support

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Clinical Terms
A framework providing patients with extended primary care hours and additional services within the UK healthcare system.

What is Enhanced Access Support?

What is ?

Enhanced Access Support is an NHS initiative that requires Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to provide additional appointments outside standard hours. It ensures patients can access GP services during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, typically from 6:30pm-8pm on weekdays and 9am-5pm on Saturdays. This service aims to improve healthcare accessibility, reduce pressure on emergency services, and offer more convenient care options through a mix of face-to-face, telephone, and digital consultations.

Enhanced Access Support Best Practices

What is ?

  • Implement a clear booking system that allows patients to access Enhanced Access appointments through multiple channels
  • Ensure appropriate clinical governance and staffing models that maintain quality and safety during extended hours
  • Regularly review utilisation data to match appointment capacity with patient demand patterns
  • Develop effective communication strategies to raise awareness of Enhanced Access services among all patient groups
  • Establish robust cross-PCN collaboration to efficiently share resources and clinical expertise

Use Enhanced Access Support in a Sentence

What is ?

  1. The PCN has allocated additional funding to strengthen their Enhanced Access Support services, allowing them to offer more weekend appointments.
  2. Patients reported high satisfaction with the Enhanced Access Support programme, particularly the availability of evening consultations for working adults.
  3. The Clinical Director presented data showing how Enhanced Access Support had reduced unnecessary A&E attendances across the network.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Enhanced Access Support

What does Enhanced Access Support mean?

Enhanced Access Support refers to the NHS framework that enables Primary Care Networks to provide patients with additional GP appointments outside standard operating hours. This includes evenings (6:30pm-8pm), weekends (Saturdays 9am-5pm), and sometimes bank holidays. The service aims to improve healthcare accessibility, offering a mix of in-person, telephone, and digital consultations to meet diverse patient needs and reduce pressure on emergency services.

How can patients access Enhanced Access appointments?

Patients can typically book Enhanced Access appointments through multiple channels including their GP practice reception, online booking systems, the NHS App, or by calling NHS 111. These appointments may be available at their usual surgery or at another designated location within their Primary Care Network. It's important to note that Enhanced Access appointments are for routine, non-urgent care and are allocated based on clinical need and availability.

What types of healthcare professionals deliver Enhanced Access services?

Enhanced Access services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team that may include GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, practice nurses, clinical pharmacists, physiotherapists, paramedics, and physician associates. This skill mix approach ensures appropriate expertise is available for different patient needs while maximising workforce capacity. Services are coordinated across the PCN to share resources effectively and maintain consistent quality of care during extended hours.

How does Enhanced Access Support differ from Extended Access?

Enhanced Access Support replaced the previous Extended Access and Extended Hours DES (Directed Enhanced Service) programmes in October 2022. The key differences include more standardised provision requirements (15 minutes per 1,000 registered patients), a broader focus on integrated urgent care, clearer requirements for a mix of appointment types, and stronger emphasis on PCN-wide collaboration. Enhanced Access also places greater focus on addressing health inequalities by tailoring services to local population needs.

What are the funding arrangements for Enhanced Access Support?

Enhanced Access Support is funded through the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES). PCNs receive dedicated funding calculated at £7.44 per registered patient annually (2023/24 figures), which is used to cover additional staff costs, premises costs, and administrative support for delivering the extended hours service. PCNs must demonstrate they are meeting the minimum requirements of 60 minutes per 1,000 registered patients per week to receive the full funding allocation.

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