Welcome to Orchard Family Practice

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We are a friendly team of professionals who have deep roots in the community, and we have looked after the great majority of our patients for a considerable time.

We aim to provide a high standard of medical care in a friendly and professional manner. 

We hope our website will provide you with all the information you need.  Please feel free to browse using the navigation at the top or click on the tiles on the right.

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ON WEDNESDAY 26TH MARCH 2025, THE PRACTICE WILL BE CLOSED FROM 12PM-1.30 PM DUE TO FIREWALL INSTALLATION. DURING THIS TIME WE WILL HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE INTERNET OR CLINICAL SYSTEMS. WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. IF YOU REQUIRE URGENT ASSISTANCE WHICH CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WE REOPEN, CALL 111, OR IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DIAL 999.

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MERGER BETWEEN ORCHARD FAMILY PRACTICE AND PARKWOOD FAMILY PRACTICE

We are writing to inform you that Orchard Family Practice will be merging with Parkwood Family Practice on the 28^th April 2025.  This is to help us continue to provide high quality, local GP services for all our patients.  The merger will ensure that the two practices can work better together and prepare for the future.  PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL STILL BE SITUATED IN THE RED SUITE, RAINHAM HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE.

Please see the letter below which provides further information, together with a Frequently Asked Questions sheet.  Should you still have any questions, please email us at orchardfamilypractice@nhs.net

Letter to patient re. merger March 2025

Frequently asked questions

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E-consult

E- CONSULT IS OPEN FROM 8.00 AM  MONDAY – FRIDAY.

PLEASE USE THIS FOR URGENT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ONLY WHERE YOUR SYMPTOMS WILL BE TRIAGED AND DEALT WITH BY THE APPROPRIATE ON CALL CLINICIAN WHICH COULD BE A GP, ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTITIONER, PARAMEDIC OR CLINICAL PHARMACIST.

E-CONSULT WILL NORMALLY BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 9.00 AM BUT WHEN WE ARE SHORT STAFFED, HAVE STAFF TRAINING OR WHEN DEMAND EXCEEDS CAPACITY IT WILL BE SWITCHED OFF SOONER SO WE CAN SAFELY MANAGE OUR SERVICE.

IF YOU HAVE NO ACCESS TO E-CONSULT PLEASE RING THE SURGERY AND THE RECEPTIONIST WILL ADVISE YOU ACCORDINGLY.

WHEN COMPLETING THE E-CONSULT IF YOU GET THE MESSAGE “ Based on your answers, you may need urgent advice.  You can continue to submit this consultation, but your practice may not be able to respond today.” PLEASE CONTINUE TO FILL IN THE  E-CONSULT FORM  AS ALL OUR E-CONSULTS ARE RESPONDED TO ON THE DAY BY THE CLINICAL TEAM.

If your problem is a follow up or not urgent, please do not submit an eConsult, but instead telephone the surgery on 01634 568200 to book a routine appointment.

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PHARMACIES REQUESTING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PATIENTS

We would like to remind patients that with effect from the 3rd February 2025, we will no longer be accepting prescription requests from pharmacies for the majority of our patients.  Prescriptions can be ordered via one of the online apps, ie NHS App, MyGP or Patient Access.  We will also accept prescriptions via email and/or you can use the repeat slip and drop it into the surgery.

Thank you for your understanding.

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PLT MEETING

The Surgery will close at 12.00 pm on Tuesday 13th May 2025 for essential training and development. Our normal opening and closing times are 8.00 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday. If you have an urgent medical problem which cannot wait until we reopen, please contact NHS 111. This is a free service. If your call is a medical emergency or potentially life threatening, please call 999 or go to your local Accident and Emergency Service. If you want to book an appointment at the Surgery, please telephone when we re-open at 8.00 am the following morning.   The NHS Medway ICB actively supports developing general practice to improve the care of our patients.

For future PLT dates, please click on the red tile called “Surgery Closures –  PLT training dates” on the right hand side.

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New free app to help patients wait less for urgent NHS care

Patients in Kent and Medway are now able to use an app to view waiting times at our urgent treatment centres (UTCs) and minor injury units (MIUs).

Please note this is for minor non-life threatening injuries.  The app is for adults only and anyone seeking help for a child under 16 must call NHS 111.
  
It displays the number of people who are waiting, the waiting times, along with travel information and opening times, as well as problems that they can help.

For more information, click on the link below:

https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/new-free-app-help-patients-wait-less-urgent-nhs-care

Latest News

Posted on November 18th, 2024

FROM THE 3rd February 2025 WE WILL NOT BE TAKING PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS FROM PHARMACIES. From the 3rd February 2025 we […]

Posted on July 1st, 2024

Following our patient consultation regarding the closure of our phone lines  between 12.00 pm – 1.30 pm, we are pleased […]