From 01 October, GP and nurse appointments are now available during the evening and at the weekend for people across Coastal West Sussex.

This means that urgent appointments are available up to 8pm during the week, and during clinics on a Saturday and Sunday.

This aims to improve access to GP appointments and help local people to get the help and support they need.

The service is run by Innovations in Primary Care (IPC), a not-for-profit company owned by local GP practices.

The appointments will be available at local GP access hubs, run from GP surgeries, and they will be both routine and urgent appointments with a doctor, nurse or healthcare professional.

The teams will see new illnesses when you urgently need to see a health professional, and offer planned appointments such as family planning and smear tests that can be hard to arrange whilst at work or when you are caring for family or a loved one.

IPC has been running the MIAMI clinics in Adur and Worthing for the last three years, which has offered a very similar service, offering help for ‘Minor Injury Assessment & Minor Illnesses’.

These clinics have been successful and helped local people to access the help they need outside of normal opening times.

We hope that this roll out of the hubs across the whole of Coastal West Sussex will mean that all patients registered with a GP practice in our area can benefit.

You book into the GP access hubs via your normal GP practice, and you may be offered an appointment at one of the hubs at the weekend if you call NHS 111 for urgent health advice and support.

The hubs may be at your GP practice or they may be at a neighbouring GP practice locally in the community around you.

The teams will have access to your medical records with your consent, and any care they provide will be added to your notes so your GP practice can continue any ongoing care.

Patients can book into these appointments by calling your registered GP practice in the normal way, and they will be able to access the booking system and make sure you receive the help and support you need.

What does the GP Hubs do?                                                   

The GP Hubs can see patients with short term problems that

• have lasted no longer than 14 days and
  
• have not been seen by a GP previously

What is the GP Hub (Miami Clinic)

MIAMI stands for Minor Injury Assessment and Minor Illness and is a service launched by 19 local GP practices across Adur and Worthing. Your nearest Clinics are Riverbank Medical Centre in Midhurst and Pulborough Medical Centre. 

At the MIAMI Clinic you will be seen by a GP, nurse, or paramedic practitioner, who - with your consent - will have access to your medical record from this practice. 

The GP Hub clinics provide appointments for patients who have illnesses of less than fourteen days duration such as chest infection, sore throat, headache, fever, eye infection, rashes/skin irritations, urinary and bowel problems or minor injuries such as bumps, scalds, sprains, small cuts and lacerations, to list but a few.

These appointments will be booked by us the surgery so you should telephone us the normal way and if we have run out of urgent appointments you may be offered an appointment at a MIAMI clinic.

We will also be able to book appointments at the weekend between 10:00 and 14:00. Please ask for availability.

How do I make an appointment with the GP (Improved Access) Hub)? 

Services are only accessible via our practice and our Reception Team will be pleased to arrange an appointment for you.  

Please contact Reception on 01798 342248

We will check to see if we have appointments available and will book you in directly to the clinic. You will then go to the GP Hub Surgery and be seen by a GP, Nurse practitioner or Paramedic Practitioner who can diagnose your condition and prescribe if necessary.