Greystoke Surgery

From 1st May Greystoke Surgery will be using a form accessed via the NHS app or our website or as the main way to access our services. This is in response to feedback from patients about the difficulty in getting through on the phone. The small minority of patients who do not have access to the internet or a relative / friend to do this for them can still phone the surgery and a receptionist will fill in a form on their behalf.

This change will allow all patients to access the help they need in a timely manner without having to contact us multiple times and will take less time than it takes to phone up. It will also allow the surgery to use our limited resources in the most effective manner by directing patients to the most appropriate clinician, who may be a GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Clinician, Advanced Physiotherapist, Pharmacist or GP Link Worker. Patients have also fedback that they would like to be able to have routine appointments arranged ahead of time and the new system will allow for this too. If it is an ongoing issue please tell us who has been dealing with the problem and we will endeavour to provide continuity.

The form is brief and easy to use, but the more information you give us, the easier it will be for us to help you. Forms with insufficient information will be replied to with a request to provide more information.

Prescriptions can still be ordered via the NHS app or System1 online access, and people who cannot access these can continue to phone the script line. The NHS app also allows patients to see their results without having to contact the surgery and using the NHS app is the quickest way for patients to complete the new consultation form so we would encourage patients to sign up for this.

If you haven’t already signed up to receive messages via SMS please do as this means we can contact patients promptly about appointments, results and other issues.

There is more information including guides and videos on our website, and we will be holding demonstrations at the surgery for any patients who would benefit from being shown to access and submit the form, and how to access the NHS app. If you would like to attend one of these demonstrations please ring Greystoke reception.

Please see Frequently Asked Questions which may be helpful:  FAQs for patients

Youtube link may also help:

Patient Flash Demo: How to submit a medical request in Patient Triage – YouTube

 

 

Here are some useful instructions from NHS App which will access our system directly:

 

 

Zero Tolerance of abuse of Greystoke staff

We are saddened to need to raise this again and wish to thank the majority of Greystoke patients who behave appropriately when they contact the surgery. Unfortunately a minority do not, and this is having an increasingly detrimental effect on the well being of our hard working staff, and even contributing to staff resigning from the office, which only makes it harder for the remaining receptionists to answer the phones quickly. We know it is very frustrating when you can’t always access an appointment when you contact us, and we are doing our best to address this within the confines of the funding we receive. However, this is no excuse for some of the behaviour a small number of our patients subject Greystoke staff to. Imagine how it would feel to have phrases like ‘you are just a minion,’ ‘you are useless’ and ‘if I die it’s your fault’ shouted at you when you are working tirelessly in a very difficult job.

Behaviour like this will not be tolerated and can result in being removed from our patient list.

Thank you once more, to the overwhelming majority for your patience and understanding, and the many emails, comments and letters we receive each week praising our people and our services, this means a huge amount to us all.

Greystoke Partners

Information for Patients: 

Your Primary Care Team. Full of experts, available locally. Get the right one, first time. It’s in everyone’s interest.

• Question or concern about your medications? Ask to speak to our pharmacist.
• A concern about your mental health? Arrange to see our mental health practitioner.
• Joint, bone or tendon pain. Back pain, arthritis pains, or sports injury? Request on assessment with our musculoskeletal practitioner/ first contact Physiotherapist.
• Keen to adopt a healthier lifestyle, improve your diet, take more exercise and need some help? Get an appointment with our health and wellbeing coach.
• Struggling to manage your money? Housing worries? Feeling isolated? Need support as a carer for a loved one? Please ask for an appointment with our social prescribing link worker.
• For more complex or concerning medical conditions, arrange to see an advanced nurse practitioner, or a GP if necessary.

 Many thanks

National Talking Therapies (IAPT) Service for Deaf people in British Sign Language

We are pleased to announce that NHSE/I has awarded SignHealth a national contract to deliver Talking Therapies for Deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL), a huge step forward for the Deaf community.

This NHS contract automatically funds NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) referrals so that Deaf people anywhere in England can access support, without the need to complete an IFR. Deaf patients can still choose to access their local IAPT service with a BSL interpreter if they wish to do so.

Please ensure your systems and the Deaf community know that mental health support is now easily accessible via the standard referral route or directly with SignHealth at signhealth.org.uk/therapy

If you have any questions please contact SignHealth’s Psychological Therapy Service at  therapy@signhealth.org.uk or call 01494 687606