Warm Spaces

Could you spend a short time to help someone?

Do you know someone who is worried about putting their heating on?

Do you know someone who would benefit from going somewhere local and having a chance to warm up and meet others?

Are they maybe too nervous to venture out on their own for the first time?

Could you encourage them to visit their local Warm Space? Could you go with them for the first time?

There are warm and inviting places all over Hounslow Borough just waiting for someone cold and lonely to arrive and warm up..

Please help to spread the word and help someone today.

 

Please see the posters below. If you’d like to download these yourself and view them more clearly, please click on this link: Warm spaces – Winter Checklist

 

 

PATCHS: New online consultation tool

We are pleased to announce that we launched a new online consultation tool called PATCHS which replaced eConsult and improves the experience for patients.

The new online consultation service offers a secure, simple and flexible way for patients and carers to contact the practice – it will not replace face-to-face appointments, it is in addition to routine contact with practice. This should not be used for emergencies when you should contact 999 or visit A&E.

By registering you will have easy access to a range of services from your computer or smartphone, including:

• reporting symptoms to your GP
• accessing health advice

 

You can register with PATCHS at https://patchs.ai/practice/stmargaretsmedicalpractice or by clicking the banner on our website home page. All you will need to do is provide an email address and set up a password.

For more information on PATCHS you can visit their website.

 

COMMUNITY PHARMACY CONSULTATION SERVICE

Did you know…?

We are participating in a new approach to improve access for patients to GP appointments. The aim is to direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional, which may be a GP or a pharmacist.

If your symptoms could be resolved by a booked consultation with the pharmacist instead of the GP, you will be given a same-day referral to a pharmacy of your choice.

We think this is a good thing. Once you see how great your local pharmacist is – they are highly trained and skilled clinicians experienced in treating minor illnesses – we don’t think you’ll look back.

This will also help us to free up GP appointments for people with more complex health needs and ensure that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional.

We are keen to hear what you think and will be listening to your comments and feedback about your experience of using this service.

 

What is this new service about?

From May 2022, when you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist at a range of local participating pharmacies.

Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the country.

 

Why are you doing this?

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you.

This frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

 

What happens when I see the community pharmacist?

We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you.

You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them.

Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you with an over the counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records.

If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.

 

What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?

Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.

 

What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?

We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.

 

What if the patient is my child?

Children aged over one years are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health may be seen unaccompanied.

 

Why is this a good thing for patients?

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.

Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.

 

 

Other Practice News

 

TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS

We are still here for you if you need to see or talk to a doctor. Please call the practice or book a telephone appointment through online services if you are registered. We offer urgent same-day and routine telephone appointments. Your consultation will start over the phone, but if the GP feels a video consultation would be more appropriate (provided you have a smartphone) they can send you a secure link to initiate this. This works for Apple and Android phones. Our current waiting time for routine telephone appointments is approx. 2-3 weeks.

 

FACE-TO-FACE APPOINTMENTS

All consultations with a GP will initially take place over the telephone / video call.  The majority of routine problems can be dealt with over the telephone and many patients like the convenience of this approach. If you and your GP decide a face-to-face appointment is required, you will be given an appointment at the practice.

 

 

ONLINE SERVICES

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic it is very useful to be able to contact your practice online. We encourage you to register for  our online services, which you can use from your laptop or your smartphone.  This will allow you to book and cancel telephone appointments, request prescriptions, access your medical record and view test results at your own convenience without having to visit the practice or wait in a telephone queue.

Please call the practice to request your login details which can be provided immediately.

 

PRESCRIPTIONS

All prescriptions will be electronically sent to your nominated pharmacy to reduce footfall into the practice. You can request your prescription through online services and state which pharmacy you would like your prescription sent to. If you do not have online access, you can post your written request through the practice letterbox.

 

NURSE / HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT APPOINTMENTS

We are continuing to offer a full range of services:

• Cervical Screening
• Childhood Immunisations
• Blood tests
• Reviews for long term conditions (e.g. Asthma, COPD, Diabetes)
• B12 Injections, Shingles & Pneumonia vaccinations
• Flu jabs
• Travel Vaccinations
• 24 hour Blood Pressure monitoring (ABPM)
• Dressings / Stitch removal
• ECGs
• INR Monitoring

If you receive a text message encouraging you to make an appointment at the practice for  any of the above, please do not hesitate to do so.

Last updated 13th September 2022