Borough Road and Nunthorpe Medical Group

Practice and Patient Forum Newsletter February / March 2017

Proposed New Premises at Nunthorpe The current premises at Nunthorpe are significantly inadequate to provide a full range of services to all our patients. There is an increasing local population; difficult parking, and limited space within the surgery. Patients have often referred to the lack of privacy at Reception. The proposed new facilities in Nunthorpe ( Road) will be purpose- built; have more consultation rooms; more waiting space and privacy; provide dedicated parking; have improved disabled access; include a pharmacy; and provide opportunities for alternative treatments.

A public meeting to explain and discuss the proposal has sadly had to be postponed because of legal issues around funding, which NHS are currently working through. We hope the situation will be resolved by the end of April. Once matters are resolved the public meeting will be reorganised.

PATIENT FORUM URGENT CARE

st The Patient Forum’s most recent meeting was held on From 1 April 2017 four new extended-hours GP Wednesday, 11th January. We welcomed some new centres will open, offering more than 90,000 additional members. Those able to attend were: appointments every year. (This will replace the current STAR Scheme: see details overleaf.) Rowland Bentley, Anthony Brown, Victoria Dixon (Office Manager), Bob Eastwood (Chair), Mike Eccles, Lisa Fox The new centres will offer appointments 7 days a week (Practice Manager), Frances Gilchrist, Denise Keegan, Dr from 6pm to 9.30pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am Lakeman, Sue Marshall, Doreen Moodie and Patrick to 9.30pm at weekends and bank holidays. They will be Palmer. situated at North Health Village, Redcar Primary Care Hospital, East Cleveland Hospital in The Forum’s principal brief is to liaise with the Practice Brotton and One Life , on to endeavour to improve your experience as a patient. Road.

If you’d like to give a little of your time to help please Local GPs, working together through the ELM Alliance enquire at reception. will provide the extended hours GP centres and will be able to have access to your patient notes to help The Forum is very grateful for the feedback you give us manage your health needs most effectively. ELM at the “Meet and Greet” sessions we hold in the waiting Alliance will also provide urgent support outside these rooms. In the future, they will be held a little less hours. Patients will be able to access appointments by frequently, but with specific focus (e.g. the proposed calling 111, which is free to call from landlines and new Nunthorpe facilities). mobiles and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

This newsletter contains information generated both by Remember 999 and A&E should only be used for the Forum and the Practice. emergencies

Borough Road 01642 243668 email [email protected] Nunthorpe 01642 315390 S T A R Scheme www.southteesaccessresponse.nhs.uk South Tees Access & Response Scheme (until 1st April 2017)

The STAR Scheme has been centrally devised to enable patients with urgent problems to have access to care at times outside surgery normal opening times, i.e. Monday to Friday (18:30 – 21:30) and weekends and Bank Holidays (08:00 – 20:00).

Patients wishing to see a doctor urgently should ring NHS 111 and ask for help through the STAR scheme. You will then be directed to the most appropriate help for you. This may involve a clinical consultation over the phone or a face-to-face appointment at Linthorpe Surgery in Middlesbrough or at the Bentley Medical Practice within Redcar Primary Care Hospital.

The out-of-hours facilities are run by local doctors on a rotational basis who, with your consent, will have access to your records. In these circumstances, it is unlikely that you will see your own doctor; but your own doctor is still your point of contact during normal surgery hours.

If you don’t need your repeat prescription please NHS Hearing Clinic for all cancel it, or don’t order it as appropriate! patients over 55

Do you have a mobile phone and Hearing assessments available every second Tuesday from 14th February at the Borough Road Surgery use texts? If the answer is “Yes” to both of these This dedicated clinic is for all patients over 55 who are questions… Good News! concerned about their hearing. The clinic allows you to access NHS hearing care at the practice. You will be You can sign up now with the Practice to receive: provided with a full hearing consultation including  Text confirmations of booked appointments assessment and fitting of hearing aids if required, free  Occasional important news or reminders from of charge. the Practice. It’s easy – talk to the receptionists to set things up. And finally, once again…

Do you have internet access from a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone? If so you can book, view and cancel appointments; and In January 2017 the attendance level for booked order repeat prescriptions on-line. appointments was 95% Patients missing appointments has been a long-term Easy, fast reliable, secure access via the problem but things are improving! www.boroughroadandnunthorpe.nhs.uk website, or Please cancel your appointment if you no longer need it from an app for IOS and Android devices.

It’s easy to set up – speak to the receptionists now! Follow us on Twitter @PatientForumBRN

Borough Road 01642 243668 email [email protected] Nunthorpe 01642 315390