Bringing Healthcare Into The Community

The Minor Surgery Service is a community based service offering minor surgical procedures and joint injections to treat those patients that are currently referred to secondary care.

This service has been designed to operate from a number of practices across GPCARE Group with GPs that collaboratively provide the capacity in order to deliver the service.

A patient is referred into the service by their GP, via a fax referral form. A triage is conducted by a clinician within 48 hours of receiving the referral. If the patient is suitable for treatment in the minor surgery service, a suitable date, time and convenient location is arranged with them to be seen in the clinic.

Once a procedure/ injection is completed, a discharge report is produced and sent to both operating and referring GPs. If a follow-up appointment is required that is also made, otherwise the patient is discharged.

If a patient is not clinically suitable for treatment in the minor surgery service, they are referred back to the original referring GP who may need to onward refer the patient to Secondary Care.

· Reduced waiting times for patients

· Support earlier cancer detection via tissue removed and sent for histological examination

· Better patient experience

· Promote and enable self management of condition by patient

· Offer patients increased choice

· Care closer to home

· Continuity of Care

The service has been up and running since 3^rd November 2008.To date, we have seen 230 patients through the service and carried out over 200 procedures.

A patient survey was carried out in order to evaluate patient experience. 100% of patients who took part said they were offered a convenient appointment and said they were happy with the way the procedure was carried out. 96% of patients were offered a convenient location and 83% said they received adequate follow-up information.

After a thorough review of the service and taking into consideration patient feedback and experiences, the Minor Surgery Service has been extended till March 2011.

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