1. Patient Information Screen November 2018
Combs Ford Surgery
Patient Information Screen
November
2018

2. Checking In Screen
If checking in, please use the checking in touch screen. It asks 3 questions:
Month of birth
Day of birth – please select the actual date, not two separate numerals
First letter of your surname

3. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Sore throat? Bad cough? Think you’ve got the flu?
If you don’t know what to do, call NHS 111 or ask your pharmacist before seeing a GP.”

4. Did Not Attends
Patients who fail to attend twice in fairly close proximity will receive a letter. If a patient continues to miss appointments, without contacting the surgery, they may be removed from the practice list and may be required to find an alternative doctor. The decision to remove will be taken on a case by case basis and at the discretion of the partners.

5. Cancelling an Appointment
If you cannot attend your appointment for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible, even if it’s only 30 minutes notice, we still may be able to offer the appointment to someone else. Thank you for your co-operation

6. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Ouch! Dental pain...
We can't help
...but we know someone who can!
Call on Freephone number
for an emergency NHS dental appointment”

7. Dispensary
Dispensary opening hours: 08:00-18:30 We are available to take phone calls between the hours of: 10:30-12:00 and 14:30-16:00 We ask patients to allow 3-4 days for prescriptions to arrive before medication is collected

8. Restricted Prescribing
The Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG are restricting certain medications from being prescribed as they are available to buy on the high street.
These include:
Paracetamol
Hay fever tablets
Emollient preparation creams

9. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Keeping a supply of basic medicines at home means you can treat minor illness & injury more easily.”

12. Additional GP Appointments – NHS GP+ Service:
weekends, evenings and bank holidays

13. Suffolk GP + This is an NHS service for-
People with a routine need to see a local doctor
People who find it difficult to attend weekday appointments

14. Appointments made via the practice, NHS 111 or out of hours service
Suffolk GP +
Appointments made via the practice, NHS 111 or out of hours service
Ipswich GP+ Bury GP+
Riverside Clinic Northgate St
Landseer Road Bury St Edmunds
IP3 0AZ IP33 1AE
Stowmarket GP+
Stowhealth
Violet Hill Road
IP14 1NL

15. Training, Education and Development
The surgery has a staff training afternoon booked on: Thursday 15th November

16. Training, Education and Development
The surgery doors will remain open but we will only have the following services running:
Reception – We will have a receptionist on the front desk for general enquiries.
Dispensary – We will have a dispenser to help with repeat prescriptions and collection of medication.

17. Your doctors and nurses say…
“If you're feeling unwell, pop into your local pharmacy for some friendly and helpful advice.”

18. Smoking Cessation
Want help quitting but don’t know where to turn? Visit to find smoking cessation services available to you.

19. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Did you know you can now sign yourself up to many health services in Suffolk, for free?
Get information and help quicker without having to see a GP.”

20. Self Referral Service For Podiatry
You can now self-refer to Suffolk podiatry Service online. Visit Or Speak to our reception for more details

21. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Back pain? Joint problems?
No GP appointment needed.”
Call for a physiotherapy appointment:
AHP Suffolk
Ipswich Hospital Physiotherapy

22. Telephone Appointments
If you have a telephone appointment, please be aware that when the GP/Nurse Practitioner calls you, it will be from a withheld number.

23. Contact Telephone Number
It is important that we have the correct, up to date contact details for you.
If you have changed your contact details, please inform reception.

24. Contact Details – TEENAGERS!
Please check that we have the correct contact details for you on our system. We may have the telephone number of your home address and/or your parent’s mobile number.

25. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Parents can get free training to help you and your kids with their behaviour; no need to see your GP first.
Search online for Suffolk Parent Hub.”

26. Online Booking
To register for online services you will need to bring TWO forms of identification to reception. We require one photo ID (e.g. Driving licence or Passport) AND One address ID (e.g. Utility bill, Bank statement) Once registered you will be able to order repeat prescriptions and book appointments online.

27. Appointments How we book our appointments:
We have on the day appointments
We have appointments available 1 or 2 days in advance
We also have appointments available up to 12 weeks in advance.

28. Your doctors and nurses say…
“If you need urgent healthcare, please call NHS 111 before you go to any other service. It is available 24/7 and free to call.”

29. Right Person, Right Time, Right Place
Denise Farrow
Nurse Practitioner
Andrew Toogood
Emergency Care Practitioner
Our Nurse Practitioner (Denise Farrow) and Emergency Care Practitioner (Andrew Toogood) are available to see you for a number of problems. They are likely to be able to see you on the day you call.

30. Right Person, Right Time, Right Place
Denise Farrow
Nurse Practitioner
Andrew Toogood
Emergency Care Practitioner
Denise and Andrew have direct access to a doctor at the practice, can arrange for a prescription if necessary and can refer you directly to a consultant or specialist if required. Talk to our reception team about making an appointment.

31. Right Person, Right Time, Right Place
Your local pharmacist can give you lots of advice on the best way to treat problems such as colds, coughs, minor burns, diarrhoea, sprains, bumps and bruises.

32. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Need help coping with stress, depression or anxiety?
Suffolk Wellbeing Service offers a range of support that could help you feel better. Call or sign yourself up online at

33. Courtesy and Politeness
Our reception staff strive to remain polite and courteous under often difficult circumstances. The doctors expect their patients to do the same Rude or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and could result in immediate removal from our list.

34. Waiting Times
Please be a patient patient – in future it may be you requiring a longer appointment with the doctor

35. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Your local pharmacist can give you lots of advice on the best way to treat problems such as colds, coughs, minor burns, diarrhoea, sprains, bumps and bruises.”

36. Smear Test Recent headline news:
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35
A smear test can prevent 75% of cervical cancers
If you are eligible or overdue, book your appointment now

37. Don’t shy away from your smear test, it could be a life saver.
If you want more information or have any questions, make an appointment with a nurse to discuss.
Don’t shy away from your smear test, it could be a life saver.

38. Your doctors and nurses say…
“Back pain? Joint problems?
No GP appointment needed.”
Call for a physiotherapy appointment:
AHP Suffolk
Ipswich Hospital Physiotherapy

39. What is a Care Navigator?
A Care Navigator will make sure you get help from the right person at the right time - right away.
Pharmacist
Physio
Nurse
To do this, Care Navigators will need to ask why you are calling so that they can arrange the right care or support for you.
Care Navigators have been trained to keep information confidential and to provide a safe service.
If you have any questions please speak to reception or the practice manager.

40. What is a Care Navigator?
Receptionists in your GP practice are training to become Care Navigators, to make sure every person contacting the surgery is helped in a way that is right for them.
This could be anything from arranging contact or an appointment with your GP or Practice Nurse, providing information on services within your community that could help you, or by giving you advice or information over the phone, perhaps saving you a visit to the practice.
Physician
HCA GP
If you have any questions please speak to reception or the practice manager.

41. What is a Care Navigator?
A Care Navigator will make sure you get help from the right person at the right time - right away.
Link worker
Physio GP
Why will this help?
You will get help from the most appropriate person as quickly as possible.
Seeing your GP will become easier when you need to.
You may not need to visit the practice.
If you have any questions please speak to reception or the practice manager.

42. If you were rushed into hospital, how much would the doctor know about you?
Ask today about adding information to your Summary Care Record.
Adding more information means health and care staff can make better decisions about you.

43. This General Medical Practice is research active
Clinical Research Network
Eastern
This General Medical Practice is research active
Conducting high-quality clinical research helps up to keep improving NHS care by finding out which treatments work best.
In this practice, you might be asked to take part in a clinical research study. Alternatively, ask our staff about clinical studies suitable for you.
Taking part in a clinical research study is voluntary and can be a rewarding experience.
Delivering research to
make patients, and the NHS, better

44. PERSONAL DATA
Where we hold addresses and mobile telephone numbers for patients we will only use them to send information regarding appointments, reviews or your medical conditions.
If you decide that you do not wish to receive sms texts or s from the practice please contact us and we will make the necessary amendments to your records.