A new pilot project which offers people an alternative location for their healthcare appointments has launched on the Isle of Wight.
National funding to help tackle the backlog of people waiting for hospital procedures has led to consultation PODS being set up in 2 community locations to improve access to healthcare services across the Island.
The PODS are located at West Wight Sports Centre in Freshwater and Aspire in Ryde and are currently being used for pre-habilitation (pre-hab) assessments for people waiting for a surgical procedure.
Nicola Longson, IOW NHS Trust Director of Operations for Community Services said:
“We wanted to do something innovative which supports the health care system across the Island and also improves the experience for people using health services. Since March we have been testing the suitability of the PODS for health care services, starting with pre-hab assessments, and they are working really well.
“Our plan is to place a third POD in the South Wight area to increase access in this part of the Island and we are exploring how we can work with different partners across the health and care system to open up the use of the PODS for various health and care services.”
The Community Pre-habilitation Service was set up as part of the local NHS COVID-19 recovery plan to make sure people are not only fit and ready for surgery but also to help reduce preventable delays or cancellations and to improve the flow through the healthcare system.
Alison Spearman, Community Pre-hab Team Lead, said:
“The consultation PODS have been great for pre-hab assessments. They offer an alternative location which is convenient but also offers privacy. People can meet with a healthcare professional in a relaxed and less clinical environment and have access to a computer should they need online support.
“We hope people will find the PODS a great asset to their local community and a comfortable place to attend a whole range of different health care appointments.”
Feedback on the PODS has been overwhelmingly positive. Island residents have said the locations are convenient and quick and easy to get to, parking has been good, and they found the environment was calm and relaxing.
Steve Johnson, Director of Community and Partnership at Aspire said:
“The NHS Community POD is a real asset to Aspire as it allows people to engage with multiple agencies at a local level in the heart of our community.”
If you are a local health and care provider and want to find out more about the community PODS and the opportunities available to partner with the IOW NHS Trust on any one of the three POD locations, you can email: [email protected] or telephone 07425 633 085.
Meet a “health care professional”? Is that a qualified or non qualified professional? Where did this staff come from, when there are insufficient.staff in the first place?
Complete with Fisher Price ‘doctor’s bag.’ anyhow, mustn’t grumble as it will reduce dangerous biddy traffic on the roads into Newport.
It’s not compulsory. You can choose not to go if you like. There is always private healthcare if you’d prefer.
But if you’ve already paid for the NHS care, why should you have to go private? Unless, of course, you support the American disaster.
And what chance a POD in North Wight – or even a GP or two, not to mention an NHS dentist…
The young man in the photo is James and no one anywhere could wish for a nicer person to care for you . It’s so nice to see a young man brought up correctly. He helped me with my pre assessment, he came to my house, this is someone ,along with all nurses who deserves a pay rise.
I’m sure this will have it’s uses but it doesn’t alter the fact that we need more properly manned GP Surgeries. The ratio of GP Doctors to the Islands population falls lamentably below the Governments own recommendations.
A sticking plaster for the NHS, when it needs major surgery
Would be nice to see your own Dr ?
2 week wait !!! After the Spanish inquisition from the receptionist is not good enough !!!