Practice Update 22nd Feb 2024

Good Morning, I wanted to provide a quick practice update and explanation of a few things

You will now hear a change to our phone message when you call the surgery when we are full. The message will advise if we are unable to see any more patients that day so hopefully this will ease some frustration for people calling us, waiting in the queue only to be told we have no on the day appointments. In these instances the advice will generally be to contact 111 or for very urgent medical matters attend A&E. For non-urgent matters there are often appointments available in the near future and we may be able to offer one of those. As you all know demand is high and our capacity does have limits.

When we are not full and you need assistance on the day all requests are assessed by our clinicians. So when you call in, our staff will take details from you (this is a doctor approved set of questions) and a clinician will then contact you regarding the next steps.

Also consider using our online service PATCHS which can be found on our website. Many of you use the system already and it seems most people find it helpful and effective. PATCHS is intended for non-urgent clinical matters and administrative matters only.

It would help our patients enormously if people who book appointments and don’t attend could cancel then them. I know we have asked this before but all the measures we have taken in the past have limited effect. Ultimately it is up to people to let us know. In 2023 there were 2129 wasted appointments (approx. 550 hours of appointment time – excluding things like flu clinics). About 45% of these missed appointments were nurse related appointments and 50% were GP or Nurse Practitioner appointments. Please (please!) cancel any appoint in plenty of time to allow someone else to book it.

A reminder about self-care. Our doctors estimate that roughly 10-15% of people they see could have used the information available on the NHS website and looked after themselves with no need to see a clinician then (or in the next few days) – thus freeing the appointment for somebody else. We do recognise that many people when unwell may be uncertain if they need to come to the surgery or not.

If you are an adult that is normally fit and well please consider going to www.nhs.uk/conditions and search for your symptoms. There will be comprehensive advice which explains what do and when you should speak to a pharmacist or the practice. Ultimately, the advice on the website will be the same advice that a GP would give you if you came into the surgery. If the symptoms lasts longer than the NHS website indicates then please of course call us for further advice.

It has just been announced that there will be a spring booster covid vaccination programme. This national programme will occur be between 15th April and 30th June 2024. Eligible patients will be patients 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults and anybody aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed. I can confirm we will be providing the spring boosters here at the surgery. More information to follow regarding how to book.

This update will also be available on our website – please help to share it with people who do not have internet access – it is appreciated.

Best wishes from myself and the team here at the surgery.

Steve Reeves (Manager)