Grove Surgery
Trinity Medical Centre
Thornhill Street
Wakefield
WF1 1PG
Tel:01924 784101
Fax: 01924 398019
Welcome to this issue of our Practice Newsletter. The newsletter is to provide
patients with news, information and forthcoming events. If you have any suggestions
as to what you would like to see in the newsletter please let us know.
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What Can We Do For You?
The Grove Surgery has a history of providing high quality, family centred General
Practice. The current partners and doctors continue to provide the same high quality
care in an ever changing world where treatment options and expectations increase
year after year. For better or for worse the NHS is continually changing, from the way
you phone the surgery to book an appointment to the amazing procedures offered by
our colleagues in the hospitals.
NHS 111
NHS 111 is a new service which commenced in March 2013 to help patient’s access
urgent local health services. Calls are free and when you ring this number you will be
assessed, then given advice or directed straightaway to the local service you need.
This could be the Out of Hours Doctor, a Community Nurse, Emergency Dentist,
Walk in Centre or even a late opening pharmacy. They will also arrange an
ambulance immediately if they think your condition is life threatening.
This means that patients will only need to remember three telephone numbers, 999
for life threatening emergencies, 01924 784101 for the surgery and 111.
Surgery Opening Hours
Monday – Friday
08.00am to 18.30pm
Saturday
08.00am to 12.00pm
Appointment only
Bank Holiday Dates
 Wednesday 1st January 2014
 Friday 18th and 21st April 2014
Closed
Closed
Staff training Days
We will close at 12noon on the day of training and re-open the following day at
08.00am.
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Wednesday 15th January
Wednesday 12th February
Wednesday 19th March
Wednesday 9th April
If you need a Doctor in an emergency please telephone 111
SystmOnline – Appointments and Repeat Prescriptions
Why not book your appointment online via our website? Ask at reception for your
unique ID and password. Once you have these, go to www.grovesurgery.org and
follow the online appointments link on the right hand side. You can also request
repeat prescriptions.
Missed Appointments
During the month of November 2013 a total of 321 patients failed to attend their
appointment. During the month of December 2013 a total of 275 patients failed to
attend their appointment. If you are unable to attend the surgery please let us know
so the appointment can be used for someone else.
Changes of Address and Telephone Numbers
Please let the receptionist know of any changes to your address as soon as
possible. Also can you let us know of any telephone contact numbers you can be
contacted on e.g. Home, Mobile or Work as this will provide a more efficient service
if we need to contact you. If your home telephone number does not accept incoming
calls please provide us with an alternative contact number. We can also contact you
by email: just let us have your email address.
A+E
We are trying to reduce the number of patients who attend A+E when they could
have been seen by a GP here at the Surgery. Please remember we do offer a Triage
Service with the Triage Nurses which are held every day until 16.00pm. We also
have telephone consultations available with a choice of GP. If you are unsure
whether you need to attend A+E contact the surgery first (after opening hours you
will be given a further number to ring)
A+E costs between £54.00 and £190.00 on average, depending on your
treatment so please think carefully of what the alternatives may be before
deciding to attend A+E.
Triage Service
We offer a Triage Nurse Service between Monday and Friday between 08.00am and
16.00pm. The Triage nurses are available to answer your questions and offer advice;
they can also assess the severity of a patient’s condition and are able to book
emergency appointments with the Duty Doctor of the day.
Contraception
If you want to take the contraceptive pill or have the depo injection then the first
appointment must be made with a Doctor. All further appointments are then booked
with a Practise Nurse. Please book your appointment with the Practise Nurse at least
2 working days in advance so the prescription can be processed in time for your
appointment.
Blood Tests
After seeing your GP, if the Doctor has requested a blood test, patients under the
age of 14 must have blood tests taken at the hospital.
CQC
The practise is currently making an application to be registered with the care Quality
Commission (CQC) from 01 April 2013.
The CQC regulates all adult health and social care services in England, including
those provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary
organisation. It also protects the interests of people detained under the Mental
Health Act. The CQC makes sure essential standards of quality and safety are being
met where care is provided, from hospitals to private care homes. It has a wide
range of enforcement powers to take action on behalf of people who use services if
services are unacceptably poor. The CQC’s aim is to make sure better care is
provided for everyone, whether that’s in hospital, in care homes, in people’s own
homes or elsewhere.
What you can do for us
Appointments
We do not expect any patients to wait longer than two working days for a non-urgent
or routine appointment with any practitioner. If you wish to see a specific practitioner
you may have to wait a little longer depending on their availability. If you need an
urgent appointment please speak to the Triage Nurses.
Please:
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Attend punctually for appointments
Cancel your appointment if you are unable to attend. Please note that if you
fail to attend 3 appointments within a 12 month period, you may be removed
from the Practise List. If so you will be notified by letter.
Don’t request an urgent appointment for routine matters
Ensure you give us your correct telephone number and inform us of any
change of address so that we are able to contact you if necessary.
Out of Hours/Home Visits
The Surgery provides full medical cover to all of our patients. The services of Local
Care Direct are used for out of hours cover. Please telephone 01924 784101 where
you will be given further details.
Please:
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Ensure that requests for home visits are made before 10.30 Monday – Friday
and only if a patient is unable to come to the Surgery
Ask for an out of hours visit only if it is really necessary
Telephone Consultations
The doctors provide a service to patients whose condition can be dealt with by
telephone. Please telephone the appointment line to book a slot and the doctor will
telephone you back. This service is available after morning surgery only
Children’s Consultations
Children under the age of 16 must ideally be accompanied by an adult: the child may
be refused to be seen if not. Written consent must be provided by the parent or legal
guardian if they are to be accompanied by other family members or friends. Please
note that written consent is required for each attendance.
Prescriptions
Patients may order repeat prescriptions by voicemail/telephone answer phone or by
delivery or posting requests to the surgery. You can also request repeat
prescriptions via our website. Prescriptions will be available for collection after two
working days. If a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed with a request the
surgery will post the prescription back to the patient. We can also you’re your
prescription directly to the chemist for you to pick up, please ask at reception for
more information. Prescriptions can be collected anytime during normal surgery
opening hours.
Investigations and Results
Any tests undertaken will be dealt with promptly and you will be advised when you
can expect the results. Any necessary treatment resulting from such tests will be
made available at the earliest opportunity.
Please:
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Telephone for results after 10.30am. Telephone – 01924 784101
Note that certain results can only be given to you in person at the surgery i.e.
Smear Test Results and Pregnancy Test Results. This is because this is
highly personal information
Ensure that you telephone for your own results
Unacceptable Behaviour
We value and care for our staff. We ask you to treat them with courtesy and respect.
Any individual not complying with this request will be asked to leave the premises
and may be removed from the Practise List.
Patients Toilets
Unfortunately we have had to take extreme measures by putting automatic locks on.
This has been a result of many incidents of damage, misuse and flooding. Ladies
may use the disabled toilets if free.
Do you like our newsletter?
Please let us know if there is any information you would find useful or if you would
like to know more about our services.