Flu Vaccine

To book an appointment at the practice for your flu vaccine please call 01457 872228

Click here to check who can have the flu vaccine

Due to COVID-19 we are taking extra precaution to keep you and others safe.

These include:

• running dedicated appointment only clinics
• clinic are held at our Delph branch to minimise contact with others
• social distancing measures and a one way system will be in place
• providing hand sanitising station

You can help by:

• coming alone if possible
• coming at the exact appointment time given
• staying 2 meters away from others
• wearing a face covering
• Please do not attend if on the day if you have COVID-19 or symptoms
  or have had recent contact with the virus

Coronavirus: Schools, education and childcare

Schools are starting again & it’s vital our young people get back into the classroom. More info here https://www.oldham.gov.uk/info/201170/coronavirus/2437/coronavirus_schools_education_and_childcare/

Oldham has seen a significant increase in COVID-19.

New guidelines are in place to save lives & avoid local lockdown. 

More here: www.oldham.gov.uk/coronavirus

Please wear a face covering if you visit the practice

It is important that when patients have an appointment or visit the practice that they wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth.

Face coverings can help contain the Coronavirus, especially when social distancing measures cannot be maintained.  This applies when people have to visit a clinician as it will help us protect our staff and other patients.

The Government have provided information and guidance on how and when face coverings should be used and this includes a useful guide on how people can make their own covering, please click here for more information 

By following these measures local people can help protect themselves and others as we continue to manage the pandemic in Saddleworth.

Online Consultations

Did you know you no longer have to wait on the phone to get the health advice you need? Now, you can use Online Consult or Patient Access to assess your symptoms using online forms and send a message to the practice at any time, day or night. We’ll then review this so that we can advise you on the most appropriate next steps. Click here to get started.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please see the Coronavirus section

ShareforYou

From 17 February 2020, your medical record will be able to be viewed by other health and social care professionals directly involved in your care via a ShareforYou record.

Please visit www.pennineshareforyou.nhs.uk/ for more information.

If you would prefer that we didn't share your record then you can opt out at any time. Please speak to your GP or a member of the reception team.

For more information please watch this short video about ShareforYou: https://youtu.be/mv8eGfsvzZw

Improving the availability of doctors appointments

We recognise that it has be difficult to get an appointment with a doctor.  From Monday the 13th of January 2020 we aim to improve this with a change to our how we appoint you. 

When you ask to be seen the receptionist will ask "why you need to seen".  This is to help get you the most appropriate care.  If your condition can be treated by our Minor Aliment Clinic or the First Contact Physio the reception will offer you an appointment with them. 

If your condition cannot be treated by our Minor Ailment Clinicians or First Contact Physiotherapist our Rapid Assessment Team will look at the information you have provided reception and the practice will contact you with an doctors appointment or advice from the Rapid Assessment Team.

Shingles vaccination Who’s eligible?

• Aged 70 years. Plus anyone in their 70s who was born after 1 September 1942 and has not yet had the vaccine.
• Aged 78 years.  Plus anyone aged 79 years old who has missed out on the vaccine.

Protect yourself from the pain of shingles – speak to the Practice about having your vaccine today!

Go direct to a physio without seeing the doctor!

First contact Physiotherapist are available at the Practice. 

The physio will:

• Access you and diagnose what's happening
• Give expert advice on how best to manage your condition
• Refer you on to a specialist service if necessary

Ask reception for more information.

Help Us Help You, GP Access

NHS England and Public Health England are highlighting that appointments are now available in the evenings and weekends through local NHS services.  By utilising the evening and weekend appointments, you can stay well, prevent an illness getting worse, access the correct healthcare when they need it and get well again sooner.  For more information visit www.nhs.uk/GPaccess.

Oldham's Evening and Weekend appointments - 7 day service

If you would prefer to see a GP in the evening or weekend,  Non-urgent / routine appointments are available at a selection of location in Oldham to book call 0161 934 2827

What are we doing to improve?

Background

The Practice and Patient Participation Group look at a variety of sources of feedback from patients (National GP patient survey, NHS website reviews, Friends & family test results and patient’s comments and complaints).  Two common themes are:

• Improving Access by the phone
• Improving Access to GP appointments

We are listening and working hard to find the solutions to improve. This article will cover what the practice is doing to address these issues.

Improving Access by the phone

• Working with Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to obtain analysis of current phone system
• Increasing the number of staff answering phones
• Promoting online appointment booking and requesting of repeat prescriptions- 20% of patients are now registered
• Piloting text messaging patients their test result service
• Promoting online access to medical record for patient with Long Term Conditions

Improving Access to GP appointments

• Increasing the number of GP telephone consultations offered
• Developing the roles of Community Matrons and Clinical Pharmacist
• Promoting alternative to a GP appointment to patients
• Reducing unnecessary follow-up of patients (analysing high frequency attendees)
• Exploring the possibility of implementing GP triage & online triage
• Exploring the possibility of group consultation for Long term Condition

Other things we are exploring which we think may help

• Developing the Care Navigator role within Reception / Health Care Assistants
• Introducing social prescribing
• Reducing the number of unnecessary blood tests (analysing repetition & low clinical value)

Changes to Ordering Repeat Prescription Online

Our Old repeat prescription ordering service will not be available after the 9 July 2018.  It is being replaced by Patient Access, please register for Patient Access at your earliest convenience.