What is Enhanced Access

In October 2022 NHS England introduced the new Enhanced Access service. This is a combination of the previous Improved Access and Extended Hours services which GP surgeries provide.

To meet the growing needs of the population GP practices are working together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as primary care networks (PCNs).

PCNs are required to offer Enhanced Access as an additional 30 minutes of appointment time per 1,000 population.

We have local arrangements in place to provide appointments at weekends across three centrally located hubs for the convenience of patients in the area. Due to our very wide geographical area in South Devon, we also offer telephone appointments with our GPs to ensure all patients can access our services.

Appointments are booked through your own GP surgery. You can request a weekend appointment when you speak to the receptionist or health navigator at your surgery. They will tell you where your appointment will be held.

When you book an appointment with EA you will be asked to give your consent to share your medical record with the EA clinician. The clinician you see will then have full access to your medical records and can offer most of the services you access in your usual surgery. This access to your records ends automatically after 28 days.

For a list of what we can see in EA clinics please click here