News
Masks/Face Coverings
We would ask that all patients attending the surgery for any reason wear a mask or face covering. Those patients attending appointments will be provided with a mask if they are unable to provide their own.
Self-Isolation Note
If you or a member of your household has symptoms of COVID-19 and have been advised to self-isolate then please follow the link to access NHS 111 Online were you will be able to apply for a self-isolation note.
https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/
General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19)
This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital.
To find out more about what information we are sharing to support COVID-19, why we share it, and how to opt out of data sharing please click in the document below.
General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19).pdf
COVID-19
If you or a household member have either:
- a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new, continuous cough – this means you've started coughing repeatedly
- a loss of/change in tastse/smell
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.
Living alone
If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.
Other household members
If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period.
For all the information on COVD-19 guidance click here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
HGV License renewal
Temporary change applies to drivers whose licences are due to expire or have expired since 1 January 2020.
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you currently do not need to provide a medical report (form D4) to apply to renew your licence.
If your application is successful, you’ll get a 1 year licence. Click here for more information
Our new Social Prescriber
The George Clare Surgery would like to welcome Mary our new Social Prescriber to the team!
To find out more about Mary's role click here
Key functions of the Social Prescriber:
- Building rapport and trust with people
- Listening to 'what matters to them'
- Helping the person to develop a personalised support plan
- Knowing the services and support networks available in an area
- Conecting people to services/support (formal e.g. commisisoned services and informal e.g. groups/clubs/networks)
- Supporting local communities to set up new activities e.g walking group, gardening club at community centers, coffee morning etc.hat patients.
- Who would be suitable to be referred to a social prescriber?
- People with one or more long term condition
- Those who need suppoer with their mental health
- Those who are lonly or isolated
- People who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing
“I once felt so useless when I now know I’m a star,
I’m strong and I’m resilient because I’ve come so far.
My life is now worth living when it could have been so tragic,
And that’s why social prescribing is a prescription of pure magic.”
Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
We are upgrading to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which will mean that almost all our prescriptions will be processed electronically from 18/03/2020
Electronic prescriptions help save the NHS money.
You will receive your prescriptions in the same way as you do now.
About EPS
EPS allows prescribers to send prescriptions electronically to a dispenser (such as a pharmacy) of the patient's choice. This makes the prescribing and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for patients and staff.
The benefits
The benefits of EPS are that:
- prescribers can process prescriptions more efficiently and spend less time dealing with prescription queries
- dispensers can reduce use of paper, have improved stock control, and provide a more efficient service to patients
- patients can collect repeat prescriptions from a pharmacy without visiting their GP, and won't have a paper prescription to lose
To find out more click here
George Clare surgery was temporarily closed this morning (12 March 2020) to enable a clean of the surgery as a routine precautionary measure. The practice will reopen today at 1.30pm.
We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused. Safety is our priority and we have been working with public health teams to make sure there is no risk to staff and patients.
Morning Queuing
We are constantly reviewing and trying to take steps to improve our service, one of the concerns that regularly comes to our attention is the length of the queue at 8.30am and the difficulty that those with pre-booked appointments have in checking themselves in prior to their appointment time.
To try and resolve this you will notice that there is a barrier once you are inside the surgery doors asking you to queue to the right and use the self check-in machine if you have a pre-booked appointment, and queue to the left if you do not. We will continue to use this system throughout the day.
We will continue to monitor the effect this has on patients being able to check in on time at 8.30am. If you are unsure how to use the machine then please ask a member of reception during quieter times to demonstrate or assist you.
updated 28/01/2020
Current Vacancies
George Clare Surgery has a vacancy for the following post:
- Practice Nurse (15- 22 hours)
Visit Indeed.com for more information and to apply.
NHS Health Checks
Get your ‘midlife MOT’ with a free NHS Health Check
NHS Health Checks are now being provided across Cambridgeshire as part of a national screening programme. The programme aims to give people a once-over as they move into their middle years, helping spot signs early and providing peace of mind. It lets you take control of your health, and enjoy life for longer.
Give us a call to sign up!
What do NHS Health Checks protect against?
NHS Health Checks detect a range of different vascular and circulatory conditions. This includes Dementia, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Strokes, Diabetes and Kidney Disease. Catching symptoms for these issues early will help healthcare professionals to offer treatment and suggest lifestyle changes, and can prevent more serious problems in the long-term.
Who is eligible for NHS Health Checks?
NHS Health Checks are available for anyone who’s aged between 40 and 74 and isn’t already in touch with their GP about a pre-existing condition. A ‘midlife MOT’ like this can help you to live a longer and healthier life.
What does it involve?
The NHS Health Check is very straightforward, and it will only take 20-30 minutes.
It’s based on simple questions about age, lifestyle and family history, along with standard measurements of height, weight, urine content and glucose and cholesterol levels.
What happens afterwards?
A healthcare professional will discuss the results with you in detail afterwards. You’ll be given a full personalised report. This will provide resources and support to help with staying healthy and keeping up good habits, including information about the local support services.
Waiting Room Blood Pressure Monitor
We have recently installed an automated blood pressure monitor in our waiting room, it is located opposite the Reception desk.
If you are due for you for your 6 monthly blood pressure check then please feel free to use the machine, making sure you take your results slip to reception so this can be passed to the clinicians for processing, there is no need for you to have a face to face appointment.
Patients requiring annual blood tests and blood pressure test for the monitoring of medication and chronic diseases will still be invited in by the surgery for an appointment as normal.
Patient Participation Group
Patient Participation Group
The next meeting will be held 5pm Thursday 19th March at the George Clare Surgery
If you have not yet registered your interest to be a part of the PPG then please register your interest at reception or email us on CAPCCG.georgeclaresurgery@nhs.net
New Staff
We are pleased to welcome both Dr Ruth Batson, and Dr Kate Woods who joined the team this month and will take on the patients formally registered with Dr John Szekely.
Dr Batson will be working Wednesdays and Fridays
Dr Woods will be working Tuesdays and Fridays.
MED3
Requests for certification of absence falls in to the following five catagories:
1. Personally affected so isolating for seven days
2. Personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven days
3. Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice
4. At risk group so following government advice
5. Those in full time education.
1. Personally affected so isolating for seven days
Patients can and should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work.
They do not need to contact their GP.
2. Personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven days
If they remain unwell and unfit to work after seven days the current advice is to visit www.111.nhs.uk where there is an online self-assessment tool; the patient may be invited to call 111 and given further advice and a MED3 certificate emailed to them.
They do not need to contact their GP.
3. Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice
4. At risk group so following government advice
GPs cannot and are not the gatekeeper of the statutory sick pay system. Employers are responsible for putting in place arrangements for home/remote working where this is possible. Where it is not, the employee may self-certify and return to work following the relevant absence which their employer may authorise as per government advice. Where they do become unwell during or after this time, point 1 and 2 applies.
They do not need to contact their GP.
5. Those in full time education.
There is no NHS requirement to issue certification to schools or colleges to confirm absence. These organisations must work with parents and students to ensure that any absence is appropriately recorded, obviating the need for a ‘doctor’s note’.
They do not need to contact their GP