Patient News

PARK ROAD GROUP PRACTICE - UPDATE

As we continue to try to recruit new GP’s and improve access to a variety of healthcare professionals, we are making some changes to our opening times.

We have worked hard to continue to offer access to medical care from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. 

How do I make an appointment?

You can contact us by using the e-Consult service online, via the ‘Frimley Healthier Together’ App (for patients 0-17 years of age) or by calling us in the usual way. Either method will require you to answer a few questions so that we can provide the most appropriate appointment.

Whether you contact us online or by telephone, your request will be reviewed by the duty team which is led by a GP.

We do ask that you please avoid calling on Monday morning unless it is medically urgent – this is our busiest time.

When will my appointment be?

For all new conditions, you will usually be allocated an appointment within two weeks, unless an appointment outside of this period is requested or necessary. 

Continuity of Care

For ongoing conditions, where possible we seek to encourage patients to see or speak with the healthcare professional who has been dealing with their case. In these circumstances, or if medically more appropriate, the appointment offered may be further in advance of two weeks.

Our new opening times are:

Park Road Surgery: 
Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri      8am - 8pm

Old Dean Surgery:
Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri        8am - 6pm 
Wed                               8am – 1pm

Heatherside Surgery:       
Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu    8am – 6pm
Fri                                   8am – 1pm

Saturday opening

We are also pleased to be able to offer a variety of appointments on a Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

This has been made possible by working closely with 6 other Practices in the local area on a rotational basis. Therefore, you may be offered a Saturday appointment at one of our neighbouring surgeries.

Introducing Charlotte the Local Area Coordinator for Old Dean and St Michaels.

Click here for more information

There are two ways people can make a complaint about GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacies:

o They can complain to the healthcare provider: this is the organisation where they received the NHS service, for example a GP practice, a dental practice, a community pharmacy or an optometry practice or

o They can complain to the commissioner of the service: this is the organisation that paid for the service or care they received.

After 1 July 2023 if people want to make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner, the way to do this is changing. Rather than contacting NHS England, people will contact the Complaints team via new contact details below:

South East Complaints Hub

NHS Frimley ICB

Aldershot Centre for Health

Hospital Hill 

Aldershot 

Hampshire 

GU11 1AY

Phone number: 0300 561 0290 

Email address: frimleyicb.southeastcomplaints@nhs.net

As each email received is so important to the team, an acknowledgement to all complaints will be sent as soon as possible.

Information governance regulations mean that the emails sent to the old email address after 1 July, cannot be automatically forwarded and the inbox will not be accessible. People will therefore receive an automatic response, asking them to resend their email to the new address.

Members of the public with ongoing complaints received after 1 July 2022 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that the Complaints team based in the South East Complaints Hub, hosted by NHS Frimley ICB will now be handling their complaint with confirmation of their case handler. We would like to reassure you that the current team and case handler will remain the same as the staff move organisation.

Members of the public will still be able to make a complaint to the provider. This is NOT changing. There is also no change for people wishing to make a complaint for specialised services, health and justice, screening and immunisations and Continuing Healthcare.

From the 27th July to the 4th August Surrey County Council has scheduled a road closure for Park Road for resurfacing. The closure will be from Heathcote Road to the Frimley Road, there will be limited access and there may be delays. If you have an appointment during these times please allow extra time to get to Park Road Surgery. (Link to Surrey CC leaflet)

Start thinking about your sexual health by wearing a condom and getting tested regularly even if you don't have symptoms.

Young people under 25 can pick up free condoms across different outlets in Surrey through CNWL’s Condom Distribution Scheme.

www.healthysurrey.org.uk/sexual-health

Park Road Group Practice will be closed on Tuesday 13th June 2023 from 12.15pm till 8pm for Enhanced Staff Training 

If you need urgent primary care attention during this time, please contact 111. 

Please do not attend Accident & Emergency department, unless you have a life threatening medical problem. 

For any other routine care, please contact the surgery tomorrow.

Alzheimer Cafe UK - Camberley 

Monday 17th April, 2023 
6.30 – 8.30pm 
                                                                                                                           
Fay Freemantle:  
Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Advisor - Basingstoke 
Hitting brick walls – living with dementia 
Pianist: Mr. Eric Glover         

St. Martin’s Church,  
231, Upper College Ride, 
Camberley GU15 4HE 
Please contact us for further information: 
Camberley Alzheimer Café phone: 01276 675 266 

Please click here for the poster

 

On Tuesday 21 March from 12.30pm-6.30pm this practice will be closed for training. If you require urgent primary care attention, please contact 111. For any other routine care please contact the practice in the morning. 

Please listen to the podcast here.

If you are experiencing Cold or Flu symptoms please follow the guidance on the NHS website before calling the surgery.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/

On Thursday 3 November, some of your practice team will be out at training during the afternoon. The practice will remain OPEN and you will still be able to access and see other clinicians, for urgent care and pre booked appointments and our reception teams will still be available to assist you.

We will be co-administering the autumn covid booster and the flu vaccination for our housebound and care home patients.

All care homes will be attempted week commencing 17th October and we we will be arranging visits to housebound patients from the 24th October. 

Please bear with us as it will take a number of days over the coming weeks to get round to all of our housebound patients. 

Covid-19 update for patients

You are no longer required to routinely wear a mask unless you wish to do so as a personal preference

We ask that you continue to sanitise your hands with the gel provided at reception areas when attending the surgery

Thank you for your continued co-operation

Do you check your blood pressure often?

Taking regular blood pressure readings is essential, as High Blood Pressure can have serious consequences, and usually has no symptoms.

Stop by one of our 'know your blood pressure' pop up events taking place this summer at various locations around Surrey Heath. Trained staff will be present to take and record your blood pressure. They can also provide you with health and lifestyle information that can help you make those small changes to reduce and manage your blood pressure.

Click here for the poster

Why is a heatwave a problem?

The main risks posed by a heatwave are:

• not drinking enough water (dehydration)
• overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing
• heat exhaustion and heatstroke

Who's most at risk? 

A heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are: 

• older people – especially those over 75
• those who live on their own or in a care home
• people who have a serious or long term illness – including heart or lung conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson's disease or some mental health conditions
• those who may find it hard to keep cool – babies and the very young, the bed bound, those with drug or alcohol addictions or with Alzheimer's disease
• people who spend a lot of time outside or in hot places – those who live in a top floor flat, the homeless or those whose jobs are outside

For more information please click here

Dear Patients, 

We have produced a survey around improved primary care access for patients.  As part of a national initiative, we are looking at how we can improve access to healthcare by offering routine appointments outside the core hours.  

We are part of the Surrey Heath Primary Care Network, working with other local GP Practices in Surrey Heath & Ash Vale.These other Practices are Bartlett Group Practice (Ash Vale / Frimley Green), Camberley Health Centre, Lightwater Surgery, Park House Surgery (Bagshot), Station Road Surgery (Frimley) and Upper Gordon Road Surgery (Camberley). 

We are exploring different options for improving access and providing additional appointments, including considering delivering some appointments from a central, accessible location. 

By answering this survey, you are helping us develop GP services that meet the needs of local patients.

Please click here to complete the Enhanced GP Access survey

Please note that following Dr Leno's retirement we have equalized out the GP patient lists. You may see that you now have a new ‘named GP’. This does not mean that you cannot still chose who to see if you have been seeing someone for continuity.

We have a new Dr starting soon so some of you may see ‘Dr Coming soon’ as your GP – you will be looked after by the Partners until the new GP starts.

Frimley Health has launched a new electronic patient record system that is affecting the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at Wexham Park and Frimley Park Hospitals. Safety remains paramount, so please be patient with the staff. Waiting times are likely to be longer than usual. 

Unless it’s an emergency remember there are lots of alternatives for you to make use of:

• Visit your local pharmacy
• During the day contact your GP practice via online consultation or phone
• Contact NHS 111 online, www.111.nhs.uk or dial 111. If you are calling NHS 111, please be patient. NHS 111 may advise you to contact your GP or its out-of-hours service or attend the Bracknell Minor Injuries Unit.
• For minor injuries, such as sprains and strains, suspected broken limbs, or minor head injuries, visit the Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge in Bracknell or the High Wycombe Urgent Care Centre – open 8 am-8 pm 7 days a week.

Anyone with a life-threatening condition should call 999. Help us to help you by seeking alternatives to A&E where it is safe to do so.

The surgery will be going live with a new telephone system on Thursday 9th June. We apologise for any delays you may experience as we make the transition, please can we ask for your patience and understanding. Thank you. 

The Emergency Departments at Wexham Park and Frimley Park hospitals are currently experiencing an increasing level of demand which is likely to continue throughout this weekend. Please only attend if you have severe symptoms or suffering from a life-threatening condition. Check out our Know Where To Go guide for advice on how to get the help you need quickly and close to home. Remember, if it’s less than an emergency, call 111 https://orlo.uk/MYet4.

The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year to protect the nation against the Omicron variant.

As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today.

The best way to get your vaccine is by booking online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119 – please do keep checking availability as appointments are loaded onto the system every day. The website and phoneline are understandably very busy and we thank you for your patience when booking.

The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some sites offer walk-in appointments where no appointment is needed. Please check here for clinics with walk-in availability and their opening hours www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins

GP teams have been asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up maximal capacity to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care. This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.

Scientists are very concerned about the spread of Omicron due to the speed with which it spreads and because two doses do not appear to provide much protection but thankfully, a booster dramatically improves this.That is why the Government has asked the NHS to prioritise boosters over other routine care.

We appreciate your support and understanding – and urge you to come forward for your vaccination as soon as possible.

Frimley Healthier Together – Empowering parents, carers and young people with knowledge and easily accessible help at their fingertips. When it’s 3am and you are up with a sick child unsure if you can stay at home or need to see someone and where; the website lays it out in a clear traffic light so you feel confident with the decision you make and what you can do at home.

You can find help with day to day queries such as pregnancy, feeding, sleep and development together with current topics from COVID to mental health and emotional well-being. Brings together not only national resources but what is available locally in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Bucks. There is also a SMS option to share with other parents and young people and can be accessed on any device; phone, tablet or computer.

Website

The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules.

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.

Read the infection prevention control guidance for further details.

Advice in your region:

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