Services
Integrated Urgent Care Service
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The Integrated Urgent Care Service for Gloucestershire includes:
- NHS 111 – telephone and online support
- A Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) giving the public and health professionals access to clinical advice
- An out of hours GP service – seeing people in person either at a local hospital or in their own homes
The service is provided by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust in a partnership with social enterprise organisation Integrated Care 24 (IC24).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where is the service based?
The service is managed from Edward Jenner Court, in Brockworth. However, IC24 call takers work remotely and clinical advisers may also work remotely or from other Trust bases. Face to face out of hours appointments are offered at some of our Minor Injury and Illness Units (Stroud, Cirencester and Forest of Dean) as well as at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital and, when appropriate, in people’s own homes.
Locations for face to face appointments (when appropriate) are:
Forest of Dean Community Hospital > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust
Cirencester Hospital > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust
Stroud General Hospital > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals: Hospital maps and locations
What time does the service run?
The NHS111 service and all telephone and online elements operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Face to face services are available when GP surgeries are closed – this is generally from 6:30pm until 8am the following day Monday to Friday. 24 hours on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
How does the service work alongside existing services such as Community Teams and the ambulance service, as well as A&E and MIIUs?
As 111 is a prime route for the public to contact the NHS in Gloucestershire, the IUCS service makes referrals into other services such as Minor Injury Units, GP surgeries, A&E and the ambulance service.
How can the public access the service?
Access is via NHS111 – both over the telephone and online. Once patients have undergone a telephone or online assessment they will be supported in the most appropriate way, which may include advice over the telephone (including self-care or an electronic prescription), a face to face appointment at an NHS hospital, a home visit or referral to another service.
What sort of professionals work in the service?
Team members include health advisers (primarily working for IC24 and based remotely), Advanced Clinical Practitioners (to include Nurses, Paramedics) and doctors – primarily GPs. The service is overseen by a clinical Service Director, working alongside a senior GP as Clinical Director supported by a Governance Lead. The Clinical Assessment Service is led by an experienced GP and IC24 itself has strong clinical leadership, ensuring the service as a whole is clinically led with firm governance processes in place.
Does the service deal with mental health related calls?
Yes, we know that mental health and physical health are closely linked. When people ring NHS111 they now have the option of dialling ‘2’ for mental health support, and calls will then be directed through to GHC’s urgent mental health services. However, there will be the ability to refer callers across services and this is one benefit of having the service based within GHC, which provides secondary mental health services and crisis support.
Who are IC24?
Integrated Care 24 is a social enterprise, not for profit organisation. They are based in Kent but provide services across the UK. You can read more about IC24 on their website: Integrated Care 24 – Home (ic24.org.uk)
How will the quality of the service be maintained?
The service will be part of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and will be overseen by a Governance committee, in conjunction with IC24. The service will be subject to the same oversight and regulations as any NHS service, which includes inspections and reporting via the Care Quality Commission. Anyone using the service who has feedback should contact us via experience@ghc.nhs.uk
How do I find out more?
Please email ghccomms@ghc.nhs.uk
