Press release
February 6th 2018
GP patients in East Devon are to benefit from a major NHS funding boost to improve local surgery facilities. East Devon Health, a federation of 13 GP practices in the area, has been awarded £1.8 million over three years by the NHS England Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF). The money will fund technology to help East Devon’s surgeries provide better care to patients.
The planned improvements to care include:
• Making it easier for GPs to get advice from specialists – about a skin lesion, for instance
• Conducting consultations by video
• Enabling patients to review their medications online
• Learning about conditions through online videos and information sites
• Trialling a system that provides patients with a video of their consultation
• Using technology to improve communication between patients and GPs
• Developing a single online source to let you know what services are available locally
The funding will also help practices run more efficiently behind the scenes – for example, by:
• Using video conferencing to improve communications
• Improving the way doctors and nurses use medical records on computers
• Allowing better access to patient records
• Providing doctors and nurses with computers for home working
• Linking practices with an improved telephone network
• Reducing paper usage.
The ETTF is a national multi-million pound programme to accelerate the development of GP premises and make greater use of technology.
Dr Jim Forrer, GP partner at Claremont Medical Practice and head of ‘Connect’ – the project in East Devon said: “This funding will provide patients with greater choice in terms of communicating with their GP, reviewing consultations or learning about treatments and medication. It’ll also enable patients to get the help they need more quickly.
“But we fully appreciate that patients may not have access to the internet, a computer or a smartphone, and that not everyone is confident of using technology. If you prefer seeing your GP in the traditional way, of course you’ll be free to do so.
“It’s not about imposing changes on anyone. This funding will give people a choice and better access to healthcare – by providing new and better ways of getting better and staying well.”
East Devon Health is made up of 13 GP practices – Budleigh Salterton, Claremont (Exmouth), Haldon (Exmouth), Imperial (Exmouth), Raleigh (Exmouth), Rolle, Woodbury, Coleridge, (Ottery) Honiton, Sidmouth, Axminster, Seaton and Colyton, Townsend (Seaton).
The Federation focuses on the needs of the East Devon population and works together to provide high quality care.
ENDS
For more information contact Hannah Nicholas, East Devon Health Communications.
E mail: h.nicholas@nhs.net Telephone: 07968715380.
Notes to editors
• The Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) is a multi-million pound programme to accelerate the development of GP premises and technology. It is designed to improve facilities, increase flexibility to accommodate multi-disciplinary teams and develop the right infrastructure to expand the range of care for patients, add more training facilities and make greater use of technology.
• The Estates and Technology Transformation Fund is part of wider work to increase investment in general practice, with a plan set out in General Practice Forward View, for an extra £2.4bn in general practice nationally by 2020/21.
• For more information on The Estates and Technology Transformation Fund, visit: http://www.england.nhs.uk/ettf