APPOINTMENT BOOKING OPTIONS

Over the past year, we have created more ways to book an appointment with the practice. These methods can be integrated around busy schedules and also free up the telephone lines for those that do not have internet access or struggle with technology.  

Engage Consult: This booking software is available on our website and is for non-urgent appointments. A response to the request will be received within 24-48 hours of submitting the request. Please ensure you check the software regularly for messages from the practice pertaining to your request. In addition to non-urgent appointments, prescription queries, admin queries and result queries can be requested through Engage Consult.

NHS App: Appointments can be made through the NHS app. If you have not used the app before, you may be asked to participate in a process to verify identification. Following ID approval, you will be able to log in, make appointments, see previous appointments and obtain your covid passports.

Patient Online Services: This was suspended during the pandemic due to NHS England guidance, but we have recently been given permission to re-instate these appointments. When booking through this method, please be aware that telephone consultations may not necessarily take place at the time booked and could be anytime throughout the day. If you’d like to sign up for online access, forms are available from our reception desk and on our website.

Email: An email request can be sent to Kingswaypractice.noreply@nhs.net and we can see if we can facilitate an appointment.

Contact Us Form: The Contact Us form is available on our website and can be used to request an appointment. In the same vein, we have a Cancel an Appointment form on our website you can submit. Please ensure either form is submitted in good time to provide us with enough notice.

Telephone: Appointments can be made by ringing the surgery at 8:00am. Please be aware that there may be a wait depending on patient demand for that day. On days such as Monday or Friday, the wait time may be longer. GP appointments are still being triaged by telephone consultations with the GP first and if you feel a face to face is required with the GP, you will need to discuss this in the telephone consultation with them. There are a mix of face to face and telephone appointments available with our ANPs and Registrars. Nurse appointments are face to face as always.  

MEDICATION REVIEW FORMS  

Medication Review forms should be undertaken annually, and the forms are available from reception and our website. These forms are important and are reviewed by clinicians to ensure your medications are benefitting you and to see if any changes need to be made to your treatments. The form does ask for Height, Weight and Blood Pressure Readings. If you are unsure of these, the measurements can be taken at your local Pharmacy.

GENERAL 

If you are travelling abroad and think you may need vaccinations, please ensure your form is submitted 3-6 weeks before you travel. Travel forms are available on our website and can also be sent via text from the practice. Unfortunately, due to timescales, we are unable to provide vaccinations for last minute holiday bookings or travel plans. If you have arranged last minute travel abroad, you will need to make enquiries with private companies for vaccinations.

Blood Pressure Reading Forms are printed from your patient record and therefore it may take a few minutes to print due to technical issues with the computers. If this happens, please be patient with our staff members as they are trying their best to provide your form in a timely manner.  

We do have a lateness policy in place at the practice, which specifies that if you are more than five minutes late, the clinician may not be able to see you and you might have to re-book the appointment. If you are running late, please telephone the surgery in advance so that we can let the clinician know.  

NON-ATTENDANCES

We have noticed an increase in non-attendances for appointments at the surgery. We would like to once again stress that it is important to cancel an appointment if you can no longer attend. This also extends to telephone consultations. Cancelling an appointment means it then becomes available for someone else who may really need it.

As outlined above, if you have difficulties calling to cancel, you can contact us through Engage Consult, email and submitting a Cancel an Appointment form through the website.

FLU AND COVID CLINICS 2022   

On Saturday 24^th September, we vaccinated just short of 500 patients, 460 of which also had the covid vaccination.

On Saturday 1^st October, we vaccinated just short of 600 patients, 506 of which also had the covid vaccination. 

These two clinics were for over 65s only. The next Saturday clinic took place on the 15^th October for under 65s and at risk patients. At this clinic we vaccinated just short of 350 patients, 302 of which also had the covid vaccination.

We would like to thank the kind generosity of patients who brought us goodies to keep us going through these clinics as well as the support of the patient community as a whole.