Dec 17 - Reminder: Changes To The Primary Care Centre Appointments System
As announced on 5th November, the GHA wishes to remind the public of planned changes to the Primary Care Centre appointments booking system.
In order to streamline its appointment service the PCC will be introducing a 48 hour pre-bookable appointment system, which will become operational as from Monday 4th January 2016.
Appointments will no longer be released exclusively on the 1st working day of each month as has been the case for the past few years.
The way the new system works will be as follows:
- On Mondays – release Wednesday’s Appointments
- On Tuesdays – release Thursday’s Appointments
- On Wednesdays – release Friday’s Appointments
- On Thursdays – release Monday’s Appointments
- On Fridays – release Tuesday’s Appointments
In the case of Bank Holidays, patients will be offered an appointment for the next working day after the holiday; if Monday is a Public Holiday, on the previous Thursday patients will be able to obtain an appointment for the Tuesday.
The Government says that, since 2011, the GHA appointment system has been under constant improvement and continuous review, in a stage-by-stage process adding that this revision of the appointment booking system is being implemented after close consultation with Primary Care Centre staff, doctors and patients, in response to the needs of the community.
Leaflets explaining the new appointment system are available at the Primary Care Centre and are printed in English, Spanish and Arabic.
Appointments can be booked as usual either via telephone 20052441 or in person at the Primary Care Centre counters.
The Minister for Health, Dr John Cortes, said: “We continue to improve Primary Care Services and as announced several weeks ago this system aims to decongest the Primary Care Centre on the 1st of the month and allow patients access to appointments on an on-going basis as required. Patients have been informed over past two months by press releases and leaflets issued at the Health Centre.”
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