Welcome to the South Brent Health Centre

Important notice

Please note, the surgery continues to provide access to general medical services during normal hours

The South Brent Team want to update you regarding our GP services at this time of Covid 19. We understand that these are unprecedented times and as frontline NHS healthcare workers we are all going above and beyond to support our patients, but this does mean significant changes to the way we operate.  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 at this time. It does really help keep our spirits up at this busy time. Demand for our services has increased significantly over the last few weeks, whilst at the same time we have less staff to deal with the increased demand.

All of the measures we have put in place over the past few weeks 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.

Appointments:

All appointment requests for our GPs or Nurses are now being triaged over the phone or video consultation in the first instance and if the clinician feels that you need to be seen you will be invited into the surgery. When you arrive for your appointment, phone the surgery from the car park to let us know you are waiting – the GP or staff member will advise you from there. If you do not have a phone, please ring the doorbell on the main door and stand back so we can access the door and speak to you from a safe distance.

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.

Samples:

If you are asked to collect a sample pot these are available from the front entrance foyer. Please ring the main doorbell. 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. This is going to be a busy time in the surgery and pharmacy and it may take up to 5 working days to get your prescription electronically sent and dispensed.

We are requesting that no paper prescriptions are dropped off at the surgery unless you absolutely have no other means of ordering. As you can appreciate we are trying to keep footfall in the surgery to an absolute minimum to safeguard our staff and patients. 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 are now temporarily taking prescriptions requests via the phone or through this website.

Please do not contact us unless your prescription is due to be ordered within the next 10 days, we cannot issue it any earlier. The pharmacies have just enough for everyone and you having more would leave others without.  Please do not request medication that you have not had for some time as a “just in case” precaution. If the time comes and you need the item prescribing this will be arranged for you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rescue packs for patients with respiratory conditions

Some inaccurate information has been circulating regarding special ‘rescue packs’ for patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD. Patients are being advised to NOT contact their GP practice for a rescue pack if they have not had one previously.

REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS

Check what medicines you have at home before re-ordering your prescription.

• If you don’t need the medicine, don’t order it.
• If you need the medicine in the future you can still request it.
• This includes medicines that are prescribed to be used as and when required.
• You can order prescriptions online or move to electronic dispensing (Please contact the surgery for more details)
  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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
• 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 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.