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<p>The Government has committed to ensuring everyone across the country has easier
and more convenient access to general practice services, including appointments in
the evenings and weekends. The latest National Health Service planning guidance, issued
by NHS England in February 2018, requires clinical commissioning groups to provide
extended access to general practice to their whole population by 1 October 2018, to
ensure additional capacity is in place ahead of winter 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The General
Practice Forward View (GP Forward View), published in April 2016, commits increasing
investment in General Practice by £2.4 billion a year by 2020/2021 from £9.7 billion
in 2015/16 to over £12 billion by 2020/21 – a 14% real-terms increase. It will improve
patient care and access, and invest in new ways of providing primary care.</p><p>
</p><p>In addition, the number of doctors entering speciality training has been increasing
year on year. In 2017/18, there were 3,157 new starters recruited to speciality GP
training posts, the highest number recruited ever. In August 2017 NHS England announced
plans to accelerate its international recruitment programme and recruit 2,000 doctors
into English general practice over the following three years. To boost retention there
is a broad offer available to support GPs to remain in the NHS including the GP Health
Service, the GP Retention Scheme, and the recently launched a £10 million GP Retention
Fund which includes funds targeted at specific areas.</p><p> </p><p>University Hospitals
Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust have been closely supported by NHS Improvement’s
Intensive Support Team for the last 12 months and are actively working through recommendations
to improve emergency care. NHS Improvement has recently offered £347,000 to support
transformation work around urgent and emergency care in Coventry; funds will be distributed
to areas with the greatest scope for patient care improvements.</p><p> </p><p>Hospitals
in Coventry are also supported by national services, such as NHS 111, which offers
a 24/7 service available across England for patients who require non-urgent advice
which can include input from a range of clinical professionals where appropriate.</p>
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