Winter Pressure Communication

Posted by: hasanmehmet - Posted on:

This is our winter pressure communication to consistently and effectively communicate with patients during times of increased demand, especially over the winter. This will also be shared on our website and via our Millway Patient Support Group (MPSG).


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.

1.) Triage
With the increased demand to see a GP in the winter months, Millway Medical Practice promotes use of a triage system, which is now transitioning towards a total 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:
➢ Improve access
➢ Optimise appointments
➢ Reduce waiting times
➢ Provide same day outcome when econsult is submitted

2.) 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 have several, new, specialised roles, such as Physician’s Associates, mental health practitioners, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
➢ The econsultation on our website is an integral component of our triaging system. Submitted econsults are reviewed and assessed by the doctor on the same day, to determine whether the patient’s medical problem can be managed via a telephone or in-person consultation with the most appropriate clinician.
➢ 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.

3.) 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 four ways to book appointments; a.) via our online consultation tool (eConsult), or b.) via calling reception, or c.) by our receptionist completing an econsultation on your behalf and d.) by coming into the practice. If it’s routine or a nonurgent appointment, patients could be directed towards eConsult (which is the fastest way to contact us) 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.

4.) 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 effect
➢ Language Line – enables consultation in various languages
➢ Feedback Mechanisms – use patient feedback to continuously enhance the accessibility and quality of services

5.) 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.

6.) 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
➢ The new Pharmacy First service launched this year enables community pharmacies to provide advice and NHS-funded treatment, if appropriate, for minor illnesses. This includes:

  1. Sinusitis – for those who are 12 years old or over
  2. Sore throat – for those who are 5 years old or over
  3. Acute otitis media – for those who are 1-17 years old
  4. Infected insect bites – for those who are 1 year old and over
  5. Impetigo – for those who are 1 year old and over
  6. Shingles – for those who are 18 years old and over
  7. Uncomplicated UTI for women – – for those who are 16-64 years old

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 and is at the professional discretion of your GP.
➢ You may receive up to 3-month worth of medication to cover the Christmas closure period (if appropriate).
➢ Please note that we now have a designated prescriptions helpline, which is opened Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm.

Vaccinations
➢ Book your Covid/Flu Vaccination with us by either contacting us on our designated vaccination line 0208 906 6075 to boost protection this winter.
➢ Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) – can lead to severe respiratory illness, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, and vaccination is a good way to boost protection.
➢ Eligible patients to receive this vaccination are those:
➢ Aged 75-79 after or on 1st September 2024
➢ Who turn 80 on or after 2nd September 2024, who will be able to have the vaccine up until 31st August 2025.
➢ Pregnant women, between 28-36 weeks pregnant.
➢ This is not a seasonal vaccination programme, like flu. A single RSV dose is expected to give good protection for a few years.
➢ We will be inviting eligible patients for their vaccinations via text message or phone call for an appointment.

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

Contraception
➢ You no longer require a GP prescription to obtain contraceptive pills. You can obtain this directly from your pharmacy under the NHS contraceptive service (please visit your local pharmacy for details).
➢ More details can be found here – Find a Pharmacy Offering Contraceptive Pill without Prescription

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 reopen, 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Have jabs and get tested; it’s not too late to receive a COVID-19, flu or RSV 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).

Please help us this winter to help you