Welcome To Our Practice

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.

AFTER 31 YEARS, DR HAWORTH WILL BE RETIRING IN JANUARY 2022.

We'd like to thank our patients for the Christmas cards and gifts, they were very much appreciated.

England is moving to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are set to remain in place for all staff and visitors.

That means NHS visitor guidance will stay in place across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dental practices, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.

Staff, patients and visitors will also be expected to continue to follow social distancing rules when visiting any care setting as well as using face coverings, mask and other personal protection equipment.

The NHS will continue to support staff in ensuring that the guidance is followed in all healthcare settings.

Patients may have seen media reports about general practice moving away from telephone triage from Monday 17 May. Telephone triage for appointment requests was in place at Orchard Family Practice prior to the pandemic and this will continue. As has been the case before and during the pandemic, patients will be offered a face to face consultation where this is deemed clinically necessary.

ECONSULT

This service is only available between 8am - 12pm every weekday (excluding bank holidays).

Please only use this service if you require medical advice from the GP. If you have been asked to make a review appointment with the GP or another member of the practice team, please do not submit an eConsult, but instead telephone the surgery on 01634 337620.

CORONAVIRUS

COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations

*PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE THE PRACTICE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BOOKNG COVID BOOSTERS

The booster vaccination programme is now aiming to offer appointments to all adults aged 18 and over by 31 December 2021. Local vaccination teams are working to rapidly increase the availability of appointments.

The national booking system has opened for over 30s today and will open for 18-29-year-olds on Wednesday, 15 December. Some local vaccination services will also contact patients directly. The time between your second dose and a booster must be at least three months. You can book using the national booking service by calling 119 or at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ The national booking service will only show clinics that have appointments available when you visit the site/call 119; but clinics regularly add more dates.

For a full list of all vaccination sites in Kent and Medway, visit https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine

COVID-19 Testing

You can get a free test if you:

• Have symptoms of Coronavirus: a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your taste or smell (Please note you do not need to have all of these symptoms to book a test. If you are experiencing any one of these symptoms you must book a test)
• You're getting a test for someone you live with who has symptoms
• You've been told to get a test before you go into hospital
• Your local council asks you to get a test
• You're taking part in a government pilot project

Hospital 'Expedite Letters'

Millions of outpatient appointments and treatments have been delayed in NHS hospitals during the pandemic. When patients contact the hospital, they are sometimes told to ask their GP for an ‘expedite letter’. This is frustrating for you and for us, and rarely results in your appointment being brought forward.

If your gallbladder or arthritis pain is worse, if your mobility has reduced, or your tinnitus increased, this is not something a GP can measure. We take your word for it, and the hospital should too. Only the hospital can compare your needs with those of other patients on their waiting list.

Orchard Family Practice has created two letters for you to use if you want to inform a hospital of a change in your symptoms. One is for patients waiting for an appointment with a Specialist, the second is for patients waiting for a follow-up appointment, treatment, or operation.

Please download and print a letter, completing your details and explaining the change in your symptoms. You should post your letter to either Outpatient Appointments (for first appointments) or your consultant's secretary (for follow-up care).

In the event of a change in potentially life-threatening health condition- for example, a known cancer, or heart or lung symptoms- please contact Orchard Family Practice, NHS 111 or 999 in the first instance.

Expedite 1st Appointment

Expedite 2nd Appointment