Introducing Our New Same Day Assessment Centre (SDAC) for Urgent Health Needs
At College Health Ltd, we are committed to listening to your feedback and continuously improving our services. As part of our efforts to ensure you receive the right care at the right time, we are excited to announce the launch of a new Same Day Assessment (SDA) service for all patients registered at one of our GP Practice Group in Thurrock (Grays and Tilbury).
This new service will launch on Monday 4th November 2024 and will be available during core working hours Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm and is designed to provide timely access to clinical assessments for patients with urgent health needs.
What is Same Day Assessment (SDA)?
Same Day Assessment is designed for patients who are acutely unwell and need to be seen on the same day. This includes conditions that are not life-threatening but still require prompt attention, such as significant coughs, ear or skin infections, tonsillitis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), acute musculoskeletal issues, or any deterioration of long-term conditions. We also see unwell children through this service and have dedicated clinics to ensure children with acute needs are seen promptly. If your condition doesn’t require A&E but cannot wait, our SDA team are here to help.
This service is GP-led and delivered by a multidisciplinary team of highly skilled clinicians, ensuring that you receive the right level of care for your needs.
Why have we introduced this service?
We know that demand for GP services is higher than ever. Having listened to patient feedback, reviewed GP survey results, and examined how we can better manage demand, we believe this new service will allow more people to be assessed and managed quickly, closer to home while reducing pressure on other NHS services like 111 and A&E.
Our staff will work together to ensure that the flexible and responsive Same Day Assessment team is available to help patients when they need it most.
We know that demand for GP services is higher than ever. Having listened to patient feedback, reviewed GP survey results, and examined how we can better manage demand, we believe this new service will allow more people to be assessed and managed quickly, closer to home while reducing pressure on other NHS services like 111 and A&E.
Our staff will work together to ensure that the flexible and responsive Same Day Assessment team is available to help patients when they need it most.
How does it work?
To access the Same Day Assessment service, there is no need to call the surgery at 08:00am. Your journey will start by completing an eConsult form. This simple online form is available on your practice website and captures important information about your condition, helping our clinical team triage your request and direct you to the right care with the right person at the right time.
If you are unable to complete an eConsult, you can contact us directly, and one of our Care Navigators will assist you. Once submitted, your eConsult will be triaged, and one of our team will get in touch with you to discuss next steps. Depending on the outcome, this may include advice, signposting to another more appropriate service, or result in an appointment at the Same Day Assessment Centre (SDAC) or your own practice location.
Who are appointments with?
The Same Day Assessment team is made up of GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Advanced Paramedic Practitioners, Physicians Associates, and Prescribing Pharmacists. This team is highly trained and experienced in assessing, diagnosing, and managing a wide range of conditions.
For our housebound patients, the Same Day Assessment team also provides home visits, ensuring equal access to care for everyone.
Right care, right person, right time
This service has been designed to ensure that patients with the greatest need are seen as soon as possible, enhancing both patient experience and staff welfare. Clinical staff will use their expert experience and judgement to prioritise who is seen, when, and where. You may or may not be offered a Same Day Assessment appointment depending on the urgency of your health needs, as determined by clinical assessment.
The service is available to all registered patients across our Practices in Thurrock including Grays, Tilbury, Chadwell and East Tilbury.
Please note:
- These appointments cannot be booked directly through the NHS App or online, nor is this a walk-in service.
- Same Day Appointments will be offered based on clinical need and urgency.
- There is no need to call the Practice at 8:00 am, as eConsults can be submitted anytime between 8:00 am and 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
To access eConsult, please click the picture below –
We look forward to providing this new service to better meet your healthcare needs.
The College Health Ltd Team
