All posts by Nadia Safdar

Saturday arrangements from April 2022

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Dear Patients,

From Saturday 26th March, our opening hours are changing in line with the national recommendations for general practice. Rest assured that weekend access to appointments will continue to be provided by the Bromley GP Alliance (BGPA).  From here on, please be aware that our reception and phone lines will be closed on Saturdays. Our opening times will be Mon- Fri 8am-630pm.

From the 1st Oct 2022, there will be an enhanced offering of weekend appointments provided through the Orpington primary care network (PCN). Further details on this will be announced in due course.

Important Information regarding National Data Opt-Out 

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National Data Opt-Out

Data Choices – National Data Opt-out policy

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. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

Useful Links / Downloads

https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/our-work/keeping-patient-data-safe/how-we-look-after-your-health-and-care-information/your-information-choices/opting-out-of-sharing-your-confidential-patient-information

URGENT UPDATE RE ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS IN LINE WITH PRIME MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

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  • Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday evening, general practice has been working tirelessly to ensure all patients who are eligible are offered a Covid booster by 31st December, this will continue into the New Year.
  • Many of practice staff will be redeployed during this time to administer Covid booster vaccinations. This may mean that any appointments you have in January 2022 for routine care may be cancelled. There may also be a delay in general practice administration.
  • It is important to understand that your surgery remains open during this time. If you are in need of urgent care or support, your surgery team should still be your first port of call for help and urgent appointments will be available.
  • Please bear with your practice during this time as they work hard to vaccinate as many people as possible.

PLEASE REST ASSURED NO APPOINTMENTS WILL BE CANCELLED THIS YEAR!

Urgent Treatment Centres and Emergency Departments

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Please note that Urgent Treatment Centres and Emergency Departments in Bromley are currently experiencing significant demand. If you have an urgent but non-life-threatening medical need, please use the NHS 111 website first https://111.nhs.uk/  rather than going straight to A&E. NHS 111 can book you in to be seen safely in A&E, Urgent Treatment Centres, GP surgeries, pharmacies, emergency dental services and walk-in clinics. Contacting NHS 111 first will also help the NHS to keep you safe by maintaining social distancing and ensure that you receive the right care in the right place, in a more timely and safe way. However, you should still dial 999 if you have a life-threatening illness or injury.

 

For further advice on when to visit urgent care centres or emergency departments please click the links below:

 

When to visit an urgent treatment centre

 

When to visit an emergency department

Accessing your GP practice

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We thank all our patients for your continued support of the practice and patience during this difficult time that has affected us all.

The landscape of General Practice has changed significantly since COVID. Like all practices we have seen a surge in demand for appointments. We do however have a limited number of resources and appointments which means that we have to work more efficiently.

BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT 

This does mean changing the way we offer our appointments.

  • To help us streamline our appointment we are asking all our patients to complete an e-consultation where possible.
  • This is assessed and triaged by a GP who will be able to allocate appointments based on clinical need.
  • This has meant we can prioritise those patients who need us most urgently.
  • If a GP/ clinician feels a clinical need for a face-to-face appointment, then you would be offered one.
  • Please be assured that we have conducted face-to-face consultations during the pandemic and continue to do so now.

 

  • TELEPHONE LINES We understand that our phone lines do get busy and our reception team work tirelessly to answer all calls. We would encourage as many people as possible to use our online e-consult platform.

    NHS APP 

    We also encourage you to use the ‘NHS’ app which allows you to view your medical records. The more people that use the online platform means less busy phone lines allowing us to answer to patients in a timely manner.

    NURSING APPOINTMENTS 

    Our practice Nurses continue to see patients face to face for dressings, childhood immunisations, some injections/vaccinations (non-travel) and cervical smears.

    CLINICAL PHARMACIST 

    We are fortunate to have two new senior prescribing clinical pharmacists who have joined our team to help with reviewing medications for patients with chronic conditions.