Queen Mary's Hospital Planned As Polysystem for Putney & Roehampton

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One of four proposed across the borough

Wandsworth PCT has announced plans for four polysystems in the borough.  The work is already underway in each of the polysystems and patients will see increasing improvements over the next five years.

What is a polysystem? It is the name given to a network of existing GP surgeries, dentists, pharmacies, social and community services, all working together to provide services in the local community.  Services will be delivered from a central hub (polyclinic) and supported by a range of other sites (spokes).   Polysystems in Wandsworth will mainly concentrate on delivering improvements in seven key areas:

long term conditions; public health; primary care infrastructure (buildings and IT); outpatients; diagnostics;  urgent care ; extended GP hours.

Benefits for patients will include:

• A much wider range of services more commonly offered at hospital such as x-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests and urgent care
• Access to services 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week
• Walk-in services (no appointment necessary) for registered and unregistered patients
• More GP services, although patients can choose to see their own doctor as normal
• Shorter waiting times for specialist treatment
• Tailored care for the local population e.g. treatment for long term conditions, support for ethnic minority communities, mental health advice.

Ann Radmore, NHS Wandsworth’s Chief Executive said:
“The new polysystems demonstrate that, in spite of the economic downturn, we remain committed to making the improvements to healthcare that local people told us they wanted to see.

“The four polyclinic hubs will become key access points for healthcare in Wandsworth so that patients have more choice of where to go to get the care they need, without having to travel to their local hospital.  More convenience was strongly requested by our local residents and patients will now be able to get treatment closer to their own home at a time that better suits them, including evenings and  weekends.”

Seth Rankin, a GP from Wandsworth added “Patients will benefit from the links that GPs make with their local Polyclinic hub, for example if a patient sees their doctor with a minor injury and needs an x-ray, (s)he will referred directly to a nearby polyclinic and avoid unnecessary waits at A &E. This is not about replacing the patient-doctor relationship that we know people value, but improving choice, and improving service.”

This decision comes after a full analysis of different areas of the borough and extensive work to listen to the needs of those living and working in Wandsworth.  The four polysystems will provide healthcare services designed to address the specific health needs of the surrounding communities, which could include support for those with long term conditions, screening services, ante and post natal care or health promotion advice.

West Wandsworth Polysystem

Covering the wards of Roehampton, West Hill, Thamesfield, East and West Putney

• Queen Mary’s Hospital will be developed to become a polyclinic hub .This will serve the surrounding neighborhoods of Roehampton and Putney.  Queen Mary’s Hospital is a state of the art facility and already provides a wide range of services that a polyclinic would provide.  NHS Wandsworth is working with five local GPs to offer GP services from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week for both registered and unregistered patients.
• An existing GP surgery in Putney has been identified as having additional capacity to deliver a wider range of outpatient services to the local community.

People living and working in Wandsworth are already reaping the benefits of significant investment in primary care.  More GPs are offering  services such as phlebotomy (e.g. blood tests) stop smoking support and sexual health advice, and work is underway to introduce more community nurses to support those with long term health conditions.

NHS Wandsworth’s Community Virtual Ward has also been a great success, helping more than 300 patients who are at most at risk from being hospitalised to stay happy and healthy in their own home.  The Virtual Ward GP and Community matron visit the patient and develop a comprehensive social and medical care package. The GP and Community Matron meet every day to co-ordinate the patient’s care and there is a multidisciplinary ‘ward round’ once a week attended by representatives from all those involved in the patient’s care – including social workers, district nurses, carers, specialist nurses, physiotherapy and occupational therapists. The access to healthcare that this provides our most vulnerable patients and the multidisciplinary approach is proving very effective in improving the patient’s experience and keeping them safe and healthy at home. It is also showing significant savings in preventing unnecessary and traumatic emergency admissions to hospital.  

The other three polysystems will be located at:
St John’s Therapy Centre working jointly with a new GP led Health Centre in Battersea;
Brocklebank Health Centre, Earlsfield. 
St George’s Hospital, Tooting;

 

February 3, 2010