Sid Valley Practice introduces new Care Compass system to improve access to care
Sid Valley Practice is introducing a new system for patients to request appointments and advice as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to care and manage increasing demand. From Wednesday 4 February 2026, all patient requests will be handled through a new approach known as Care Compass. The change follows patient feedback about long waits for GP appointments and difficulties seeing a usual GP.
A spokesperson for the Practice said
“We recognise that changes to services can cause concern and want to reassure patients that these changes are driven by a desire to support both patients and staff as effectively as possible. They are designed to help manage rising demand in a sustainable way, while continuing to provide safe, high-quality care.
We are optimistic that Care Compass will be a positive change for Sid Valley. Many local practices have already introduced similar models and report good outcomes for both patient experience and staff wellbeing. By learning from these examples, the Practice aims to continue improving how care is delivered locally.”
From 4th February, all GP appointment requests and administrative enquiries must be submitted using an online AccuRx form. Each request will be reviewed by a GP within one working day, ensuring patients are guided to the most appropriate care promptly. In line with NHS guidance, patients can still contact the practice via the website, the NHS App, by phone, or in person.
Care Compass has been designed to be inclusive. Patients without internet access can phone or visit the practice, where staff will complete the form on their behalf. The system is not intended for emergencies. Patients with serious or life-threatening symptoms should call 999, attend A&E, or contact NHS 111 when the practice is closed.
Urgent same-day needs will be managed by a multidisciplinary team including GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Paramedics, once requests have been clinically triaged. A walk-in Minor Injury service is available from 8am to 6pm for injuries sustained within the previous 48 hours.
Patients will continue to benefit from the wider practice team, including GPs, pharmacists, practice nurses, first-contact physiotherapists, and a mental health and wellbeing team, helping ensure they see the right professional first time.
Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt noted that “more than 90 per cent of surgeries have now abolished the old ‘list’ system, in which each GP was dedicated to their own list of patients.”
Despite national pressures on general practice, Sid Valley Practice is proud to have retained a named GP system, and remains committed to continuity of care where clinically appropriate, particularly for patients with long-term or complex conditions.
To support the transition, the current online form will be switched off from 1 February 2026, and advance bookings for the weeks following 4 February will pause temporarily. Appointment requests will reopen via Care Compass from 4 February. Patients are asked, where possible, to limit routine requests from 19 January.
The Practice will also host two patient engagement sessions on Thursday 22nd January, the first at 3pm in the St Theresa’s Church Hall and the second at 6.30pm at the Beacon Medical Practice, to answer questions and gather feedback.
