AFTER joining the National Primary Care Collaborative project three months ago, Bidford Health Centre is proving to be in great shape when it comes to providing patient care.

Members of the centre team were recently asked by the National Care Primary Development Team (NPCDT) to make a presentation at a national learning workshop on how they had made the changes involved in the system.

The event was attended by all the practices who joined the collaborative in the second wave and, according to Stratford and District Primary Care Group, Bidford Health Centre representatives were invited as the centre is one of the best examples of "how to do it".

On April 23, the centre moved to "Advanced Access", which means a great many changes had to be implemented concerning the way appointments were dealt with.

Dr Tim Shackley, one of the doctors from the centre, said about 80 per cent of people were now seen without making advance appointments.

He said: "When the phone lines open at 8.30am, we have about 100 available appointments for that day and the majority of people who call will be seen that same day.

"If we get fully booked, then we will offer people the chance of seeing a nurse or to speak to a doctor on the phone. If the doctor feels the patient should come in then an appointment is made, hopefully for that day.

"Although we are in the early stages of this system, we are very optimistic about the way it is going.

"The stress and tension factor effecting staff and patients has noticeably lessened."