August 15

Dear patients

GP appointments at Lawley – are changing from Monday 7th September 15

Our admin staff will continue to ask for a reason for any telephone call or appointment when you book these. This has been requested by ourselves, so that we can be aware of why the appointment has been booked before seeing you, and so that we can assign clinical priority to telephone calls.

Urgent – Book on the day appointments – will be changing from this date

Reason for change: Our patient numbers are increasing as more new houses are being built. In September we will also be approaching the winter when demand for urgent on the day appointments usually increases in GP surgeries. Although we have an extension planned, this will not be in place or ready for this winter. We are also currently at building capacity with regard to staff and rooms, and therefore have a lack of space in the building to bring in any more staff to deal with this increased demand. Currently however, those patients with a more clinically urgent need may not get a book on day appointment. We also have significant car park problems.

Our new system: To offer all patients thathave an ‘urgent request on the day’ a call from the duty doctor GP. This GP will then speak to the patient and assess the medical situation. The GP will then either deal with the issue/give advice on the phone, or they may ask the patient to come to surgery either later in the week, or on that day (depending on the medical urgency). This will be to see a member of the clinical team. There will be some appointments that only the GPs can book to ensure this can happen. This system will also have the advantage that it will be fairer to all patients with an urgent on the day need, as all will now be assessed the same way.

Routine appointments – no change to these but more available

You will still be able to book ahead for a routine appointment with any GP or the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP). The GP appointments can be booked on line, and all appointments can be booked by phone, or in person at the surgery.

These appointments are for non urgent medical issues and for ongoing medical conditions

Yours sincerely, The GP Partners