We have listened carefully to feedback in our daily contact with patients and also from the feedback from our recent patient survey reports about problems with our previous telephone system.

To that end, on Wed 17 Jan 2023 a new cloud based telephone system was installed and switched on at the surgery. This meets the new standards expected by the NHS for GP telephone systems.

Hopefully, this new telephone system will address some of the shortcomings of our previous system and also some problems we were experiencing when patients reported they were being cut off in the queue.

The new telephone system has a call back feature which gives callers the option to receive an automated call back whilst retaining their position in the call queue.  We hope this new feature is helpful, particularly when calling at busy times.  The number of calls in the queue and the time it takes to deal with these calls will obviously determine the time before a call gets to the front of the queue and the automated call back occurs.  

Sadly the new telephone system does not provide us with extra staff to answer calls nor create additional appointments to give to patients; however, patients wishing to call to cancel an appointment (which frees it up for other patients) no longer have to wait in the queue but can instead leave a message of in the cancelled appointments voice mailbox, listen carefully to the new message for this option.  This facility is available 24/7.

Please note, NO other messages should be left on this appointment cancellation mailbox as they will not be actioned.

Of course, if you do not wish to use the telephone to contact us, you can use our online contact facility below.  Please use the correct option when selecting either an admin request eg sicknote, repeat prescription requests etc, or a medical request. 

The UK Health Security Agency is now reporting that flu (influenza) is now circulating in the community.

Its not too late to get vaccinated.

The seasonal flu vaccination campaign commenced in earnest during September and the vast majority of those eligible and who wanted the vaccine have now had it.  While FLU is now circulating in the community, it is not too late for those who have not yet had the vaccine but still wish to have it, we do still FLU Vaccines available for those who are eligible.

Please contact reception to book an appointment and get protected with the FLU vaccine.  This is especially important for those people in clinical at risk groups - if you are not sure if this is you, then please ask at reception.

Measles is circulating in the UK.

Measles is extremely infectious. It can cause serious illness and be fatal.

Symptoms of measles

 Measles symptoms include:

• high fever

• sore red, watery eyes

• coughing

• a runny nose

• aching and feeling generally unwell

• a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the first symptoms

Protecting yourself from measles

To protect yourself and those around you from measles:

 • Make sure your children get 2 MMR vaccines on time – the first at 12 months of age and the second at 3 years, 4 months

• if you or your children missed these vaccines, it’s not too late – ask for the free vaccine from your GP if you or your children aren’t up to date

If you think you have measles

• If you have symptoms of measles stay at home and phone your GP or NHS 111.

• Do not attend GP surgeries and A&E departments without informing them that you think you have measles before you visit – you could spread the illness to others.

For further information about measles please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

Additional https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mmr-for-all-general-leaflet is also available.

Do you want to see the record of your appointments with the doctors and nurses, see the letters to/from hospital specialists and your test results without having to wait on the telephone?  Then why not register for the NHS App?

Our telephones are often tied up with extended calls when patients call asking for details contained in medical records.  Why not save your time by accessing this information at a time the suits you and which saves you (and others) from waiting on the phone?

Due to the need for staff training there will be only a limited service, (including limited telephone access) at the surgery on the afternoon of Tuesday 20 February 2024. Thank you for your understanding

Measles is extremely infectious. It can cause serious illness and be fatal.

Symptoms of measles

 Measles symptoms include:

• high fever

• sore red, watery eyes

• coughing

• a runny nose

• aching and feeling generally unwell

• a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the first symptoms

Protecting yourself from measles

To protect yourself and those around you from measles:

 • Make sure your children get 2 MMR vaccines on time – the first at 12 months of age and the second at 3 years, 4 months

• if you or your children missed these vaccines, it’s not too late – ask for the free vaccine from your GP if you or your children aren’t up to date

If you think you have measles

• If you have symptoms of measles stay at home and phone your GP or NHS 111.

• Do not attend GP surgeries and A&E departments without informing them that you think you have measles before you visit – you could spread the illness to others.

For further information about measles please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

Additional https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mmr-for-all-general-leaflet is also available.

The UK Health Security Agency is now reporting that flu (influenza) is now circulating in the community.

Its not too late to get vaccinated.

The seasonal flu vaccination campaign commenced in earnest during September and the vast majority of those eligible and who wanted the vaccine have now had it.  While FLU is now circulating in the community, it is not too late for those who have not yet had the vaccine but still wish to have it, we do still FLU Vaccines available for those who are eligible.

Please contact reception to book an appointment and get protected with the FLU vaccine.  This is especially important for those people in clinical at risk groups - if you are not sure if this is you, then please ask at reception.