Polyclinic

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In the UK a polyclinic is model of care. It is a way of providing more services in the community with GPs and other health and social care professionals working together in a more structured way. Patients would be able to access a broader range of services such as diagnostics and blood tests closer to home, and at more convenient times. Patients could continue to see their own GP, but it would be much easier to get a GP appointment quickly and in the evenings and at weekends.

The polyclinic model can be delivered in different ways, depending on local needs. For instance, a polyclinic could be a network of existing GP practices which link to a local hub for the wider range of services. The hub could be developed from an existing GP practice or a new building. The polyclinic model is flexible so that it can be developed with local GPs, other primary care professionals and local communities to create health and wellbeing services that meet their needs and reduce health inequalities.

Polyclinics have been mooted in a report by British peer Lord Darzi as a way to modernise the provision of family doctors and non-hospital medical services in the UK.

While the idea is fairly new in the UK, polyclinics have flourished in Australia, France and Germany as a way of providing care closer to home. There is opposition to polyclinics in the UK from some GPs who see them as a threat to their patient income. However many clinicians agree that polyclinics could improve the quality of patient care and access to services.

[edit] Polyclinic Services

The polyclinic model proposed in London will provide:

• GP services – e.g. core and enhanced with extended opening hours

• Other health services – including other health professionals (e.g. ophthalmology, dentistry)

• Minor procedures

• Outpatient appointments

• Urgent care

• Diagnostics - e.g. core and enhanced testing with extended opening hours

• Community services – e.g. interactive health information, management of long-term conditions, complex needs, community nursing, community mental health teams

• Co-located services – e.g. including local authority, social care, mental health, leisure and the London Ambulance Service.

GP-led health centres

GP-led health centres are a national initiative from the Department of Health. As a minimum, GP-led health centres will be expected to:

• Provide core GP services

• Maximise opportunities to integrate and co-locate with other community-based services, including social care

• Be in easily accessible locations

• Be open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week

• Offer bookable GP appointments and walk-in services

• Provide care for registered and non-registered patients.