News
Measles Outbreak - Update
Measles Outbreak - Updat econtinued
Cost of Living Information and Support
Buckinghamshire Council has published a number of avenues that may support our patients, including access to free or low cost food, financial support and help with other living costs.
Click the link for more information: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living/?utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery
Digital Portal for patient communication in to the practice - eConsult
As part of the NHS Digital Transformation plan, all practices are required to have a digital platform.
Our digital platform or online service is called eConsult and is available through the week.
It can be accessed via our website, from your mobile, tablet or PC, or the NHS App. There is no need to download an app.
eConsult is a service for patients wanting to contact the GP to request routine appointments, medication requests along with any queries, either clinical or administrative. You should get a response within two working days.
This was launched during the Covid pandemic, and has proved to be an invaluable tool for both Doctors and patients, receiving very positive feedback.
Avoid calling the practice where possible as our phone lines are very busy.
Simply use eConsult, the link button is located on our home page, and avoid the queues.
FOR PATIENTS WITH CLINICALLY URGENT PROBLEMS NEEDING AN ON-THE-DAY APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PHONE AT 08:30 OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Hormone Replacement Therapy [HRT] - help with costs
On 1 April 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) introduced a new Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) to reduce the cost of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for patients.
The certificate will be valid for 12 months and covers an unlimited number of listed HRT medicines for the cost of two single prescription charges. Patients could save money if they pay more than two HRT prescription charges within 12 months.
The HRT PPC will be available to buy in one single payment online at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc, or in-person at some pharmacies. Patients can call 0300 330 2089 for help and support.
Before buying an HRT PPC, a patient should check if:
- they’re eligible for free NHS prescriptions using the eligibility checker: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check
- their medicine is covered by the HRT PPC. For a list of eligible HRT medication, visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/hrt-ppc-medicines
- a 3 or 12 month standard Pre Payment Certificate [PPC] is more suitable; as it covers all NHS prescriptions, not just HRT items. Visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ppc
How We Are Operating 'Post Covid'
We are now 'living with Covid'. Since April 23 the wearing of PPE and patients required to wear masks has been stood down.
However, if you or a member of your household has 'Covid' or chest infection symptoms we do request that patients wear masks when vising the surgery.
This is in place to:
1. lower the risk of Covid virus transmission from patients to staff and vice versa.
2. reduce the viral load of Covid in the building, which is essential to ensure we can protect the patients attending the surgery daily for face-to-face appointments, which include vulnerable patients and very young babies receiving their immunisations. As well as protect the surgery team from over exposure to high levels of the Covid virus, which in turn ensures the surgery remains open and able to offer a GP Service to the residents of Little Chalfont.
In line with the NHS 10 year Digital Transformation Plan, we opeate a digital total triage service; our chosen software system is called eConsult, this allows patients to contact the surgery requesting advice, self-help, medication, admin requests, etc. Many of our patients had been asking for a way to contact the surgery without waiting on the phone, and this provided the answer.
Using eConsult you can contact us from work, home, or while commuting, without having to wait to get through on the phone. The information you provide is delivered to a secure inbox to your GP, who then determines next steps, this could be asking for more information, providing a medicine or treatment plan, or arranging a consultation – either telephone, video or face-to-face. We aim to respond to you by the end of the next working day.
To access this go to our website home page and click on the large banner - eConsult.
To access the surgery - Select the relevant section, and follow the prompts to provide the requested information. This is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) so your next question is determined by your previous answer.
For advice and guidance, scroll down the page and select from
- Condition
- A-Z
- For your Child
- Body Map
You can then decide whether you want self-help; pharmacy advice; or advice and treatment from your GP
Reception is open to assist patients with queries Monday to Friday from 10:30 - 12:30 and 15:00 to 17:00.
HELP US TO HELP YOU
Please review our website which is updated very regularly, it contains lots of information for services that are available to help and support you, many of these you can access directly without a referral from your GP.
Only contact us when your GP is the appropriate person.
For minor ailments, self-treat or speak to a pharmacist for advice; they will know when it is appropriate for you to contact your GP. All pharmacies in buckinghamshire now offer a minor illness service.
For minor injuries, there is a GP-led Urgent Treatment Centre at Wycombe General Hospital, open 8am to 8pm every day, to obtain an appointment for this phone 111.
The UTC Treats:
- cuts and bruises
- sprains and strains
- bites and stings
- scalds and minor burns (but not involving the head or neck),
- infected wounds
- suspected fractures
- minor head injuries (no loss of consciousness) – ADULTS ONLY*
- objects lodged in ear/eye/mouth/nose
*Children should attend A&E at Stoke Mandeville
If you are unsure, always call NHS 111, who also provide a 24/7 advice service.