As part of a wider NHS productivity drive, London GPs and community services are delivering extra appointments, while hospitals are offering more during evenings and weekends.

Dr Agatha Nortley-Meshe, head of primary care for the NHS in London, said: ‘Additional appointments and initiatives like single point of access systems are significantly shrinking waiting lists and easing the strain on London's hospitals and GP practices.'

The North Central London Community Single Point of Access (NCL Community SPoA) facilitates community health partnership working by providing timely and efficient patient care, while reducing treatment waiting lists.

By delivering coordinated care with local partners, NCL Community SPoA can provide London Ambulance Service with immediate advice and give their patients access to a range of services within just two hours.

Patrick Hunter, clinical quality manager at London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: ‘Thanks to NCL Community SPoA, we can work efficiently with other community services, provide timely support for patients and reduce waiting lists by preserving hospital care and ambulances for the people who most need it.

‘This partnership has resulted in tangible improvements to patient care. Through close collaboration and gradual improvements, we combined the skills and knowledge of multiple teams of experts, including ambulance staff, community teams, and hospital specialists.

‘This has led to more effective clinical decision making and patients getting the right care first time.'The delivery of extra appointments by GPs and community services has helped shrink waiting lists by almost 40,000 since July 2024.

As part of a wider NHS productivity drive, London GPs and community services are delivering extra appointments, while hospitals are offering more during evenings and weekends.

Dr Agatha Nortley-Meshe, head of primary care for the NHS in London, said: ‘Additional appointments and initiatives like single point of access systems are significantly shrinking waiting lists and easing the strain on London's hospitals and GP practices.'

The North Central London Community Single Point of Access (NCL Community SPoA) facilitates community health partnership working by providing timely and efficient patient care, while reducing treatment waiting lists.

By delivering coordinated care with local partners, NCL Community SPoA can provide London Ambulance Service with immediate advice and give their patients access to a range of services within just two hours.

Patrick Hunter, clinical quality manager at London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said: ‘Thanks to NCL Community SPoA, we can work efficiently with other community services, provide timely support for patients and reduce waiting lists by preserving hospital care and ambulances for the people who most need it.

‘This partnership has resulted in tangible improvements to patient care. Through close collaboration and gradual improvements, we combined the skills and knowledge of multiple teams of experts, including ambulance staff, community teams, and hospital specialists.

‘This has led to more effective clinical decision making and patients getting the right care first time.'