Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is piloting a new scheme where GP practices are paid £350 for each additional clinical session they offer during core working hours.

The CCG is also offering additional funding of just under £1,000 for GPs to attend ‘action learning workshops’ on managing capacity and demand and encouraging their practice team to implement what they have learnt. Practices undertaking the extended hours directed enhanced service (DES) will also be offered additional funding to open even later.

The CCG said that the pilot was aimed at reducing demand on urgent care services and improving patient experience of primary care because access to GP services, appointments, professionals, information and prescriptions were identified as key themes during the development of the local primary care strategy by both member practices and patients.

The CCG added that it hoped that all 62 member practices would take part and that around half had signed up to date. In addition, 16 practices have applied for funding to provide extra in-hours sessions and 17 to provide more sessions during extended hours.

Meanwhile, NHS England are also trying to ease the pressure on GPs by launching a national publicity campaign today (January 20), which will encourage older patients to visit a pharmacist for minor ailments.

Called The Earlier, The Better, the campaign is aimed at people aged over 65 and will involve posters at bus stops, on bill boards and in shopping centres and supermarkets, as well as adverts in newspapers and on the radio.

According to NHS England, pharmacists can give advice on helping older people find medication for minor problems such as coughs, colds and wheezing, which would relieve the pressure on GP practices to treat the more serious conditions.