Berrington Village Pump Edition 151 Dec 20 - Jan 21

Accessing GP Services
We are still providing general medical services to our patients as we always have but the way to access
these has changed a little:
On line Consultations - eConsult
eConsult is an online platform that enables patients to request medical advice from their GP by simply
undergoing an online consultation. During the online consultation patients may be provided with advice
for self-help or information on other services to receive the care that aligns with their symptoms. If the
GP feels that a patient needs a face-to-face appointment then they will contact the patient within 48
hours and invite them in for an appointment. For many medical queries the GP will contact the patient
directly or instruct a member of the Practice team to contact the patient with GP advice. We may
respond to your e-consultation via telephone, email or text message if you have given consent to
receive text messages from the Practice. In order to ensure we meet the increasing demand and needs
of our patients whilst ensuring our services are utilised appropriately, we encourage patients to utilise
this service and to find further information visit the practice website:
www.muchwenlockandcressagemp.co.uk.
If you are unable to utilise the eConsult method of contacting the surgery and wish to seek advice from
a GP you can book a telephone consultation with a doctor for a morning or afternoon call back. The GP
will discuss your issue with you and if necessary arrange an appointment to see you face to face in the
Practice. Please ensure you are available to receive a call at any time during the 4 hour window as we
cannot give you a definite call back time. If you have an urgent on the day issue we are continuing to
operate a duty doctor service and are also providing home visits where necessary for housebound
patients or patients who are too ill to get to the Practice.
Nurse appointments and Health Care Assistant appointments
Appointments for essential treatments and tests are booked as previously by contacting the Practice by
phone to book in. Please note that there is a reduction in the number of available appointments to
allow for cleaning of areas in between appointments and to ensure social distancing between patients
coming in to and leaving the Practice.
Chronic disease reviews are continuing though some of these are taking place via the telephone or
video link rather than face to face. Patients are being invited for these appointments. Please bear with
us if your review is overdue as we are catching up from the first lockdown period when all chronic
disease reviews were suspended. If you are struggling to manage your chronic disease then please let
us know. Please note we are currently unable to offer online bookable appointments.
*Access to Medical Services over the Christmas/New Year Period*
PLEASE REMEMBER TO ORDER YOUR REPEAT MEDICATIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE CLOSURES
• Thursday 24 December: Cressage Practice will open as normal until 12.30 pm. Much Wenlock
Practice will remain open until 6.00 pm.
• Both Practices will be closed on: Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December and Friday 1
January.
Both Practices will be open as usual on Tuesday 29 December, Wednesday 30 December, Thursday
31 December. The 111 service will be available to provide medical advice over the Christmas and
New Year period.
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