Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
IMPORTANT BOWEL SCREENING INFORMATION
PATIENT INFORMATION - 17/03/2022
Please be aware we are operating with very limited members of staff across all departments due to Covid. Therefore, we request you only contact the surgery for any urgent matters at this time.
Please also be aware we may need to cancel clinics over the next couple of weeks at short notice. If your appointment is affected we will contact you.
The remaining staff are doing their very best to accommodate demands and we would appreciate your understanding and kindness at this time.
Thank you for your support
PATIENT INFORMATION:
COVID SYMPTOMS SCREENING
All patients will be screened by our reception team for covid symptoms. If you have any symptoms of covid you will be advised to book for a PCR test by calling 119 or online https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.
Whilst you await the result of your PCR test, you will be offered a telephone appointment with a clinician, who will be able to assess you. Once you have received a negative result and if you still need to be seen you will be able to request a face to face appointment.
Please do not attend the surgery for any reason if you have any symptoms of covid this is to protect our vulnerable patients and staff
Main Covid symptoms are:
High temperature
A new continuous cough
A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
YOUR DATA MATTERS
Your Data Matters to the NHS Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. In May 2018, the strict rules about how this data can and cannot be used were strengthened. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.
You can choose whether your confidential patient information is used for research and planning. To find out more visit:
nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters
Primary Care Eye Service
If you have sudden onset eye problems, floaters, vision loss or minor eye injuries you can access NHS funded care at an opticians in your area. Find the nearest service and contact by phone to make an appointment. This way you can see a specialist who can assess you and can make onward referrals if your condition is more serious. See the leaflet below for more information.
Accessing Care from your GP
We are very much open for business and we would encourage you to ring us when you feel unwell. During this difficult time where we are seeing high demand on our services and often low staffing levels. Despite this, we are still carrying out safe routine care for our patients. This includes annual reviews for patients with long term conditions, routine childhood vaccinations, cervical screening and pill checks.
The way you access help and advice from us has changed a great deal since the beginning of the year and there are some misconceptions about how GP pratices are working. We have heard feedback from some patients who believe "you can't see a GP anymore". So lets set the record straight.
- The GP will always try to help you by talking about your concern or health condition over the phone initially.
- If the GP needs to see you in person they will book a suitable face to face appointment for you either the same day or soon after.
So once again, we would urge you to contact us when you are unwell and need advice. We are here. #NHShereforyou
Call Waiting times
It has been highlighted to us that patients are finding it increasingly difficult to get through to us on the phone. Here is a bit about why call waiting times are long and what we are doing to reduce it.
Our Reception Team are working tirelessly to answer as quickly as they can as well as completing all their other daily duties which include processing prescription requests, answering emails, scanning clinical documents, tasks from GPs, stocking clinical rooms, chaperoning, maintaining cleaning rota of high touch surfaces are among a few.
Why does it take so long to get through on the phone?
- Reduced staffing - We have had to close one site and had most of our Reception team working from the Grange and at home. At times we have had half the usual number of reception staff.
- Prescriptions requests and queries - Since the start of the pandemic we have been taking prescription requests by phone to reduce footfall in the surgery. This has had a dramatic impact on the volume of calls received on a daily basis.
- The team are answering an average of 1300 calls per day. This can be as many as 1900 on a Monday.
What is the surgery doing about this?
We now have a full reception team back and we are re-opening Ashfield Medical Centre Monday 21st September.
From 21st September we will no longer be taking prescription requests by phone. You can order online or post through the post box at Ashfield or the prescription box in the foyer at the Grange.
What can I do to help?
- Use our online portal for queries and non urgent medical advice. The GP may be able to help without seeing you in person (You can even send a picture) You will receive a response the same day if your query is submitted by 1pm. Go to https://wsp.psf-live.co.uk/7191/#/portal
- Register for online services to order your repeat prescriptions.
We hope that these measures will ease the numbers of calls in the coming weeks but in the meantime please bear with us.
Online Consultations Update
We have done our first week of online GP consultations and had some brilliant feedback from patients about the service.
Our average response time for queries before 12pm has been 30 minutes
Patients have been able to obtain treatment and advice without coming to the surgery
We have found that patients who consult online but still need to be seen in person by a GP take less time to be seen due the detailed information given online
Keeping in touch
Visit us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Instagram
We now on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram where you can keep up to date with important practice information, public health information and local services.
Measles Outbreak
We are celebrating International Nurses Day!
Our Nusring Team is such an important part of our practice and their work makes a huge difference to the lives of our patients. The team is made up of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice nurses and Healthcare assistants. Their work involves managing chronic diseases, blood tests, NHS health checks, ECGs, ear syringing, cervical screening, wound care and much more.
Here are a few words from our lovely Nurses.
Natalie, Practice Nurse
"My role as a Practice Nurse allows me to build strong clinical relationships with my patient's."
Louise, Healthcare Assistant
"I enjoy being a part of the nursing team as I want to make a difference to the health and well-being of our patients. I feel I can brighten up their day."
Extended Access appointments - Seacroft Hospital and St Georges Minor Injuries Unit
To access a routine GP appointment during the out of hours period, Monday to Friday 6.30 - 8.00pm, Saturdays 8 and to 2pm and Sundays 8am to midday, please call 0113 206 2049. Outside of these hours, please contact Ashfield Medical Centre to book.