COVID-19 and children
At this challenging time, it is extremely important for you to know that COVID-19 is unlikely to make your child unwell, but they like everyone else might be infectious so staying at home when well remains the message.
However, all the ‘normal’ illnesses that can make children severely unwell still remain and there is a major risk that parents may delay bringing their child to the attention of a healthcare professionals even if they are unwell because of concerns about COVID-19. GPs and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done for children.
If you are not sure if your child is unwell and whether they need to be seen, click here call 111 or contact your GP. For information about crying babies, click here. If your child appears severely unwell and advice is not quickly available call 999 or take them to ED as you would in other times.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have produced a very helpful infographic on accessing the right care for your unwell child.
New Appointment System from 20th July 2020
In response to feedback that we have received from our patients, and from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), we have undertaken a comprehensive review of our appointment system. We recognised that patients were waiting too long on the phone to get through to make an appointment and all too often the appointments were fully booked. To improve the situation, we are moving to a Total Triage system, using the eConsult system.
eConsult is an online system that prompts patients to provide information that describes their current medical concern. Patients will be asked questions about their symptoms and it will only take a few minutes to complete.
When you have submitted the questionnaire, the form will be received by the surgery via this online system and you will receive a copy via email. This email will contain the unique reference number relating to the form and is for possible future use in the event of the surgery having to be contacted at a later date.
We will aim to respond to requests by the end of the next working day.
We may respond in a variety of ways, based on information provided or the urgency of the condition:
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If appropriate, an appointment with a clinician may be offered, either on the day or for a later date.
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The patient may receive a phone call from a Health Professional at the surgery. This is because a face-to-face appointment may not be needed to resolve the issue and will save a visit to the surgery.
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The patient may have a video consultation with the Clinician; again this may be the most appropriate way of dealing with the issue and avoid an unnecessary visit to the Practice.
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You may be referred directly for investigations or a hospital appointment to further investigate symptoms.
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You may be directed to another Health Professional outside the surgery, as they may be best placed to offer the advice or support needed. This could include local pharmacy support, or other services such as physiotherapy.
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You may be directed towards appropriate self-help advice.
Note: At all times we will protect our patients’ privacy and will not discuss personal matters unless we are certain we are speaking to the correct patient or someone authorised to speak on their behalf.
What if I can’t or don’t want to use the eConsult service?
For patients unable to use or access eConsult, the Care Navigator team will complete the eConsult heath questionnaire over the phone with you.
Can I see the doctor of my choice?
If you want to speak to a particular GP, please submit an eConsult on one of their usual working days.
Blood Tests
Please do not book a blood test unless one of our doctors or nurses has asked you to. This is because we have to put the details on your record before your appointment so that the clinician taking your blood knows which tests your doctor/nurse has asked for.
Changes to Appointment Booking
We have changed the way we book our appointments in response to the latest Government guidance on COVID-19.
All patients who request any type of appointment will first be telephoned by a clinician. The clinician will assess you and determine how best to meet your care needs.
If you do not need to come into the surgery, you will be given the appropriate self-care advice, treatment and information on what to do if you become more unwell. You will be offered an appointment if it is essential for you to be seen face to face.
Thank you for your cooperation during this time.
Telephone appointments
Should a telephone appointment be required, you will be called either immediately, later on the same day or by the next day at the latest depending on the nature of the problem.
Face-to-face appointments
Should a face-to-face appointment be required, our dedicated admin team will call you to arrange a time and day that is convenient for you. This will usually be the same or next day. Where possible and requested, this will be with the clinician of your choice.
When we are closed
111 is the free, easy to remember number to call when you need help or advice urgently when it’s not a life-threatening situation, if we are closed and you cannot contact us.
If you or someone else experiences severe chest pain, loss of blood or suspected broken bones, or any other life threatening illness go to your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999.
Find out more about out of hours services and our opening hours and holidays.
Home visits
Please help us to help you and our other patients. Our doctors are able to see several patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do a single home visit. For this reason, we ask our patients to come to the surgery where required, and we also offer video and telephone consultations where appropriate. Find our more about home visits.
How you can help us
Please be on time for your appointment, this helps us to run on schedule and to give you the maximum amount of time available. Importantly, please let us know as soon as possible if you no longer require your appointment via the our website, text reply to your appointment reminder or by calling us. We can then offer the appointment to someone else. Please see our policy regarding missed appointments.
I want to help myself
Select from the following categories to find information about self-care, local services to which you can self-refer and other health information and action plans.
