Appointments

A New Way of Operating during the COVID-19 Pandemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=13&v=5hP9Yn5-zFE&feature=youtu.be

Coronavirus has changed the way health services work. GP Practices are open, and have been throughout the pandemic, but services are being delivered differently.

These changes are in place to protect you, your family and staff. Thank you for your patience and understanding. For more information please visit nhsinform.scot/gp.

A useful video is available at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=13&v=5hP9Yn5-zFE&feature=youtu.be

In some cases, where appropriate, the reception staff will recommend that the patient visits a pharmacy, dentist or optician instead of making a GP appointment.

After 6 pm and before 8 am, please call NHS 24 Monday to Friday.

Weekends please call NHS 24 on 111 for advice and medical support or 999 if life threatening.

At Cromarty Medical Practice consultation is by appointment only. Please telephone before attending the surgery.

Why does the receptionist need to ask why I need an appointment

At the request of the GP's, the staff have been asked to gain some information about the need for an appointment.

It is not a case of the receptionists being nosey.

Reception staff are trained to ask certain questions in order to ensure that you receive:

The most appropriate medical care, from the most appropriate health professional, at the most appropriate time

Receptionists are asked to collect brief information from patients:

To help doctors prioritise house visits and phone calls
To ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care
To direct patients to see the nurse or other health professional
Reception staff, like all members of the team, are bound by confidentiality rules.

Any information given by you is treated strictly confidential

The Practice would take any breach of confidentiality very seriously and deal with it accordingly.

You can ask to speak to a receptionist in private, away from reception.

If you feel an issue is very private and do not wish to say what this is then this will be respected.

Thank you for your support

Chaperone

If you would like to have a chaperone in attendance, please make a request when booking your appointment

If you are unable to make your appointment, please telephone as soon as possible to cancel as this allows someone else to attend in your place.

Continuity of Care

Do you have trouble seeing the same doctor

This information advises you how best to see the doctor that you want and whether you should see a doctor or a nurse.

Sometimes you may feel this doesn't matter, but for longstanding problems or those that are new and under investigation it may be best to see the same one or two doctors if possible.

Planning Appointments - should allow you to choose the doctor you want to see:

• If you ask to see a doctor urgently it can be more difficult to see a named doctor as these appointments are given with the first available doctor. Many doctors are not in every day. If the problem can wait a few days you have more chance of choosing your doctor. 
• The phone. Some problems can be dealt with (or a plan of action started) exclusively by telephone consultation.
• The practice nurses and health care assistants can care for and follow up most long term conditions, and can involve the doctor in any treatment decisions. 
• Please, only see the doctor for things that need the doctor. Other health care professionals in the practice can see you for a variety of problems or procedures. This helps make doctors more available to see patients for illness.

The Healthcare Assistants should see you for:

• All blood tests, Blood pressure checks, ECG, Urine tests

Cancelling Appointments - if you are unable to attend is essential. Every week we lose on average 50 appointments because patients fail to turn up without letting us know. If you cancel an appointment that you cannot attend then we can use that appointment for someone else.

Some clinicians don't consult every day. 

Sickness Certificates

COVID - Please visit the NHS inform website - Complete this form if the advice is to self isolate.

http://www.111.nhs.uk/isolation-note

Self certification

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

https://nhsattend.vc/gpnearme/lnesmp

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Please avoid calling with any general queries about the COVID-19 vaccine as we are unable to give you any more information at this stage and we need to try and keep phone-lines open for people who are unwell and needing medical care. Many thanks for your ongoing patience and cooperation.

Practices have been asked to direct patients to the National Helpline in the first instance, if they have received an appointment letter from NHS Scotland, and the appointment is not convenient. Alternatively, patients can also be directed to the NHS Highland Vaccination Enquiry Hub (08000 320 339)