Winter Pressure Communication
Millway Medical Practice is here for you and we will continue to do all we can to keep people safe and well through the winter months and beyond. During this time of increased demand and pressure on our services, it’s even more important that you get the support you need in the right place, at the right time, by the right healthcare professional.
Triage
With the increased demand to see a GP in the winter months, Millway Medical Practice promotes use of a triage system. This ensures that all the patients that need to be seen are seen by an appropriate health care professional. It is also a tool for which a telephone consultation can be used to appropriately manage patient’s concerns even if an appointment is not required. A clinician calls the patient and assesses through a detailed history to decide whether the patient’s medical problem can be managed without the patient having to come in for a face-to-face appointment. This may be appropriate in cases when patients wish to discuss blood results, hospital letters or X ray/scan results. However, if the patient needs to come in, then an appointment will be made with the appropriate healthcare professional be it a GP, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse, or Allied Healthcare Professional.
Millway Medical Practice promotes triage to:
1) Improve access.
2) Optimise GP appointments.
3) Reduce waiting times.
Digital Access
The easiest way to access our services is to complete our online consultation form: econsult online consultation form. The response is often much quicker too because you do not have to wait in the queue on the phone or wait by the phone for a call-back. If you do need to call us, please phone 0208 959 0888. Sometimes the GP is not the most appropriate Healthcare Professional to deal with your ailment. Our patients often need more tailored support than a General Practitioner (GP) can provide. That’s why we has several, new, specialised roles, such as Physician’s Associates, mental health practitioners, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
You can even self-refer for some services without seeing your GP. This means you get straight to the specialist care you need whilst allowing GP appointments to be used for those who need them. Our practice team will ask you some questions so they can best assess your need and book you in with the most suitable clinician at an agreed opportunity. That could be the same day or over the coming days and weeks, dependent on what is clinically appropriate. If you are not able to attend your appointment, please let us know in good time so that the slot can be used for someone else. We care for many people and are working hard to give everyone the help and information they need. Sometimes that causes others to wait for our services or when reaching us on the phone. We really appreciate your patience and understanding.
Choose the NHS app to see test results, consultations, medication list, documents, immunisation record online. Apart from that, you can also order their medication directly if it’s been set up as repeat. You can access this service from anywhere and anytime.
Update on Appointments
We all know the ‘8am’ feeling to call the GP practice for an appointment. We have therefore revised our appointment system to ensure we have more capacity during busy periods and the winter months. This means that you can book appointments, up to two weeks in advance whether it’s face-to-face or telephone. We also have late evening and weekend appointments (at a Hub).
An effective and consistent triage system has been implemented to ensure you see the right clinician at the right time. There are three ways to book appointments; a.) via our online consultation tool (eConsult), or b.) via calling reception and c.) by coming into the practice. If it’s routine or a non-urgent appointment, patients could be directed towards eConsult or they would be given an appointment within due course.
If you require a same day appointment, then the team will try their best to ensure you get one.
Vulnerable Groups
At Millway Medical Practice, we have a system whereby patients who are vulnerable or need to contact their GP as they have a complex medical condition can do so; they are categorised as ‘green card’ patients. If you are a green card patient, you should have the practice’s emergency contact number to give you direct access to the practice for your healthcare need (if you do not have this, please contact reception).
For our vulnerable patients, we have:
• Dedicated appointment slots and clinics to ensure best care is provided by us.
• Patient advocates – to ensure you have care navigation at the practice. These advocates can help schedule appointments, provide information, and address any concerns you may have.
• Accessible Facilities – provide amenities that cater to the needs of vulnerable patients, for example, wheelchair access.
• Culturally Competent Care – Millway Medical Practice take pride in training our staff to be culturally competent and sensitive to the needs of diverse patient populations, including those from different ethnic backgrounds or with specific cultural considerations.
• Millway Patient Support Group (MPSG) – to implement health literacy programs to empower vulnerable patients with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their health effectively.
Language Line – enables consultation in various languages.
• Feedback Mechanisms – use patient feedback to continuously enhance the accessibility and quality of services.
Home visits
Millway Medical Practice is keen to ensure that we make the best use of our clinical staff, allowing them to provide the most appropriate care to those that need it the most, especially in the winter months.
All home visit requests will be medically assessed to check if a visit is appropriate – ‘triage’
You may think that a home visit by the GP is the best care, however in most cases, a GP needs to make an assessment.
Home visits are appropriate for patients who are:
• Terminally ill
• Truly bedbound patients
• So unwell, that moving would harm them
You can also be visited at home by a rapid response team, usually a community nurse if you are referred by your GP, who can make an assessment, take blood tests, check urine samples and liaise with the practice.
Helping you choose the right service
Several NHS services are available to provide the best health care for your needs. Choosing well will help get you the best advice quickest and reduces pressure on services, freeing them up to help those who need them the most.
Self-care
For treating minor ailments, grazes, bruises, choose Self Care. If required, your pharmacist or NHS 111 service can advise you what to do and what to take. You will also find a wealth of information on conditions and treatments on the NHS website.
Your community pharmacy
Your community pharmacy can give treatment advice about a range of common conditions and minor injuries such as tummy upsets, coughs and colds. Best of all, there is no need for an appointment. If you want to buy an over-the-counter medicine, the pharmacist and their team can help you choose. Find your local pharmacy.
NHS 111
For urgent medical help that isn’t life threatening, choose NHS 111 online or phone 111. The team can provide confidential advice and help you access the most appropriate local health services to meet your needs. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired you can contact the NHS 111 service using the NGT Relay services.
Medications
For repeat medications without having to call us, choose the NHS app . Order any repeat medications 7 working days in advance. It typically takes up to 72 hours for any repeat medication request to be ready at your nominated pharmacy. Conversion of private medication prescription to NHS can take up to 5 working days.
Living well advice
For advice and support on living well, choose NHS Live Well or the Barnet Directory, which connects you to checked and vetted local services and tradespeople as well as local activities and events.
Barnet Wellbeing Service
For social isolation, emotional issues or wellbeing concerns, choose Barnet Wellbeing Service. You can self-refer to this free social prescribing service, which links people aged 16 and above with local community services to improve wellbeing. We also have our in-house social prescribing service, please speak to a member of the reception team for more information.
Mental health support
For information and support to help you take care of your mental and wellbeing, choose Mind in Enfield & Barnet.
Sexual health
For sexual health advice, Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) screening and treatment, HIV testing, and contraception, Central & North West London host a service at Edgware Community Hospital; Sexual Health Barnet.
If you are under 18, please visit our young people’s sexual health advice on Young People Sexual Health.
Walk-in centre or urgent treatment centre
For minor injury care from specialist nurses without an appointment, choose our urgent care centre or the walk-in centre.
Accident and Emergency (A&E) and 999
For serious and life-threatening emergencies only, choose your nearest A&E or phone 999.
GP Out of Hours Service
For fevers, infections and other problems that cannot wait for Millway Medical Practice to re-open, choose the GP Out of Hours Service by calling NHS 111.
Dental Emergencies
If you need dental urgent treatment, choose your regular dentist for advice. If you do not have a regular NHS dentist, contact NHS 111.
How you can help
Look after yourself and each other; there are many ways to stay well this winter. This includes staying warm, eating well, and checking up on vulnerable neighbours. Many minor illnesses and injuries such as a sore throat, coughs, colds and small cuts can be treated in your own home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet and plenty of rest.
Save time by booking your appointment online; use our online consultation form to request advice or treatment. You will receive a response as soon as our practice team has assessed how to provide your care by the most appropriate person, usually within two working days. This might be with a GP or with a specialist professional more suited to your needs.
Have jabs and get tested; it’s not too late to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please have your booster for full protection, and flu jab when offered. If you have symptoms, get a COVID-19 test and don’t visit a healthcare setting (GP practices, pharmacies, accident, and emergency).
Continue to be kind to our staff and each other. This includes helping us by socially distancing where possible and wearing a face mask in healthcare settings.