Improvements to Access for patients – Introducing ANIMA from 2/6/2025
Hanham Health will launch a new way to access GP appointments and services ‘online’ at Pilning Surgery from 2nd June 2025.
Our plans fully align with the Governments plans for ‘Modern General Practice Access’.
To meet NHS England requirements and help us manage patient demand more effectively, a new online system (ANIMA) will be implemented that allows us to prioritise patient requests according to clinical need and improve the way in which we communicate with our patients throughout the appointment booking process.
ANIMA will allow patients to submit their requests online, have their request assessed by a clinician in our Patient Access Team and then be invited to book a convenient appointment of their choice without needing to use the telephone. Patients who use the online system will be able to receive updates and check on their request without needing to telephone the Surgery.
Patients who do not have online access or prefer to use the telephone may continue to do so. Requests will still need to be completed, but the receptionist can do this on your behalf. The Patient Access Team will assess all requests, ensuring patient needs are met in the most appropriate and efficient way and that no patient is disadvantaged. If you have an urgent clinical need, you will be prioritised no matter how or when you contact us.
Those who prefer to use the telephone will also benefit as waiting times will reduce as a result of improving our online services, and patients will no longer be treated on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis.
The more patients who are able to use our online system frees up telephone capacity for those who really need it, so we strongly encourage patients to access the services online wherever possible.
More information and links on how to access our new system will be published on our website shortly, and posters in the Surgery, to help patients prepare for the changeover.
Please note that to implement the changes to our new system, we may have limited capacity for routine appointments before June 2025 and will need to prioritise urgent appointment capacity. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause however it is necessary to make the change to our new system for all patients to benefit from June 2025.
Thank you for your support and understanding. Please revisit this site on or after Monday 2nd June when the link to ANIMA will be activated