The Weavers Practice Notice Board

 

NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM:

A new digital telephone system is being installed on Tuesday 23rd of April and is scheduled to last 3 days (23rd, 24th & 25th).

The current telephones will be working as normal during the installation process, but there may be a slight delay during the actual switch over to the new system which is currently scheduled for Wednesday 24^th of April between 11am & 2pm.

We are excited to have the new system installed as it includes a “Call Back” facility which means you do not need to wait in the queue for your call to be answered – if you select the ” Call Back” option, we will simply call you back once your position in the queue has been reached providing a better patient experience when contacting the practice.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your patience during these few days as we get use to the new system as well.

 

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your patience during these few days as we get use to the new system as well.

 Thank you.

Protected Learning time:

Dear Patient’s

We are closed on Tuesday 14th of May from 1pm-6.30pm for Protected Learning Time.  This enables practices to provide dedicated training to their staff and to discuss and plan ways that will allow them to improve services, meet demand and support the wellbeing of staff.  ​

For all life-threatening medical emergencies please call 999.​

If you feel your request is urgent and cannot wait until the following day provisions have been made for urgent triage via 111. ​

For all routine requests for results, appointments, prescriptions, and general queries please call back on Wednesday 15th of May. ​

Alternatively, please complete an online triage request (PATCHS) via our website and we will respond within 2 working days. If you do not have access to the internet, please call us back on Wednesday 15th of May. ​

Appointments:

From the 8^{th of} January 2024, our appointment booking system is changing. Receptionists have been asked by the partners to Care Navigate all appointment requests to enable us to offer patients more appointment options and signpost patients to the most appropriate care for their needs.

For example, you may be asked to “Self-Care”, see the Physio or attend a local Pharmacy for a consultation in the first instance as not all problems are suitable for a GP.

To provide more flexibility for our patients, we have access to a local “Extended Access” service which have GP and Nurse appointments in the evenings Monday to Friday until 8pm and on Saturdays until 4pm which will also be offered to you.

Please remember that on the day appointment requests are for SINGLE URGENT ACUTE problems only.

Elderly people being scammed in East Lancs. 

 

NHS APP:

If you’re a patient at our practice, you can use the NHS App to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

It doesn’t replace existing services. You can still contact us in the usual ways.

But, once you have verified your identity in the app, you will have easy, 24/7 access to a growing range of health services and information. You can:

• order repeat prescriptions
• access NHS 111 online
• find NHS services
• view your health records
• book appointments
• and much more…

If you have any problems using the NHS App, you can select ‘help’ in the top right-hand corner of the app or visit nhs.uk/helpmeapp.

 Seasonal Flu Vaccines:

Appointments are now available to book for all eligible patients. Where possible please book your appointment on line via the NHS App. This will help keep the phones free for other patients to access us for medical queries. you can of course call into the surgery and book an appointment with one of our reception team.

Carers:

If you a re registered carer, or care for a family member or friend please let us know.

Targeted Lung Health check Programme

Supporting earlier diagnosis of lung cancer 

What is a Targeted Lung Health Check?

• Targeted Lung Health Checks (TLHC) are being offered in our area to support with the early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
• Those between the ages of 55 and 74 who are current or former smokers will be invited to a TLHC.
• The check compromises of two stages, the first is a telephone call with a health professional who will assess your risk of lung cancer. If you are deemed to be high risk, you will be invited for a low dose chest CT. The TLHC service will organise this, as required.
• The TLHC Programme is currently being rolled out across England. Initially being available in areas of England with the highest lung cancer mortality rates but is expected to be available nationally by 2024-25

For further information:

Roy Castle Lung Screening Information

https://lungcheckslsc.co.uk/

Why it’s important

• Lung cancer often goes undetected during its early stages, due to there often being no signs of symptoms. Less than 20% of people diagnosed with lung cancer survive for 5 years or more.
• TLHCs help detect cancer at an earlier stage, when curative treatment is more possible.
• To date, 80% of lung cancers found by the TLHC programme have been at stage 1 or stage 2, compared to 30% without this kind of intervention.

Repeat Prescriptions:

Did you know you can manage repeat prescriptions from The Weavers Practice in the NHS App?

You can easily choose where your prescriptions are sent. So, if you know you’ll be away from home or you are moving home, you can change your nominated pharmacy from within the app.

You can also order your prescription at any time that suits you. There’s no need to wait to join a telephone queue or wait until the GP surgery opens.

It’s easy to use, and, if you hit a snag, you can go to ‘Help’ in the top right-hand corner of the app or visit nhs.uk/helpmeapp.

Find out more about the NHS App at: www.nhs.uk/nhsapp.

 

Booking an Appointment:

Did you know general practice has a range of healthcare professionals who can help with health issues?

Practices across Lancashire and South Cumbria are supporting the #RightPersonRightCare campaign.

General practice now offers much more than just being able to see your GP. Specialists such as Physiotherapists, Local Pharmacies and Social prescribers can give comprehensive advice on specific health issues.

 

Our trained receptionists may offer you an appointment with a healthcare professional other than your GP. This could mean you get the right, specialist care for your condition, save you time waiting for an appointment with a GP and help your local NHS manage the current extraordinary demand.

If you think another healthcare professional can help, please mention this to our helpful reception team when getting in touch.

Find out more by visiting healthierlsc.co.uk/primarycare.

 

PATCHS

PATCHS is the new easy way for you to contact your GP practice online. PATCHS has been designed by GP’s to make it easier for you to contact your practice and save you time.

You can use PATCHS to contact the surgery for health advice, repeat prescriptions, request fit notes and more. Some of the benefits of using PATCHS include:

• Being able to make requests in your own time
• Avoid telephone queues
• A quicker response time (depending on your query)

PATCHS can also help patients who struggle to contact the practice using the telephone or in-person. This includes patients who have hearing or speaking impairments or patients who suffer with anxiety.

For more information visit: help.patchs.ai

Patient Participation Group (PPG)

We are currently inviting patients to join our Patient Participation Group (PPG) which is run by volunteer patients and a member of the practice management team.

Our aim is to help patients get the best service from their practice, by helping to strengthen the relationship between the practice and our patients and to improve and shape the services within the practice, leading to a better patient experience.

If this is something you would like to be involved with and would like to join our group please email the practice on lscicb-el.weaverspractice@nhs.net putting PPG in the subject line, or speak to a member of our reception team.

Your commitment to the group would be to attend a monthly meeting, lasting around 90 minutes. Each meeting will have an agenda, where you will be able to give us feedback (positive and negative) to help improve our services, provide inspiration for new idea’s, and be involved in relevant decision making.

ONLINE GP RECORD ACCESS  2023

From November this year, patients using the NHS app will be able to view all new entries made in their GP records. This is an NHS initiative to give patients greater access to their health information. Upon reviewing your records, you may feel that certain notes made by our clinicians are incorrect and you may wish to request that they are removed.

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 state that an individual has the ‘right to be forgotten’, which is sometimes called the ‘right to erasure’, however medical records are slightly different in that they hold special category data.  The GP’s (or other clinician’s) opinion at the time will not alter, therefore we cannot remove information simply at the patient’s request.

In line with the General Medical Council’s (GMC) guidance, Doctors have an obligation to:

• Keep clear, accurate and legible records.
• Make records at the time the events happen, or as soon as possible afterwards.

Source: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/good-medical-practice—english-20200128_pdf-51527435.pdf

The NHS constitution states that as a patient, “You have the right to have any factual inaccuracies in your health record corrected, however there are limited exceptions to this right, there is no obligation to amend something in a health record that is a professional opinion”, i.e. the GP’s opinion at the time.

Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplements-to-the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-handbook-to-the-nhs-constitution-for-england#patients-and-the-public-your-rights-and-the-nhs-pledges-to-you

This also applies to data that forms part of your medical record, for example letters and forms issued by other Healthcare organisations involved in your care that have supplied copies to us as your General Practice/registered GP.  Data on your record is only to be used in relation to direct care purposes, and if considered to be used for anything else, it would need to have the relevant lawful basis and other data protection principles applied.

Should you request any corrections or redactions we will review your request and if we decide we are not able to comply we will inform you of this decision.  We will also ensure we add details of your request to your record and the reasons why we have not been able to comply. Please make any such requests in writing to: Practice Manager, The Weavers Practice, High St, Rishton BB1 4LA or email: lscicb-el.weaverspractice@nhs.net

Understanding your Health Record

You can view some commonly used abbreviations here, which may help you understand your records.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-app-help-and-support/health-records-in-the-nhs-app/abbreviations-commonly-found-in-medical-records/

Whilst we will endeavour to respond to any queries about your records, please bear in mind that we must prioritise our workload and deal with patients that are unwell and need us.  You can book routine telephone calls online via the NHS app should you wish to discuss a particular issue, but please do not use appointments purely to request something is removed from or changed within your notes. As above, please contact us in writing, and we will liaise with the clinical team and respond within an appropriate time frame – as with most administrative requests this can be up to 28 days.

Covid -19:

Proof of your vaccination status is available via the NHS app. If you do not have access to the app you can call 119 (5 days after your completed course) and ask for a letter to be sent to you.

Any vaccinations which are not showing on your certificate please ring (119 option 4) and ask the agent to make a referral to the Vaccine Data Resolution Service to resolve any missing vaccine information and bring your COVID pass up to date.  Someone from the service should get back to you within 5 working days.

Please do not ring the Surgery to request this information.

EMAILS:

* With immediate effect* The Weavers Practice is no longer accepting requests for medications, work related notes or appointments by email. We are also not accepting any clinical photographs by email that have not been requested by our nurses or GPs so we would request that you contact the practice by phone to have an appropriate appointment made for you.  If your email is regarding appointment requests, clinical advice, work related notes or medications then please ring the practice on 01254 884217.

ZERO TOLERANCE:

Please note, our staff are here to help you. Any form of abuse or threatening behaviour, either verbal or physical will not be tolerated. If any of our staff members are subjected to abuse in any form – service will be refused and may result in you being removed from our list. Serious incidents will be reported to the police and you may be prosecuted.

UPDATED PRIVACY NOTICE: Please read.

The Weavers Practice is supporting vital health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. You can choose whether your confidential information is used for these purposes. For more information about this, please see the following link:

General Practice Data for Planning and Research: GP Practice Privacy Notice – NHS Digital

Our full updated privacy notice can be found on the “Quick Links” section under “Confidentiality” on our home page.

Data collections start from the 31^st July 2021, if you would like more information or would like to register your “OPT OUT” preferences. please copy and paste the link  into your browser: https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters