Normanby Medical Centre - GP Surgery Website. All about your doctors surgery, the opening times, making appointments, ordering your repeats, health information and more

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How you can help your local GP practice

GP Practices in Tees Valley are asking residents for their continued patience and understanding with current demand for appointments and telephone enquiries.

Health officials are asking people to support their local GP practices during the Covid-19 pandemic.

To ensure patients and staff are kept safe during the pandemic, all GP surgeries are required to ask patients to contact them first, before turning up at their local practice.

Most patients do this by phone, resulting in long waits to get through to their surgery, often leading to patients feeling frustrated.

Practices are now providing alternative ways to contact their GP more easily, to avoid long waits on the phone.

Dr Janet Walker, medical director at NHS Tees Valley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Since the pandemic started, GPs have had to make huge changes to the way they work – like consulting with patients before they attend the practice. This means many more calls both in and out of surgeries, and we know that some patients are finding it frustrating having to wait for their call to be answered.

“Our practices have changed their systems and installed extra phone lines, but the sheer number of patients calling in and GPs calling out means they are still under pressure.

“Patients can help by considering other ways of making contact, where that is appropriate.”

GP help or advice is available by completing an e-Consult form, using the NHS app or your practice’s website.

Patients complete the online e-Consult form and the practice team will advise on the best way to meet your needs. If a video, phone or e-mail consultation is required, your practice will let you know. All online requests receive a response within two working days.

e-Consult also allows patients to access information on health conditions, self-care and local pharmacy services.

Patients can also register for an online account with their practice, so they can order medication, view their patient record or see test results, using the practice website or the NHS app.

“All our practices are working hard to provide the best possible care for everyone,” added Dr Walker. “The support we have received from patients is really appreciated during this difficult time.

“The range of technology now available to practices offers more choice for everyone, but it’s also an opportunity for patients to help us work better.”

NHS APP The NHS app lets you book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions and access a range of other healthcare services -

https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/nhs-app/

PATIENT ON LINE ACCESS - Less time in waiting rooms, less time on hold

www.patientaccess.com

Welcome to Normanby Medical Centre Online

CORONAVIRUS ADVICE

If you think you have been exposed to Coronavirus, Please visit www.gov.uk for updated guidance. If you have symptoms - Continuous cough, temperature, loss of taste and smell and require a covid test please contact 119.

Please do not attend the surgery.

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COVID-19 Vaccination

As a Practice in Eston Primary Care Network , we are currently rolling out the COVID-19 Vaccine in stages as advised by NHSE/I. We will contact you directly - please do not ring the surgery. For more information on the vaccine click/copy:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

The Germ Defence project, which has been endorsed as a national Urgent Public Health Research (UPHR) study by Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England.

With COVID-19 infections still high, it is vital that we try to reduce the spread of infections in people’s homes over Christmas. The Germ Defence website gives practical advice on how your patients can do this and now also has a new section about making plans for Christmas. Please visit -

www.germdefence.org/index.html?src=A81021

At Normanby Medical Centre the doctors and nurses take pride in offering the highest standard of patient-centred healthcare. We run many clinics for chronic disease care and offer a wide variety of other medical services such as antenatal and postnatal care, minor surgery, childhood vaccinations and well-person check-ups. Appointments will be running a little differently during this time and face coverings must be worn. Where appropriate only the person with the appointment will be allowed to enter. Please arrive on time for your appointment. Please do not remove your face covering until you have left the building. Please use the hand gel provided and try and avoid touching surfaces. PLEASE NOTE - online appointment booking is suspended during this period.

Appointments - ON LINE ACCESS - CURRENTLY SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19

If you wish to, you can now use the internet to make an appointment at the surgery, view your recorded allergies, your current medications and/or to request repeat prescriptions. You can still use the telephone or call in to the surgery for any of these services as well. It’s your choice. Ask at Reception for details.

Telephone lines and surgery are open from 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday. For appointments to see the doctor or nurse, please call at our reception or telephone 01642 511660. We operate an Advanced Access System which enables us to offer all patients an appointment with a health professional within 24 hours and with a general medical practitioner within 48 hours.

Although we will try to offer patients an appointment with the doctor of their choice this may not always be possible, in which case an explanation will be given. Generally there are a number of pre-bookable appointments available with each doctor on a daily basis and all nurse practitioner and practice nurse appointments can be booked in advance.

We also offer extended hours on a Wednesday evening and Saturday morning, for patients who cannot attend during normal surgery hours because of work commitments or other reasons.

In an average month the surgery offers over 6,000 doctor or nurse appointments of which there are approximately 300 patients who fail to attend. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to keep an appointment so that the time may be utilised by others.

Please remember that an appointment is for one person only and a separate appointment should be made for any other persons attending for consultation.

The South Tees Access Response scheme (STAR)has been set up by GPs to improve access to their services outside the current core hours for patients needing urgent care or advice.

Four GP centres now extend evening and weekend opening times for patients seven days a week, from 6pm to 9.30pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 9.30pm on weekends and bank holidays, to ensure patients get the right care, first time through a single point of access.

STAR is open to patients registered to GP practices across Redcar, East Cleveland and Middlesbrough. Please note this is not a walk in service. During normal working hours patients should contact their own GP to make an appointment. Outside of these hours patients just need to call NHS 111 and you will be given an appointment and directed to one of four sites or you can pre-book via the website - http://www.starappointment.co.uk/booking/

(Site updated 28/12/2020)