Practice News

Care Navigation / Signposting

Ensuring patients receive the right support is key to delivering well-coordinated, patient-centred care. Our Receptionists are trained to direct your call appropriately, helping you see the most suitable Clinician for your needs. To do this effectively, they may ask about the reason for your call and the nature of your appointment request.

Active signposting helps patients access the right service from their first point of contact, often through the Receptionist. They act as care navigators, ensuring you are booked with the most appropriate professional from the start. In addition, websites and apps can offer self-help resources and further guidance on available services.

For example, the Receptionist may refer you directly to:

• First Contact Practitioner (FCP) – An FCP is a healthcare professional based at the GP surgery who specialises in musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. You can book directly with an FCP without needing a GP referral if you have a new MSK issue and are not already under the care of a hospital specialist for the same condition. Please speak to the Receptionist for more information.
• Pharmacy First – This new scheme allows local pharmacies to provide treatment for certain conditions using prescription-only medications, without the need to visit a GP. Click here for more details.
• Social Prescribing - Health is influenced by more than just physical conditions. Factors such as stress, unemployment, financial difficulties, loneliness, lack of early childhood support, unstable housing, and discrimination can impact between 30-55% of health outcomes. To address these wider influences, the NHS has introduced social prescribing - a more holistic and integrated approach to healthcare. Social prescribers work closely with GP practices to help patients access support beyond traditional medical care. They connect individuals to local groups, activities, and services that can address social, emotional, and practical challenges affecting their health and wellbeing. Acting as a link between your GP and community resources, they help ensure you get the right support. Anyone in your GP practice team may suggest a referral to a social prescriber. If referred, you’ll have an appointment to discuss your situation, explore your needs, and find out what support is available. Whether you're dealing with financial concerns, loneliness, education, discrimination, housing issues, or other non-medical challenges, a social prescriber can guide you toward the right services. Whatever you're going through, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Appointment Updates

FROM THE 1^ST MARCH WE WILL NO LONGER BE FOLLOWING OUR MEDICAL TRIAGE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

Please call the practice for an urgent on the day appointment at 8:30am on 01623 551015.

We will still have routine appointments available, if your medical problem is not urgent. Please contact reception to book, or book via SystmOnline.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Severn Trent Big Difference Scheme

You could get up to 70% off the average Severn Trent bill.

The Big Difference Scheme can offer a reduction of water bills to any Severn Trent customer with a household income below £22,010.

Households with child dependants may be eligible for an additional income allowance in excess of this amount.

The Scheme will assess your household income when you apply, and that assessment will determine how big a reduction you’re eligible for.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a brand new payment plan. The Big Difference Scheme will design a payment plan especially for you which will include payments towards any outstanding debt on your account.

The scheme runs for 12 months at a time. You’ll have to apply again at the end of each year-long period.

Click here for more information

Bowel Cancer Screening

Bowel cancer screening is a test you do at home that checks for signs of bowel cancer. It’s offered to everyone aged 54 to 74.

If you’re aged 54 to 74 and registered with a GP, you’ll automatically get a bowel cancer screening home test kit (FIT kit) through the post every 2 years.

If you’re aged 75 or over, you can ask for a home test kit every 2 years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

If you do not have a permanent home address, you can ask your GP surgery for your test kit to be sent to the GP surgery or to another address.

If you think you’re eligible for bowel cancer screening but you’ve not been invited, or had your test kit, call the bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

It’s your choice if you want to have bowel cancer screening. Screening does not stop you getting bowel cancer, but it is the best way to find cancer at an early stage.

If you do not want to be invited for screening, call the bowel cancer screening helpline to be