Welcome to the South Brent Health Centre

**DUE TO SUPPLY ISSUES WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY TAKING ANY MORE BOOKINGS FOR SEASONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS. PLEASE CALL US AT THE END OF OCTOBER FOR MORE INFORMATION OR CONTACT A  PHARMACY WHO MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST   **

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The South Brent Team would like to update you regarding our GP services at this time. Thank you to all our incredibly supportive patients that have thanked our team and recognise how hard our whole team has been working to deal with the extra workload during the past five months. It really has helped keep our spirits up at this busy time.

All of the measures we have in place and going forward are following guidance from Public Heath England and are being implemented across many GP practices in the UK. It is all about keeping you safe, minimising your exposure to patients with COVID-19 symptoms and saving lives of the most vulnerable people in our Community. At the same time we need to keep our teams safe and well so they can keep on working to provide patient care. This includes wearing a Face Covering when attending the practice and making sure you observe good hand hygiene by using Hand sanitiser before entering and leaving the lobby area.

Advice on patients wearing face coverings in practices

The surgery has a legal responsibility to protect staff and patients from risks associated with COVID-19.  We have conducted our own risk assessment to determine necessary controls, and we ask that patients please apply a face covering before entering the surgery, when possible.  Wearing a face covering is an added precaution that may have some benefit in reducing the likelihood that a person with the infection passes it on. Evidence shows a face covering can help in reducing the spread of droplets; it stops them from leaving the mouth and nose area and reduces the size of area in which they spread.

A medical grade clinical mask is not necessary. These need to be prioritised to clinical staff working in high risk areas. Instead, for patients who are visiting healthcare sites, a face covering is sufficient and there is guidance for people to make these at home with items they may already own. Contaminated droplets can also be picked up from surfaces by touch and subsequently from touching the face. It is important people refrain from touching their face covering when wearing it, where possible, to avoid hand to mask transmission of the virus. Face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing. Regular hand washing remains an important action.

Please view a copy of our Face covering policy

Appointments:

All appointment requests for our GPs continue to be triaged over the phone or by video consultation. If the clinician feels that you need to be seen you will be invited into the surgery for a specific time slot. 

Samples:

If you are asked to collect a sample pot these are available from the main reception area. Please ring the main doorbell or wait in front of the barrier. The sample containers come with a sealed bag and a sample form. When you return a sample, please ensure you have added your details to the label on the container and the form is complete. It is vital that your full name and date of birth are on both the container and the form. Any samples must be pre-approved by a clinician and returned by 1pm Please do not use your own containers for samples.

Prescriptions:

All prescriptions will be issued electronically to your nominated pharmacy. You will need to order your medication. It may take 5 working days to get your prescription electronically sent and dispensed at your Pharmacy.

We would encourage everyone to try and order their repeat prescriptions using either your online account or using the NHS App (can be downloaded onto any smartphone).  We have ceased taking prescriptions requests via telephone.

We thank you for your continued support.

The South Brent Health Centre Team 

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We offer ‘eConsult’ to allow patients to get medical help without making an appointment or calling the practice.

We have introduced ‘eConsult’ to help you get health advice online. By clicking on the most appropriate link below you can:

• self-check your symptoms and find medical guidance written by doctors 24/7
• get administrative help (e.g. a medical certificate or letter from the surgery)
• seek medical advice from our doctors at the surgery

Please note the following important information below:

• This is only for patients registered with our practice
• This is only available to patients over 6 months of age
• It is not an appropriate route to seek urgent medical help
• It is not a bypass or shortcut for requesting routine GP appointments
• Where a response has been requested, we aim to respond by the end of the next working day either by email (don’t forget to check your junk email folder) or with a phone call, as appropriate to your consultation
• The eConsult tool works best for issues that we can resolve – or start to resolve – online, for example by generating a script, arranging a blood test etc. There will be some problems where the appropriate next step is for you to see or speak to a GP routinely, in which case we will advise you by email or text to make an appointment.
• Please click on the link below to watch a short video on how eConsult can work for you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fGEpzrgAJc&t=16s

ZERO TOLERANCE

NHS STAFF MUST BE ABLE TO COME TO WORK WITHOUT FEAR OF VIOLENCE, ABUSE OR HARRASSMENT FROM PATIENTS OR THEIR RELATIVES.  THE NHS HAS A ZERO TOLERANCE ATTITUDE TOWARDS VIOLENCE.

VIOLENT, THREATENING OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR INCLUDING SHOUTING AND SWEARING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AT THIS PRACTICE.  PATIENTS WHO ACT IN SUCH A MANNER WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PREMISES;  THE POLICE MAY BE CALLED AND YOU COULD BE REMOVED FROM OUR PRACTICE LIST.

OUR STAFF ARE HERE TO HELP YOU, PLEASE TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT

SBHC Zero Tolerance Policy