Hampstead Group Practice

PRACTICE NEWS

We are pleased to share some exciting news about the Practice - our neighbouring practice, Rosslyn Hill Surgery, will be merging with Hampstead Group Practice from 1st July 2020.

Dr Gillian Gertner, the GP from Rosslyn Hill, will be based at Hampstead Group Practice so she can continue to care for her patients who are transferring with her.

The merger will not have an impact on the provision of our care to you, your family or your accessibility to appointments.

Discussions relating to our merging with Rosslyn Hill Surgery started before the Covid-19 crisis.

We look forward to welcoming Dr Gertner and her patients to Hampstead Group Practice.

 

CHANGES TO APPOINTMENTS

As an emergency measure to manage health resources as effectively as possible all GP practices have been asked to move to a phone first approach to screen appointments.

By 31st March 2020 no face-to-face appointment will be booked without a brief GP phone consultation first.

 

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) - GETTING TESTED 

For information on guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available, please click here and scroll down to 'Testing for Coronavirus' section.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) 

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

For the latest Covid-19 advice please visit www.nhs.uk. If you think you may have Covid-19, please do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Use the NHS 111 online service at https;//111.nhs.uk/covid-19 to find out what to do next

 

The NHS 111 online coronavirus service can tell you if you need medical help and advise you on what to do. 

Use this service if:

• you think you might have coronavirus;
• in the last 14 days you've been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus;
• you've been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.

 

Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.

Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carrid out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP surgeries, pharmacies and hosptials and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.

 

Eveyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough and sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

 

If you are pregnant and worried about coronavirus please click here for further information  

 

The PRINCIPLE Trial - Evaulating potential treatments for COVID-19 in older people  

Has your doctor or nurse said you are likely to have Covid-19 infection or do you have continuous new or worsening cough or high temperature, and have had them for fewer than 15 days?

If so, and you are 65 years or over, or over 50 with these conditions:

• Asthma or lung disease
• Stroke or neurological problems
• High blood pressure and/or heart disease
• Weakened immune system due to serious illness or medications (e.g. chemotherapy)
• Diabetes not treated with insulin
• Liver disease

Please visit www.phctrials.ox.ac.uk/principle-trial if you would like to take part in a trial to test new treatments for Covid-19.

 

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS - Update on phlebotomy services at the Royal Free Hospital

The Royal Free Hospital adult blood test service is by appointment only. There is no walk in service available except for paediatric blood tests. Please click here for further details.

 

New Name for our Reception Team

In recognition of the broad range of tasks undertaken by our Reception Team, their name has been changed to Patient Services Team. They will continue to provide you with the same services as before and will make their best efforts to provide excellent help and support.

PLEASE ENSURE THE PRACTICE HAS YOUR UP-TO-DATE TELEPHONE MOBILE NUMBER

Effective 1st July 2019, we are expanding the use of Text Messaging. Text messages will now be used for:

 

• Appointment reminders direct from the clinical system
• Flu or other vaccination clinics for targeted eligible populations
• Chronic disease review invitations
• Cervical screening
• Blood pressure and cholesterol monitoring
• Smoking status updates
• Invitations for patient educational sessions (e.g. diabetic self-help groups)
• Invitations to participate in research studies*
• Requests to contact the practice to arrange appointment or services

 

Texts will not normally be used for important issues. Where an important matter is to be conveyed to the patient, a letter or other similar reliable method must be used.

Texts will not, under any circumstances, be used to convey information which may be alarming or distressing to the patient.

*Please note, such participation is always voluntary and doesn't affect your clinical care in any way.

  

PRACTICE CLOSURE

We will be closed on Thursday 28th May 2020 from 10.15 am to 12.45 for staff training. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. For emergency medical care that cannot wait until we reopen at 12.45 please call 07956 899311. Please note this number is to be used on the specified date and times only.

If you require medical assistance outside of our normal practice opening hours, please dial 111

 

GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATIONS (GDPR)

GDPR comes into full effect on 25 May 2018. It, together with a new UK Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018), will replace the existing Data Protection Act 1998 in the UK. GDPR sets out requirements for how organisations will need to handle personal data from 25th May 2018. It expands the rights of individuals to control how their personal data is collected and processed, and places a range of new obligations on organisations to be more accountable for data protection. Please click here for further details.

 

CAMDEN GP HUBS

On 1 December 2017, Camden CCG launched its new extended GP access service.

The Camden GP hubs will offer local patients seven day access to pre-bookable and same-day GP appointments at accessible local locations. The aim is to improve experience and access to primary care and to reduce pressure on local urgent and emergency care services.

The service will be provided by AT Medics, who were appointed earlier this year following a robust procurement process. Their service model is based on an NCL-wide specification and engagement with local patients and practices.

Appointments will be available to Camden residents, and those registered with a Camden GP, at four general practices:

• Brondesbury Medical Centre, NW6 7JQ: Monday to Friday, 6.30-8pm and Saturday, 8am-8pm.
• Somers Town Medical Centre, NW1 1HY: Monday to Friday, 6.30-8pm and Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays, 8am-8pm.
• Caversham Group Practice, NW5 2UP: Monday to Friday, 6.30-8pm and Saturday and Sunday, 8am-8pm.
• Swiss Cottage Surgery, NW3 3NP: Monday to Friday, 6.30-8pm and Saturday, 8am-8pm.

Patients will be able to directly book an appointment at the hub of their choice by calling a dedicated phone line: 020 7391 9979 (open 8am-8pm, seven days a week from 1 December 2017). Alternatively, patients can request an appointment via their own general practice or by completing an online request form on the service website: www.camdengphubs.co.uk (live from 1 December).

PRACTICE EARNINGS

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working in Hampstead Group Practice in the last financial year was £42,784 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 17 part-time GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months.

NAMED ACCOUNTABLE GP

From 1 April 2015 all GP Practices are required to allocate a named, accountable GP to ALL patients. The named accountable GP will take lead responsibility for the coordination of all services required by the patient and ensure they are delivered, where required, (based on the clinical judgement of the named accountable GP).

Patients will be informed of their named accountable GP at the first appropriate interaction with the Practice.

If you wish to be told the name of your accountable GP, please ask at Reception when you are next in the Practice.

Please note: there is no need to telephone the Practice for this information.

If you have a preference as to which GP you are assigned,the Practice will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the request. If you would not like a named accountable GP please inform the Practice.

Having a named GP does not prevent you from seeing any other doctor in the Practice.

For patients aged 75 and over, the named accountable GP is responsible for working with relevant associated health and social care professionals to deliver a multi-disciplinary care package that meets the needs of the patient and ensuring that these patients have access to an annual health check.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - DATA SHARING

There are currently three data sharing initiatives. 

• Summary Care Records (SCR) - National initiative
• Camden Intergrated Digital Record (CIDR) - National initiative
• Care.data - National initiative 

Please click here for further information about each of the data sharing projects and to download the opt out forms if you wish to opt out of data sharing.  

Online Services with Patient Access:    

  

 

We currently offer the following online services for patients aged 18 years and over:

• Book, amend, cancel and check your appointment on-line
• View and Order repeat prescriptions
• Update your address and contact details
• View detailed coded information for the following sections of your medical records: 

1. Medications
2. Test results
3. Immunisations
4. Allergies and Adverse reactions
5. Problems
6. Consultations
7. Documents (as of 31st March 2017)

Please ask at Reception for further details

PLEASE NOTE ACCESS DETAILS WILL ONLY BE GIVEN TO PATIENTS FACE TO FACE WITH PROOF OF IDENTIFICATION

To register for the online services please visit the Practice and speak to a member of the reception team. Please note that once you are provided with online access login you can download the app if you have a smartphone.

 

SATURDAY OPENING HOURS - 2020

We will be open from 9:00 a.m to 12 noon on the following selected dates for pre-booked appointments only. We will be closed on all other Saturdays.

• January - 11th, 18th
• February - 1st, 15th, 29th
• March - 14th, 28th
• April - 25th
• May - No Saturday Openings
• June - No Saturday Openings
• July - No Saturday Openings
• August - No Saturday Openings
• September - 5th, 19th
• October - 3rd, 17th, 31st
• November - 14th, 28th 
• December - 12th, 19th
• January (2021) - 9th, 23rd

Out of Hours

If you require medical assistance which cannot wait until the surgery re-opens, please dial 111. For more information visit www.nhs.uk/111. Please note that this number is only to be used between the hours of 6.30pm and 8am during the week or throughout the weekend. See the complaints and commendations page for details on how to contact 111 if you wish to leave them feedback.

Patient Survey Results 2017

Did you know that 99.4% of our patients rated their visit with a doctor or nurse as either excellent, very good or good?

Please click here to view our patient survey results along with our patient participation action plan.