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.

PLEASE NOTE THE PRACTICE WILL BE CLOSED FROM 1PM ON TUESDAY 17TH MAY FOR STAFF TRAINING AND WILL RE-OPEN AT 8AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.

IF YOU REQUIRE URGENT MEDICAL CARE PLEASE RING NHS 111.

IF YOU NEED TO MAKE A ROUTINE APPOINTMENT, OR IF YOU ARE WAITING FOR TEST RESULTS, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE PRACTICE RE-OPENS THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

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. 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

In line with current Government guidance, patients are required to continue to wear a face covering in all Healthcare Settings.

Face coverings primarily protect others, so doing so (unless exempt) is key to preventing the spread of infection.

COVID-19  Vaccinations

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

For any information about covid vaccinations, please follow the governments link Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk).

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HOSPITAL "EXPEDITE APPOINTMENT" 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