FAQ's
“All your questions answered.”
There has been a shortage of GP’s for a number of years for various reasons. What we are able to do however is to try and train and embed colleagues from other professions whom have many skills and are successfully working in practices now.
You can access 111 via calling this number or also through their website and 111 online. They are really useful at assessing you and can then direct you to the most appropriate treatment and this may be self help, your pharmacy, accident and emergency or the GP practice.
For many conditions going to accident and emergency is the correct option. Examples of this are if you have had a sudden accident or if you are suddenly unwell and can’t access immediate treatment.
We do know that speaking to your normal GP can be difficult for a number of reasons. All our practices are trying to help this situation. However you can be reassured all communication is joined up and although you may see different faces at your practice, they are all highly trained and integrated completely in to your practice.
We have a novel and exciting scheme call the community pharmacy referral scheme. Many of our local pharmacies have highly trained pharmacists within them whom are able to support you with many symptoms that you may have. You may be signposted to a pharmacy for this service and receive prompt and appropriate care this way.
Our primary care network comprises the group of GP practices working together and also with community and mental health groups, social care, local voluntary groups and others serving our local community. Our Primary care network is one of 1250 across the whole of England.
You can ask to see our social prescriber by contacting your practice reception team or you can be referred to them by anyone in the practice.
Your medicines are reviewed annually by your practice and this may be done without having to contact you by our clinical pharmacists. If needed your practice may need to contact you to make some checks. You can contact the practice and ask for a clinical pharmacist review if you have concerns about your medicines.
We want to get you to the best practitioner for your problem. When you contact the practice for an appointment you will be asked in broad terms what the problem is. This will help us enormously to get you a review with the best practitioner for you. All our staff are embedded in our practice teams and have full access to the clinicians and records. For many issues the best practitioner to see may be our physio, pharmacist, physician associate or social prescribing practitioners.
If you specifically wish to see a GP you can always request this. However for many concerns the best practitioner to see may be one of our other practitioners including our physio, pharmacy and social prescribing practitioners for example.