CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

PLEASE REFER TO THE 'FURTHER INFORMATION' SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. 

GP face-to-face appointments

We know there’s been a lot of discussion in the news this week about GPs providing face-to face-appointments. We wanted to reassure patients that NHS Digital have confirmed that in July over 50% of the 22.8 million appointments carried out were in fact face to face. 

Over the coming days, we’ll be posting updates to explain some of the things that are going on behind the scenes, so you can see what’s been happening in your local surgery. 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve remained open to patients. We’ve offered appointments using new ways of working and new technology. We’ve worked hard to make sure we’ve remained available to speak to, and to offer appointments to anyone who’s needed them.

We know that patients sometimes prefer to see a GP face to face, but there are reasons why we’ve offered additional online or telephone consultations, and government guidance has played a big part in this. It’s remained the case that if we’ve needed to see a patient face to face, or felt it was important for their care, we’ve asked those patients to come in to see us.

Offering new ways of working has helped some patients to access appointments who wouldn’t normally be able to due to other commitments, such as their work or caring responsibilities.

The cleaning required between patients during the pandemic means that if all patients were to come into the surgery, we wouldn’t be able to offer the same number of appointments because of the amount of time that cleaning between each patient takes. However, we’ll always see patients face to face who need to be seen face to face.

Changing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) between each patient adds additional time to the end of each appointment. The difficulty in obtaining PPE has also meant that we’ve needed to be more cautious than normal about the way we use scare resources. We continue to work hard daily to source the PPE we need.

We understand that some patients are reluctant to come and see us in the surgery as they’re worried. We’re making sure that social distancing is as good as it possibly can be and that we maintain a ‘COVID-secure’ environment. Some of the things we take into account when we’re considering this are: the number of people in the waiting room, the number of people who pass each other in the corridors, and the toilet facilities that are available.

Our staff are people too, and some may have ethnicity or health issues that make them more vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. As caring employers, we need to ensure that we keep our staff safe as well. We take the necessary precautions to keep both our staff and our patients safe.

We have many elderly and vulnerable patients with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to coronavirus than most. We also know that there are young and healthy people who have been seriously affected by COVID-19, so it isn’t just the elderly or infirm we need to protect.

Increasing the number of patients in the surgery would mean that we’d increase the risk for everyone – particularly if some of those people had symptoms of COVID-19 and were unwell enough to need to be seen. For this reason, we’ll keep a balance of the types of appointments we have available.

There’s nothing we’d like to see more than a return to ‘normal’ life and the easy face-to-face care we’ve always provided, but at the moment offering fewer face-to-face appointments keeps patients safe and provides the maximum number of appointments we can.

We’re available to talk to, and we always want to hear from, patients who need us. While we understand patients’ frustrations with the current situation, we hope you’ll continue to help and support us, as you’ve always supported the NHS, so that we can go on providing you with care and support in the coming weeks and months.

Welcome to Thames Avenue Surgery        

Welcome to our website where we hope you will find enhanced convenience added to first class healthcare. Find out when we are open and how to see a member of the team. We’ve made life a little easier with practice updates, news on the latest health issues and even access to repeat medication all at your fingertips.

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Check out what patients are saying about our services 

and what we are doing in response to feedback received

We're listening

Having your say helps to improve care for everyone so please put us to the test by giving us your feedback each time you use our services.  

Have your say - TAKE OUR TEST today.  

COIL / IMPLANT CLINIC

We are delighted to now offer Coil and Implant Fittings/Removals at the surgery.

For further information about our Contraception Services  please CLICK HERE.

PATIENT SAMPLES

Following a recent Infection Prevention & Control audit carried out at the surgery, we now no longer accept patient samples put through the letter box.     In order to comply with our infection prevention & control procedures, any samples put in the letter box will be discarded.

All patient samples must be handed in directly at Reception during our opening hours so that we can ensure that the sample has been correctly labelled and that it is securely placed in a sealed bag ready for sending to the lab.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.  (AUGUST 2019)

IMPROVED ACCESS 'HUBS'

Did you know that you are able to book an appointment to see a GP in the evenings or weekends at one of the many Primary Care Hubs within the Healthy Living Centres across Medway?

Read more.....

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Data Protection Law changed as from 25th May 2018 - please see our Privacy Notices to give you more information on the data we hold on you, what we do with that data, who we share your data with and your new rights under GDPR.

Your Good Health

Access to a wide range of healthcare services is a key element of a good local practice. We don’t just want to see you when you’re ill we want to make sure you stay healthy too. Check out how we can cover both bases with our clinics and services.

Best practice

Our professional team will ensure you receive the best attention at all times whether you’re attending a specialist clinic or a routine appointment. If you’re new to the area registration is easy and comes with the comfort of discretion and confidentiality assured. 

NOTICE TO PATIENTS re. Requesting Repeat Prescriptions 

As part of our commitment to offer patients a more enhanced online service, we withdrew the facility to request repeat prescriptions directly from our surgery website at the end of July 2018.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused in removing this facility, however this service and more is now provided on an alternative secure website which once registered will enable you to book GP appointments, request repeat medication, view the status of any medication requests and will also give access to some aspects of your medical record.

Please either click on the link below for a registration form or collect a form from Reception. 

Patient Online

Please register to use our Online Services. Learn More...

Accessibility     

Our surgery is accessible to patients using a wheelchair via a ramp at the front entrance.                                                                                                          

There is a disabled space in the car park at the rear of the surgery for any patients displaying a disabled badge in their vehicle.  A disabled toilet and baby changing facilities are also available.  There is also space for prams and buggies opposite reception.