London's First Hospital-Based Polyclinic Opens


Hammersmith Centre for Health welcomes its first patients

London’s first hospital-based polyclinic opens its doors to the public this week at Hammersmith Hospital.

As part of a wave of polyclinics opening across the capital, Hammersmith Centre for Health is a GP-led service running alongside the hospital's emergency department.

Explaining the decision to put GP surgeries alongside emergency departments, Miles Freeman, NHS Hammersmith and Fulham’s Director of Primary Care, said: “We know a lot of people go to A&E with problems that aren’t life threatening – often it’s because people aren’t sure where is the best place to go or that other services are closed.

“Rather than telling people not to go to A&E, we want to make sure the right range of doctors and nurses are on hand to help with every kind of problem. Primary care teams will treat the minor problems and offer on-going care for people with long-term conditions, while A&E teams focus on life-threatening emergencies.

“It will mean shorter waits for people with less serious conditions. Everyone who comes through the door at the new centre will be quickly assessed by a doctor and then treated by the most appropriate clinician for their needs.”

Dr Tim Ladbrooke, one of the GPs who helped set up the service, says: “People living in Hammersmith and Fulham will really benefit from the new centre. It means there is now a full range of GP services, minor injury/illness care and emergency services all under one roof open seven-days-a-week.”

As well as the new service at Hammersmith Hospital, there will be a Fulham Centre for Health based at Charing Cross Hospital, set to open later in 2009.

“A third polyclinic is being developed in White City, but as it is part of a major building development it is still a few years away. In the meantime, because there is a real local need, we’re putting a new GP surgery and NHS dentist into temporary accommodation in the area. They will be up and running this summer and will transfer to the new building when it’s ready in 2011," said Miles Freeman.

The Hammersmith Centre for Health will register patients like a GP surgery, accepting people from anywhere in the borough and offering appointments seven-days-a-week from 8am to 8pm. People will also be able to walk-in if they have an immediate problem – whether they are registered with the centre or not. Walk-in services are available until 10pm every day.

April 29, 2009