All posts by Lesley Vernest

Enhanced access

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From 1st October 2022, CGMC is offering improved access to appointments and other general practice services.

‘Enhanced Access’ means:

·         As a Network, we are providing appointments from 6:30pm until 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am-5pm on Saturdays.

·         Appointments will be both bookable in advance (up to 14 days) and available for same day bookings

·         A mix of services will be available within these additional hours with access to the range of health professionals working in the primary care team, including, but not limited to, GP Appointments, Screening Appointments, Phlebotomy, and Vaccinations.

·         There will be a choice of ways to access appointments depending on clinical need, such as telephone, video appointment, online consultation, or face to face.  You may be seen or spoken to by the following Healthcare Professional: GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse, Clinical Pharmacist or Health Care Assistant

Our Enhanced Access Service is provided in Partnership with Woodbridge Medical Centre.  When a face-to-face appointment is needed, this will be at the Woodbridge Medical Centre.

The exact mix of what is provided through this enhanced offer will be determined based on local health needs, current usage of out of hours services and the views of patients.

Patients will be able to book appointments for weekday evenings and Saturday between 9am and 5pm. This should provide greater flexibility for patients, and expand access to routine and same-day appointments with our full clinical team.

Data Protection Laws are changing. If you have not permitted the sharing of your patient record with other GP practices, this will prevent you from accessing week day evening and weekend appointments that are held at our Weekend Plus Hubs. If you would like to change your consent to share your patient record with other organisations that may care for you, please contact Reception.”

Shortage of blood test bottles

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Blood tests – routine blood tests postponed
A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests.
Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems, will still get one but where your clinician feels that it is appropriate to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.
Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.
If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally.

Weekend access and 111

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       During the winter months, Covid infections have risen sharply in London and this has led to increased demand for hospital care.
  • Please be aware the 111 service is currently under extreme pressure in our area. GP surgeries are open from 08:00 to 18:30 (core hours), except on weekends and bank holidays.
  • Please call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk  when the GP surgeries are closed
  • If you have a medical emergency, please dial 999 as usual

Urgent and routine problems

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“The NHS is very busy responding to the coronavirus pandemic and, at certain times, your GP practice may need to prioritise patients with the most urgent health needs. 

If you have a health issue that isn’t urgent, advice is available on the NHS website www.nhs.uk or NHS app or you can speak to your local pharmacist. You can also use e-consult which is available through our practice website . 

Please continue to attend tests, vaccinations and screening when invited.  

www.111.nhs.uk is also available 24/7 for urgent health advice or by calling 111, and 999 is for emergencies.”   ‘

Current situation

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Dear Patients

As you will be aware, the Covid rates of infection have increased to significant levels in our area.

At the same time we need to maximise our work of vaccinating patients with the Covid vaccine.

We have been advised to free up time with our team to help look after patients with emergencies and protect patients with the vaccine.

If your problem is an emergency then please call 999

If you need to contact the practice with other symptoms or queries please use the eConsult  link below.

Your online form will be reviewed by a clinician and you will be contacted back with a text.

You will either be contacted by the surgery to ask you more questions or you will receive a text on what to do next.

Thanks CGMC