GPs deliver record number of appointments
A record number of appointments were delivered by GP surgeries across Sussex last year.
In 2024, NHS Sussex said more than 11.4 million appointments took place in the county.
In December, 51% of appointments were carried out by a professional other than a GP, including advanced nurse practitioners, physiotherapists and clinical pharmacists.
NHS Sussex clinical director, Dr James Simpkin, said: "There is an advantage for patients in seeing the right person at the right time."
This number of appointments in 2024 represents a 7% increase on those delivered in the previous year – equivalent to 65,400 additional appointments each month.
NHS Sussex said many surgeries are now able to offer appointments with a range of healthcare professionals who can support patients, without the need to see a doctor first.
Working with West Sussex County Council some Sussex GPs offer access for young people to support workers.
Mikey Pearce, a youth emotional support worker at the Maywood Health Care Centre in Bognor Regis, said: "We offer parents the chance to book an appointment with their child with one of us where they can get more specialist help."
The government has rolled out a national plan aimed at boosting appointments, which includes tackling the '8am rush' to book, and encouraging patients to take control of their healthcare by using the NHS app.
Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
The places with the worst GP shortages revealed
Where not to live if you need a GP
West Sussex County Council
NHS Sussex
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
an hour ago
- Business Wire
HistoSonics and Cambridge University Unveil Europe's First Edison™ Histotripsy System Powered by Li Ka Shing Foundation Gift
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HistoSonics, the manufacturer of the Edison® Histotripsy System and novel histotripsy therapy platforms, announced today that Addenbrookes Hospital of Cambridge University Hospital Foundation and Trust will be the first site in the United Kingdom and European continent to offer histotripsy to both NHS and private patients. This was made possible through a generous donation by the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) as well as the expedited limited market access granted by the MHRA in April 2025. 'We are grateful to the Li Ka Shing Foundation for their visionary support. With Addenbrookes as our first NHS hospital site under UCNA, we are laying the foundation for future expansion," said Mike Blue, President and CEO, HistoSonics. The milestone marks HistoSonics' official entry into the UK and European market. HistoSonics won a coveted place in the Innovative Device Access Pathway pilot in 2024 and through this program, in partnership with the DHSC, MHRA, NIHR, NHSE, and NICE expedited access to patients. HistoSonics will continue to work with UK healthcare stakeholders on our aligned goal of urgently expanding access for all NHS patients. The Li Ka Shing Foundation, established in 1980 by Hong Kong philanthropist Sir Ka-shing Li, has contributed nearly US$4 billion to advancing education, medical research and services, and poverty alleviation across the USA, UK, Canada, and Asia. Recognizing the transformative potential of technological innovation in healthcare, the Foundation's latest gift to the University of Cambridge will build upon its previous donations of five Edison systems with three to Hong Kong, one to Singapore, and one recently to Stanford University. This new gift not only heralds the introduction of the first Edison system in the UK and Europe but also celebrates the enduring partnership between the Li Ka Shing Foundation and Cambridge in their collaborative efforts to fight cancer. By supporting cutting-edge medical technologies that can deliver low cost and highly efficient solutions, the Foundation hopes to enhance patient access with improved healthcare around the world. 'This donation is an historic milestone that brings non-invasive treatment of liver tumors using histotripsy to the UK,' said Mike Blue, President and CEO, HistoSonics. 'We are grateful to the Li Ka Shing Foundation for their visionary support. With Addenbrookes as our first NHS hospital site under UCNA, we are laying the foundation for future expansion into innovation driven hospitals across the UK.' The Edison System, which received FDA De Novo clearance in October 2023, uses non-invasive therapeutic focused ultrasound energy to mechanically destroy and liquefy targeted tissue and tumors without the invasiveness or toxicity of traditional procedures, reducing the risks of bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding non-targeted tissue. HistoSonics' initial FDA clearance is for the destruction of liver tumors, with ongoing studies focusing on kidney tumors (HOPE4KIDNEY Trial NCT05820087) and pancreas tumors (GANNON Trial NCT06282809). Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said: 'We are very fortunate that through the generosity of Sir Ka-shing Li, Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge will be able to use cutting-edge histotripsy technology to improve outcomes for NHS patients. It is technology such as this that allows Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and treating tumors, a position we aim to strengthen further with Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.' With installations soon to be in five countries including the US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, HistoSonics is actively expanding access to its histotripsy platform and is working closely with clinical leaders, national health systems, and philanthropic partners to accelerate global adoption of histotripsy as a new category of health care. HistoSonics is also pursuing broader UK and European market access via CE marking. United Kingdom Intended Use Statement: The Edison System is intended for the non-invasive mechanical destruction of liver tumours, including the partial or complete destruction of unresectable liver tumours via histotripsy. This includes malignancy linked to primary liver cancer and cases of metastatic disease in the liver. The device should only be used by people who have completed training performed by HistoSonics Inc., and its use guided by the clinical judgement of an appropriately trained physician. Users must read this user guide to understand the warnings, precautions, and clinical trial summary, including reported adverse events. The Edison System has not been evaluated for the treatment of any specific disease, including, but not limited to, cancer or evaluated any specific cancer outcomes (such as local tumour progression, 5-year survival or overall survival). United States Intended Use Statement: The Edison System is intended for the non-invasive mechanical destruction of liver tumors, including the partial or complete destruction of unresectable liver tumors via histotripsy. The FDA has not evaluated the Edison System for the treatment of any disease including, but not limited to, cancer or evaluated any specific cancer outcomes (such as local tumor progression, 5-year survival or overall survival). The System should only be used by physicians who have completed training performed by HistoSonics, and its use guided by the clinical judgment of an appropriately trained physician. Refer to the device Instructions for Use for a complete list of warnings, precautions, and a summary of clinical trial results, including reported adverse events. About HistoSonics HistoSonics is a privately held medical device company developing a non-invasive platform and proprietary sonic beam therapy utilizing the science of histotripsy, a novel mechanism of action that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy and liquify unwanted tissue and tumors. The company is currently focused on commercializing their Edison System in the US and select global markets for liver treatment while expanding histotripsy applications into other organs like kidney, pancreas, prostate, and others. HistoSonics has offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Minneapolis, MN. For more information on the Edison Histotripsy System please visit: For patient-related information please visit:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hospital parking charges up 108% for consultants
Consultants and some doctors at a hospital have seen staff parking charges increase by more than 100%, a union says. Price rises accompanied the introduction of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. A University Hospitals Tees (UHT) spokesperson confirmed £1.8m would be invested in car park improvements over the coming year. The British Medical Association (BMA) has described the new charges as "shocking and unacceptable". Some members of staff on lower salaries would see a decrease in charges but consultants would pay a tariff for a dedicated car park for them, said the UHT. The BMA has said charges for consultants at the hospital have gone up by 108%, with some doctors on specific shift patterns seeing increases in excess of 125%. The price changes will bring the South Tees hospitals in line with the policy of the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, which has had varied prices for staff over the last 10 years. Dr Andy Thornley, representing the BMA, said: "Charging staff who are just trying to come to work to care for patients at the hospital to make financial gains for a struggling trust is wrong. "Worse still is the unfair charges that patients and their visitors are being forced to pay, with no choice in order to access the hospital. "This is just the latest in what can only be described as chaotic implementation of new parking measures at the hospital, impacting not only consultants but also resident doctors who are still unsure what the new charges will mean for them. "We want assurances that staff who are members of the parking scheme will not be fined additional charges for simply coming to work to care for patients." A UNISON spokesperson reinforced this message, stating that imposing higher parking charges on NHS staff and patients "shows a shocking lack of understanding" of the financial struggle many are facing. The trust has said it is the first increase in two years and that any surplus funds will be diverted into patient care. A spokesperson said: "We understand the price rise is not welcome news, but we have kept the increase as low as possible. "We would like to reassure all our patients and visitors that the income from car parking is used to maintain our car parks including the costs of repairs and maintenance, lighting, gritting and security, all of which helps us to retain our 'Park Mark' Safer Parking Scheme accreditation. "This coming year will see us invest £1.8m in improvements to our car parking." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Hospital parking charges rise 'necessary' Hospital parking charges to increase Hospital staff protest over planned parking change The James Cook University Hospital
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Iris Ventures Leads Multimillion-dollar Investment Into Fast-growing Wellness Platform Healf
— Healf, a leading online retailer selling premium wellness products, has closed a multimillion-dollar funding round led by Iris Ventures, an international growth equity firm specializing in next-generation lifestyle and health-focused brands. Launched four years ago by brothers Lestat McCree and Max Clarke, Healf has become one of the U.K.'s fastest-growing well-being companies. It has built a reputation for its polished curation, clear communication and a personalized approach to well-being. More from WWD The Top Five Health and Wellness Trends in 2025, According to The Vitamin Shoppe Farfetch Pushes Into South Korea, One of the World's Biggest Luxury Markets EXCLUSIVE: Beekman 1802 Founders Release Book 'G.O.A.T. Wisdom: How to Build a Truly Great Business' The company has been able to scale quickly in what remains a fragmented market in the U.K., populated by pharmacies and retail chains that are often cluttered with product — and the opposite of aspirational. Healf has a growing community of 325,000 customers and 282,000 followers on Instagram, and is on track to post $100 million in revenue by the end of 2025. The plan is to expand Healf across Europe and capitalize on the booming wellness trend. The personal health and well-being category alone is estimated to be worth $1.8 trillion globally. Healf's approach is to help people take control of their health with a holistic approach that's focused on the basics: eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness. The site stocks more than 4,000 curated products to tend to those needs, and helps customers personalize their approach. Healf is also packed with slick editorial images and articles on how to lower cortisol levels naturally; special massages for lymphatic health; and how to bring 'more brain-soothing beauty into your life.' Customers take surveys to help them target the best remedies, and there is also an AI assistant that doles out recommendations about gut health, sleep habits and how to manage stress and anxiety. McCree said he and Clarke started the company because 'well-being shouldn't feel overwhelming — but it so often does. From Day One, Healf has been dedicated to cutting through the noise with simplicity, credibility and curation.' He added that the company's trademarked Four Pillars strategy focused on eating, moving, sleeping and mindfulness acts as a compass, and helps the founders deliver on quality, service and product offerings. Clarke said he and his brother were inspired by their own well-being journeys and have experienced the 'tangible and synergistic benefits that accompany a holistic approach to well-being — a major unlock we believe all consumers deserve access to.' Florian Wojewodzki, partner at Iris Ventures, said 'we quickly understood that Max and Lestat were a rare breed of founders. They are mission-driven brothers exemplifying laser focus and militant execution at every turn. 'Their uncompromising pursuit of product, innovation and customer journey excellence has been a masterclass, and propelled Healf to the forefront of health and wellness disruption. The company's highly engaged and growing community is a testament to its standout offering and the consumer trust it has so deservedly earned,' Wojewodzki said. Montse Suarez, founder and managing partner of Iris Ventures, said that 'with smart retail curation, personalized tech, and habit-forming products, wellness is no longer an add-on — it's seamlessly woven into everyday life. We're seeing a powerful shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. 'Max and Lestat recognized this early on and, with unwavering focus on excellence, have rapidly built an exceptional business. We're proud to partner with them and to help shape the future of well-being together,' she said. Iris Ventures is a thematic fund targeting European, U.K. and U.S. high-growth customer-centric brands and tech-enabled solutions across consumer sectors including beauty, health, wellness, family, lifestyle, nutrition, daily tech and modern commerce. Recent investments have included Maurten, a global sports nutrition company based in Sweden; Biomel, a plant-based gut health brand; and Superlativa, a drug- and hormone-free supplement that aims to help manage stress and regulate women's levels of cortisol. Best of WWD Harvey Nichols Sees Sales Dip, Losses Widen in Year Marred by Closures Nike Logs $1.3 Billion Profit, But Supply Chain Issues Persist Zegna Shares Start Trading on New York Stock Exchange Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
