Welcome to Highcroft Surgery

With this website we aim to help you find all the information you need at the click of a mouse. We use it to keep you updated on practice developments and news such as results of patient surveys, health campaigns and new services.

COVID vaccination update ( 18/2/21 )

New SMS Invite to book Covid Vaccination appointment at Highcroft Surgery on 27th February have been sent.

Please be reassured that the message sent from Highcroft Surgery to patients in Cohort 6 is genuine. Please follow the instructions in the text message to book your appointment for your vaccination.

Our invite will ALWAYS include the surgery name and will always take you to a website called “qhealth.io '

Please click here for further information

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Official statement from Nottingham Health Informatics Service ( NHIS ) 06/11/20

NHIS as the practice telephony system provider, are aware of the current issues experienced by the patient when trying to contact the practice.  NHIS are working closely with Highcroft Surgery to rectify these issues. NHIS take these issues seriously and endeavour to bring resolution for a better patient experience.

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COVID VACCINATIONS

The Covid-19 vaccination programme has begun. When it is your turn to be vaccinated, the NHS will contact you. Please do not contact the NHS.

 In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, a few different health and care organisations including hospitals, GP practices, care homes and others are working together on the Covid-19 vaccination programme. This means when it is your turn to be vaccinated, this may not be at your GP practice. You will be told where to go for your appointment and how to book.

 In line with expert guidance, the first priority for vaccination is care homes residents and staff, people over the age of 80 and frontline health and care workers.

 We understand a lot of people want to be vaccinated and would like to reassure you this will happen. Please be patient and wait to be contacted.

 For further information on why you are being asked to wait for your Covid-19 vaccine, please read the information on the GOV.UK website or this leaflet.

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NEW PARTNER ANNOUNCEMENT

We are pleased to announce that Nurse Julieann Gray has been promoted as a Partner at Highcroft Surgery.

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Highcroft Surgery now offers eConsult. This is an online service that is available 24/7 and allows you to contact your GP for help and advice. It will ask you to fill out a form asking you questions about your condition, symptoms or details of a request for administrative help, such as a sick note or a GP letter. If you don’t have access to the internet or a device that would allow
you to use eConsult, please call the surgery as usual and a reception team
member will help you complete an eConsult over the telephone.

Please click here for FAQs about eConsult and click here for self-referral services available locally.

eConsults top tips for patients-

• Please try to give as much information as possible and answer the template in full.
• Select the most appropriate template for your query-otherwise you will be asked questions that may not apply to you.
• Please try to avoid using the ‘general advice template’ unless there is not another suitable template for you.
• If you have an administrative query or a follow-up query or individual piece of information to pass on to us from a previous consultation please select the “Request sick notes and GP letters, or ask about recent tests” button.
• If you have a rash or skin condition, please attach a photo to the eConsult when you submit it, as often this means we can manage your condition without having to bring you in to the surgery.

If you need some help using technology and connecting with family, friends and support networks online please click here

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Cervical Screening

Cervical screening is one of the best ways to protect women from cervical cancer. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, it is a test to help prevent cancer. Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from your cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called "high risk" types of HPV. If these types of HPV are found during screening (a HPV positive result), the sample of cells is then checked for abnormal changes. If abnormal cells are not treated, they may turn into cervical cancer.

HPV is the name for a very common group of viruses. Most people will get some type of HPV during their lives. It is very common and nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. Some types of HPV (called "high risk" types) can cause cervical cancer. In most cases your body will get rid of HPV without it causing any problems, but sometimes HPV can stay in your body for a long time. If high risk types of HPV stay in your body, they can cause changes to the cells in your cervix. These changes may become cervical cancer if not treated. 

Cervical screening is a choice. It is your choice if you want to go for cervical screening but it is one of the best ways to protect you from cervical cancer. You may have some light bleeding or spotting after cervical screening but the process will take no more than five minutes.

Please do not delay your cervical screening. Please fill out an online eConsult form, which can be found above, and you will be booked in with one of our friendly Nurses. Alternatively, please call the surgery on 0115 8832330 and an appointment will be made for you.

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Patient Update - July 2020

Firstly, we would like to thank all our patients for being accommodating and accepting of all the changes we have had to rapidly implement as recommended by NHS England.

At the end of March we moved very swiftly to a total triage model, cancelling our sit and wait clinics and replacing them with the online consultation system called eConsult, telephone consultations as well as video consultations.

Due to the ongoing risks of COVID-19 and our wish to maintain social distancing within the Practice, we have no current plans to bring back the sit and wait clinics in the future as we need to be able to plan how many patients will be in the Practice at any one time. We will, of course keep the situation under review and will listen to any feedback our patients offer on this service.

If you would like to consult with a GP, please use our eConsult system – click on the banner above and we will be in touch by the end of the next working day. eConsult has a built in safety net to flag up critical medical problems, and in certain cases will advise the user to dial 111 or 999.

Alternatively, please call us on 0115 8832330 and one of our Receptionists will take some details and offer you a telephone appointment if appropriate. If the GP would like to see you face to face after this telephone call, they will book the appointment for you or ask a Reception team member to contact you to arrange a convenient time. This could be a face to face appointment in the practice or a video consultation appointment.

Please note that we are currently using the rear doors only (off the car park) and there is an intercom button to press once you have gone through the first sliding door. Please press the button labelled SURGERY. The CHP button is for the community service clinics on the ground floor.

We have a few new GPs working with us now and Dr Whitehorn is planning her return from maternity leave in August. We also have a First Contact Physiotherapist (Roger) working at the Practice on a Wednesday and Thursday, so any new shoulder, back, or physio related issues will be passed to him in the first instance so he can contact you to discuss further.

Our Nursing team has also adapted well and although we have continued to see patients face-to-face, a lot of the long term condition reviews have been conducted over the telephone and patients have even had video consultations and education on how to manage their dressings.

We are now being asked by NHS England and the Government to increase activity at the Practice; invitations for cervical screening are returning to normal recall and we’re being encouraged to do as much as we can in the way of routine work now to avoid a big backlog when we hit flu season.

We therefore are encouraging patients to attend the practice for their routine blood tests and health checks, if you receive an invitation. The Community Phlebotomy Clinic on the ground floor of the Health Centre will open soon, but we do not have a date yet. In the meantime, our Healthcare Assistants are taking bloods in the morning.

We can reassure you that we’re cleaning all surfaces and equipment throughout the day, wearing appropriate PPE and taking all precautions so that we can to protect both patients and staff.

We understand that some patients will be reluctant to come to the practice but the number of patients being seen remains quite low. At present we are limiting the number of patients into the building and keeping the waiting rooms as empty as possible. Please help us by attending at your appointment time and not too early!

We are asking patients to wear a face covering when they attend the Practice and have included information below about how you can easily make your own. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52609777

We have installed screening around our reception desk as well as floor markings to help with social distancing and to act as a further level of protection between our staff and patients.

Please contact us if you have any worries about your health. 

We are still open and able to consult with patients that need our help.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do

Advice for people with severe health conditions

This week NHS services will be contacting people with a range of severe health conditions urging them to self-isolate for 12 weeks. We have also contacted all local patients with a generic message following the prime ministers advice yesterday (23 March). Please don’t panic if you have received the text and don’t have a severe health condition. Health advice will be confirmed by letter to those identified this week. There is no need to contact your GP about the message.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus for Full guidance on staying at home and away from others

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What you can do to help:

1. Please read the guidance below regarding Social Distancing in order to keep you and those you care for protected

2. Please download the NHS app. This will allow you to order your medication without coming to the Practice as well as view your results online https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/

3. If you have regular medications, please make sure that you inform us who your nominated Pharmacy is. This means that we can send your prescriptions to the Pharmacy without you coming to the Practice.

We thank you for your understanding during these unprecedented times.

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Urgent information about COVID-19 - Coronavirus:

Updated 2.7.2020

If you are worried about your symptoms, please use the NHS 111 online to check your symptoms.  

Please follow the link below for updated guidance provided by the NHS, including symptom checker, advice and frequently asked questions:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
  
For patients concerned that they may have coronavirus or may have come into contact with someone who has, the NHS 111 online service has created coronavirus pages that tell patients what they should do based on their particular circumstances.  These can be accessed at: 111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19

Please DO NOT go directly to your GP or another healthcare environment.

To help stop the spread, please wash your hands frequently, with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, or use hand sanitiser

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Preventing spread of infection

There are general principles you can follow to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. This is particularly important after taking public transport

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

• If you feel unwell, stay at home, do not attend work or school

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin. See Catch it, Bin it, Kill it

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home and work environment. If you are worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or another healthcare environment

• See further information and the Public Health England Blog

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Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce the social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

They are:

• Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
• Avoid non-essential use of public transport, varying your travel times to avoid rush hour when possible
• Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
• Avoid large gatherings and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubs
• Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
• Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
• Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is pragmatic
• For those who are over 70, have an underlying health condition or are pregnant, we strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible

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If you require a sick note

Where absence is related to having symptoms of coronavirus or living with someone who has symptoms, an isolation note can be used and not a MED3 to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate. This can be obtained without going near a GP.

Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus, either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work. These are people who are at heightened risk of having COVID-19 or already may exhibit signs of having it but the government is stopping them from asking the GPs for MED3 forms.

The notes can be accessed via the link https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note

After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to the user. If you do not have an email address, you can have the note sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to your employer. The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.

There is confusion about patients who have been written to as being in the vulnerable category advised to isolate (need shielding) for 12 weeks. They are not able to obtain an isolation note unless they or a household contact exhibits symptoms but should produce the letter from the NHS (should be with them by 30 March) as proof and/or use the guidance note at Appendix A that states that GP certification is not needed.

If your employer has requested an isolation letter from your GP because you or a family member is being admitted to the hospital, please note that this is not the responsibility of the GP; however, a letter from the LMC can be provided to your employer. Please click here.

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New NHS.uk social care guide

Patients who need help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability can now get information and support online. There is new guide to social care on the NHS website that contains information for people who might need social care.

Visit the Social Care and Support guide 

Extra evening and weekend appointments now available in local area

Did you know that you can now book routine GP and Nurse appointments in the evenings, at weekends and over bank holidays in your local area?  Pre-bookable appointments are available Monday-Friday, 6.30pm-8pm, plus weekends and bank holidays and you can be seen by a GP, Nurse or Healthcare Assistant.

To book your appointment, contact Highcroft surgery during normal opening hours. Please be aware that the appointment may take place at another GP Practice in the area.

If you need urgent medical advice when the surgery is closed, you should continue to call NHS 111.

When attending for appointment at Highcroft Surgery after 6.30 pm or weekends please use the buzzer which is located on the right hand side of the entrance door.

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Carers

Are you a Carer?

If you are please let us know as we may be able to help you.

You are an unpaid carer if you support a family member or friend who is ill, disabled, elderly, has poor mental health or misuses substances. You are a Young Carer if you are under 18 in this role. The support you offer may be emotional or include shopping, cooking, dealing with medication, or attend medical appointments with the person you care for. The person you care for could live with you, in their own home, or even in residential care.

It is important that you let your medical practice know that you look after someone. You can be added to the Practice 'Carer Register' and gain access to information and support; this includes access to a named Carer Champion.

A Carer Champion is a staff member at your Practice who supports carers. They are the key point of contact and the ‘voice’ for carers. Julie Corrigan and Joanne Croft are the Practice's Carer Champions at Highcroft Surgery.

As a carer, you are entitled to an annual flu vaccination and a health check. You are also entitled to a Carers Assessment, you would need to contact the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub for this (details below).

Nottinghamshire Carers Association

Nottinghamshire Carers Association works with schools, health and social care professionals to raise awareness of Carers.

https://nottinghamshirecarers.co.uk/

We are supporting organisations to identify Carers and Young Carers and offer the best support possible. Contact Nottinghamshire Carers Association on info@nottinghamshirecarers.co.uk

Nottinghamshire Carers Hub

Carers Trust East Midlands provides timely, personalised information and support for Carers via the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub to make caring for a loved one easier.

Contact Nottinghamshire Carers Hub on:

0115 824 8824 Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm You can speak to an experienced support worker who will provide a personalised service that meets your individual needs.

email: hub@carerstrustem.org 

web: www.carerstrustem.org/hub 

Nottinghamshire County Council support for Carers

https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/adult-social-care/carers/support-for-carers

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Where else can you be Seen and Treated?

Please remember the Urgent Care Centre in Nottingham is funded and supported by all the Nottingham GPs and is available to all patients for urgent non-life threatening conditions.  Call them on 0115 883 8500 or visit Nottingham Urgent Care Centre website for more information. The Urgent Care Centre is open every day of the year including weekends and bank holidays between 7 am and 9 pm. You do not need an appointment, just walk in. There are also many conditions that can be treated by pharmacies. Ask your local pharmacist for advice.

Visit www.nhs.uk/choosewell for more information on choosing the right NHS service for you.

Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ which provides a Health A-Z guide to treatment and conditions.

Visit ' Get medical help near you ' to answer questions about your symptoms and depending on the situation you'll:

• find out what local service can help you
• be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
• get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
• be told how to get any medicine you need
• get self-care advice

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Prescription Changes

Due to the unprecedented demand of prescription requests, below will be the new turnover times for prescriptions until further notice. We do apologise for the inconvenience this may cause. 

Handed in before 12:30pm - 72 hours (3 working days)

Handed in after 12:30pm - 96 hours (4 working days)

Friendly reminder of our policy for urgent prescriptions: 

Urgent prescription requests handed in to the surgery BEFORE 12:30pm will be processed and ready to collect after 6pm. If you do not want this to go to your nominated pharmacy, please clarify this with the receptionist. 

Urgent prescription requests handed in to the surgery AFTER 12:30pm will be processed and ready to collect after 6pm the NEXT working day. 

The GPs have requested that where possible a reason is given to why the medication is urgent for monitoring purposes.