Improving Access to Healthcare in Rutland, A Progress Report was presented to Rutland County Council (Video)

Improving Access to Healthcare in Rutland

Rutland County Council received an encouraging update at its recent meeting from the Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Health Scrutiny Committee representative on the progress being made to enhance healthcare services in the region.

Key improvements highlighted in the report included:

Increased GP appointments: The number of appointments available has grown by 17.4% in the past year, thanks to initiatives like Pharmacy First which has expanded prescribing capacity.

Enhanced GP services: Phase 2 improvements for 2024/25 focus on increased recruitment, workforce retention, training, IT systems, and service commissioning.

Improved GP website access: Standardisation across LLR has led to increased website usability.

Expanding Pharmacy First: Prescribing powers and pharmacist training are being expanded to further enhance service capacity.

Improved dental access: Access to NHS dental services across LLR is improving, with a new NHS contract for Rutland expected to be finalised soon.

Targeted dental care: Initiatives are underway to improve access for children, particularly those in deprived areas, through more flexible services, preventative work, and cross-border referrals.

While progress has been made, the report also acknowledged ongoing challenges such as:

Shortage of dentists: The availability of trained dentists remains a significant issue.

Under-utilisation of out-of-hours dental care: Efforts are underway to address this.

Limited NHS contract terms: The willingness of dentists to work in the NHS on current contract terms remains a concern.

Overall, the report provided a positive outlook on the future of healthcare in Rutland. The ongoing efforts to improve access to GP and dental services are expected to have a significant impact on the well-being of residents.