Patients across Coventry and Warwickshire are now able to access specialist gynaecology services within their local community thanks to a new GP-led service being delivered by the GP Federations in Coventry, Rugby, South Warwickshire and Warwickshire North.
The Primary Care Gynaecology Service (PCGS) has been developed to enable patients to receive specialist care quicker and more conveniently, particularly in the wake of increased demand following the Covid pandemic. The community-based service provides a single point of access for common gynaecology conditions including menstrual problems, complex menopause and prolapse. It will not include any instance where cancer is suspected which will follow the normal priority hospital referral pathway.
The service has been commissioned by the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board and is being piloted initially for one year. Patients can be seen at one of four Primary Care Gynaecology Clinics in Stratford upon Avon, Kenilworth, Nuneaton and Coventry.
Following a referral from their GP, eligible patients will initially be assessed by specially trained GPs over the phone. Follow-up in-person consultations will be provided at one of the Primary Care Gynaecology clinics where needed.
The new approach has already resulted in many patients previously on a hospital waiting list being redirected and treated more quickly through this service. From May 2023, GPs are now able to make direct referrals into the primary care service, providing faster access to specialist GP support for new patients.
Dr Cristina Ramos, Chair of South Warwickshire GP Federation and Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) said:
“This innovative service is intended to reduce the amount of time women are waiting to receive specialist advice and treatment for common gynaecology conditions. Initial work reaching patients on hospital waiting lists has already resulted in over 300 women being seen quicker in their community. Through this service our local clinicians will have an opportunity to extend their experience and expertise within gynaecology, which will help us to attract and retain staff in primary care across the region.”
Access to the Primary Care Gynaecology Service is via GP referral only. Patients should contact their local GP in the first instance for advice on contraception, complex menopause, family planning and gynaecology conditions.
For more information about the service, visit: https://southwarwickshiregps.nhs.uk/our-services/patient-services/pcgs