It's the most 'busy' time of the year!

Shropdoc is part of a campaign to highlight the role of providers delivering urgent primary care services, supporting the NHS through winter pressures and beyond.

And this week really highlights where out-of-hours organisations like ours really work to step up and relieve pressure on paramedics and A&E staff.

The period of ‘Twixmas’ between Christmas and New Year is a time when many people look to take leave or holiday and spend time at home - or even holidaying with family and friends.

Staff here at Shropdoc, a not-for-profit social enterprise where we provide urgent, out-of-hours care, to communities across England and Wales, will be experiencing one of their busiest times of the year.

CEO Daniel Robinson said: “We treat patients with advice over the phone, face to face appointments and home visits that would otherwise need to wait to visit their GP, call an ambulance or go to accident and emergency departments.

“This frees up NHS services for people who need them most and allows for limited resources to be redirected back into other health and care services. We work closely with local NHS partners to co-ordinate care for patients around the clock.”

UHUK - the body that represents a partnership of the providers who cover 64 per cent of the UK population - has launched a national campaign which raises awareness of the under-recognised healthcare sector.

As a member of UHUK, which is seeking to influence policies in urgent and emergency care, Shropdoc is aiming to shine a spotlight on social enterprises and their work in urgent care - and the contribution they make to NHS and local people.

UHUK will reach out to key policy and decision makers asking that UHUK and members be consulted more regularly on the future direction of health and care policy.

UHUK CEO Conor Burke said: ““Providers like Shropdoc don’t always get the same recognition as other areas of the health and care system, but they are just as vital to the people who use them and to the NHS as a whole - especially at this time of year as the need for services surges. 

“Urgent and integrated healthcare services are vital to addressing wider challenges facing the NHS by ensuring valuable resources are used correctly – getting people the best health outcome and safeguarding services for those with life-threatening emergencies.

“We are leading the national development and local implementation of best practice in urgent and integrated care through our Innovation Programme while we deliver frontline services every day, working with partners to keep people well, independent and at home.

“We want to bring that knowledge and spirit of collaboration to the table, working with

policymakers to shape the future of urgent and integrated care in the NHS.”

For more information about the campaign visit www.uhuk.co.uk/campaign