Practice News

Information for Patients

 Dear Patient

We are experiencing a significant increase in demand for appointments, queries and prescriptions. We apologise as this can lead to a delay in answering the telephone or being able to offer appointments and advice in a timely manner.

We are trying to improve access to the surgery for you with new ways of delivering services. Whilst trying to deal with each telephone request appropriately we are limited by the lack of government investment into general practice to meet some of the time demands.

Problems faced by all practices across England:

1. The NHS budget for 2024/25 will grow by 0.2%, well below inflation.
2. Government investment in primary care has fallen from 8.9% (2015/16) to less than 7% (2024/25). This is equivalent to a 7% cut in funding.
3. Your practice receives just £107.57 per year for each patient, or 30 pence per day - less than the cost of an apple.
4. The Government and Integrated Care Boards are increasing the demand on general practice by moving more work from secondary care into the community.
5. The overall population in England is increasing - 53.5 million in 2012 to 57.1 million in 2022.
6. There are fewer GPs due to funding limits. There are 1759 fewer fully qualified full-time GPs compared to 2015. As a result, each full-time GP is responsible for 356 more patients than in 2015.
7. GPs need to supervise other clinical staff, which can reduce appointment availability.
8. People are living longer with more complex health and social care needs.
9. Some GP surgeries are having to close or merge to maintain services to patients.

We are aware that patient satisfaction with the NHS is falling, with difficulty calling GP surgeries a particular problem (satisfaction down from 67.6% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2023).

We are trying our best to provide the service our patients need, but the current staffing and funding crisis felt across general practice in England is severely restricting what we can offer in the timescales NHS England suggests.

Thank you for your understanding.

Devonshire Green Surgery Temporary Closure Notice:

Devonshire Green Medical Centre Is closed for essential maintenance from Monday 12th August to Wednesday 14th August.

We are still taking calls and our Hanover Surgery is open. All appointments are at Hanover.

Practice closure 07.08.2024

IMPORTANT NOTICE :

As you may have heard on the news there are reports of potential threat in the City Centre and surrounding area, our local NHS have also provided information and as such we have decided to close both surgeries at 12.30pm today to protect our patients and our staff. If you have an appointment this afternoon this will now be via telephone call. We apologise for this inconvenience which is beyond our control. Thank you.

Should you need assitance when the practice is closed, please telephone the surgery and the GP Collaborative will be able to help.  Alternatively please call 111.  Please do only call 999 in a genuine medical emergency.

Spring/Summer Newsletter 2024

To download and read the latest version of our newsletter  click here.

We are Changing Clinical Systems

When? 

On 26th April we will go live with our new clinical system called SystmOne. We will move from our old system EMIS Web . We hope this change will benefit all patients and staff to better manage healthcare.

What Do I Need To Do?

Patients are not required to do anything. We will transfer all your medical records from the old system to the new system. During this period of change please be patient with our team.

Online Services

All patients that are signed up to Patient Access will need to sign up (if you haven't already) with the NHS App to access your onlinemedical records. This is because Patient Access is linked to the old clinical system. You can sign up or access the NHS App by going to https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/

Hanover Medical Centre - Closure for essential repairs 22 - 26th January 2024.

Our Hanover Surgery will be closed from Monday 22nd January to Friday 26th January in order to have some essential repairs carried out. The phone lines will remain open and Devonshire Green will also remain open, including on the afternoon of Thursday 25th January.

Health & Wellbeing Roadshow 2023 - 18 May 2023 11am - 1pm

Come along and join us on Devonshire Green for:

• Healthchecks - height, weight and BP
• Pharmacy team
• Health screening
• Support to register with NHS App
• Local organisation information stalls.

There will also be an opportunity to join in with activies such as:

• Tai Chi
• Yoga

 So if you are free do come along! 

Adverse Weather Conditions

Due to todays adverse weather conditions Devonshire Green Medical Centre is CLOSED today 10.03.2023. 

At Hanover Medical Centre  due to todays adverse weather conditions we have a very limited number of staff in working and this will reduce our capacity to take incoming calls, particularly at 8.30am or have both desks operating. 

If you have a routine appointment with the Nurse or Health Care Assistant these are now CANCELLED.  Please DO NOT attend. 

Please only call if it is an urgent health issue and cannot wait. 

Any prescription requests made today may not be processed until Monday morning. 

We will keep you informed of any updates via text and on here. 

Our apologies for any inconvenience. 

Adverse weather conditions

Due to adverse weather condiditons the surgery will be closing at 3.00pm today 09.03.2023

Flu Vaccinations

Flu vaccinations are now available the surgery.  If you are eligble to receive your flu vaccination, please either book online int he age appropriate appointment, or contact the practice to make an appointment.  If you are unsure if you are eligible for vaccination please contact Reception.   

Practice Closures

For our latest Practice Closure click here

Nurse Appointments

We currently have two Practice Nurse vacancies; our availability of Nurse appointments is reduced because of this, and we ask for your patience until we recruit.

It is important that if you need Travel Vaccinations you book this appointment at least a month in advance.

Reception may offer you a Nurse appointment at the out of hours hub if you are able to get there, please do use the facility.

Thank you

Deirdre Malesa

Business Practice Manager

Practice News

We have a new telephone system and a new message.  Please do listen carefully to the options available to ensure that you select the correct option.

Option 1    to order repeat prescriptions call  between 10.30 - 1pm each weekday.

Option 2    for referrals or hospital appointment queries.

Option 3    for queries regarding registrations, insurance, solicitors or any other reports.

Option 4    For GP/Nurse appointments, Reception and any other general enquires.