The Elms Medical Practice
16 Derby Street
Ormskirk
Lancashire
L39 2BY
URGENT TREATMENT CENTRES
West Lancashire Health Centre and Skelmersdale Urgent Treatment Centre are still open, and can deal with minor injuries and ailments. However, they are not currently operating as walk in centres. They are working on an appointment only basis which can be booked by phoning: 01695 402 180
Please do not attend either site without an appointment, as you may not be seen
SHIELDING UPDATE - FAQ
Please click here to read some frequently asked questions about the recent Government update with regards to shielding patients.
FACE COVERING ADVICE
Please follow the below link to read advice and guidance about wearing face coverings, particularly on public transport:
https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/mask
VIDEO FROM DR PETER GREGORY - WEST LANCASHIRE GP
Dr Peter Gregory, a West Lancashire GP has filmed a video to remind all local residents that we all need to play our part to beat COVID-19.
You can watch the video by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/NHSWestLancsCCG/videos/846408232429561
PRESSURES ON SOUTHPORT & ORMSKIRK HOSPITAL
Southport & Ormskirk Hospital Trust are currently experiencing a period of high pressure with large numbers of people presenting at A&E. Please remember that we are open as normal from 8am - 6:30pm Monday to Friday. You can also access the Ormskirk and Skelmersdale Urgent Treatment Centre's for minor illnesses and injuries, but you must ring 01695 402180 first to arrange an appointment.
DOMESTIC ABUSE SUPPORT DURING COVID-19
There is a variety of support available to victims of domestic abuse, please see below for links to posters and leaflets which contain the relevant information and contact details:
Leaflet 1: Click Here
Leaflet 2: Click Here
Leaflet 3: Click Here
MENTAL HEALTH DURING COVID-19
Dr Ros Bonsor, a GP in West Lancashire has made a video about mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the help that is available to West Lancashire residents at this time.
You can watch the video here: https://youtu.be/T-_8FrF-9wc
COVID-19 TESTING INFORMATION
Testing is now open to any member of the public with COVID-19 Symptoms. You can book a test by visiting nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.
COVID-19 HOSPITAL DISCHARGE LEAFLET
The Government have created information leaflets for patients who have recently been discharged from Hospital due to Covid-19.
Leaflet 1: CLICK HERE
Leaflet 2: CLICK HERE
MACMILLAN VIRTUAL CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
Macmillan Cancer Support are running a number of virtual support groups throughout May that you can access via any laptop/iPhone/Android/iPad or Tablet. For more information, please click here. Alternatively, contact Jodie or Caroline on 01695 402164
ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION SERVICE - PHASE 4
The practice has now switched to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which means that almost all of our prescriptions will be processed electronically.
If you have a nominated pharmacy, which most people do, your prescription will continue to be sent directly to your chosen chemist as normal. If you don't have a nominated pharmacy, instead of receiving a hand signed prescription, you will be given a paper token which you would need to give to any community pharmacy for them to scan and obtain the electronic prescription from the NHS spine. The paper token is not a legal prescription in itself, it is only used for the pharmacy to obtain the electronic prescription.
You can read more about EPS Phase 4 at https://digital.nhs.uk/services/electronic-prescription-service
CORONAVIRUS PRIVACY NOTICE
Please click here to read our Coronavirus privacy notice
CHILDREN AND CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus is unlikely to cause a serious illness in children, but please remember children can still become seriously unwell from other causes that are always around. Please do not let concerns over the coronavirus stop you from contacting medical services. If you are not sure if your child needs to be seen, please to go https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national for advice. Alternatively, contact us at the surgery or 111. For information about crying babies, please also go to https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national which contains advice.
As well as the above, you can click here for a poster which details advice for parents about what to do when a child is unwell or injured during the coronavirus pandemic
As always, if your child is severely unwell, please call 999 or take them to the nearest A&E Department
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
STAY ALERT
Stay at home for 7 days if you have either
* a high temperature - hot to touch on chest or back
* a new continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly
* loss of sence of taste and smell
Stay at home for 14 days if one of the people in your household has the above symptoms of coronavirus. The 14 day period starts from the day when the first person in the house becomes ill.
If you start displaying symptoms within this 14 day period, you need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day you are on in the original 14 day isolation period.
Do not go to your GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them yu're staying at home.
Use the NHS 111 online service if
* you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
* your condition gets worse
* your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
Only call NHS 111 if you cannot get help online
STOP THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS
For the latest and up to date information please go to
https://www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19
https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note
https://www.acas.org.uk/contact
www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable 0800 0288327
https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/westlancstogether 0800 616 667
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/Mindsmatter
https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England Advice.
For support from Macmillan for pateints, family and friends, please phone 01695 402164
Changes to the practice appointment system
Due to the present health climate and in the best interests of patients and staff, the practice is moving to telephone triage as of Monday 16th March.
This includes both doctors and nurses appointments and the Walk in Clinic .
Prescription Ordering
24.3.20 Update regarding post circulating on social media
Posts started circulating over the weekend on social media advising patients with COPD to contact their GP to order Rescue Pack. These posts were NOT from an offical source and the advice was incorrect. Our GPs, pharmacist and POD in WLancs are working incredibly hard with patients that require medication and repeat prescriptions to ensure that they have what they need.
It is vitally important that you only share clinical advice from trusted sources, such as the NHS or Public Health England.
For anyone with pre-existing respiratory condition such as Asthma or COPD, please ignore these rescue pack posts if you see them and instead, you should continue to manage your condition in the usual way and if you have symptoms of COVID 19, go to the dedicated NHS websites before doing anything else.
How to Order Prescriptions
We are no longer taking paper order forms for prescriptions. Please either phone the POD on 01772 214852 between 8.30 to 11.30am and 2.30 to 4.30pm
To order Online please ring the practice on 01695 588710. We will also ask for you to nominate a pharmacy
Please note that the POD is currently dealing with an exceptionally high level of demand for prescription requests. They are only able to issue your usual supply of medication if it is due. The earliest you are able to order is 7 days in advance, any request beyond this timeframe will not be accepted.
The POD are not able to accept requests for paracetamol on prescription, this can be obtained over the counter in shops or pharmacies. They are also unable to accept requests for inhalers, unless you are on an inhaler regularly for a respiratory condition.
If you do not want to wait in the queue for the POD, please sign up to Patient Access or the myGP app where you can order your medication online.
We thank you for your understanding and co-operation at this time.
Advice Regarding Sick Notes (MED3 Certificates)
The government's rules around issuing a sick note (MED3) are that a medical professional can only issue a MED3 certificate when an individual has had more than seven continuous calender days off sick due to an illness (this includes weekends).
For any period of illness less than seven days, you are able to complete a self-certificate and provide this to your employer. In the unlikely event that your employer does not accept self-certificates, then your doctor may be able to issue a private sick note for which you may be charged.
In light of the current coronavirus situation, it is inevitable that a number of employees may be required to quarantine themselves at home, for example, due to the nature of any recent travel (even in the absence of any symptoms). In these cases, your GP will not be able to issue a sick note as the time off work is not due to an illness, and isn't affecting your ability to work, rather it is a precaution to avoid transmission of any illness that is yet to produce symptoms.
We therefore expect your employer to be sympathetic to you if you are required to self-isolate for 14 days and to understand that the reason for this is to protect the welfare of your work colleagues and the wider community. We understand that you may also be able to call NHS 111 to request an email confirmation of the suspected coronavirus diagnosis, to show your employer if needed.
Whilst we appreciate that this may cause some difficulties between you and your employer, equally GP's have a responsibility to prioritise the assessment and management of the healthcare needs of patients who are acutely unwell, rather than spending time dealing with requests for sick notes, particularly when they aren't in a position to issue one.
Also, for children taking time off school, there is no NHS requirement for GP's to provide letters for the school to confirm this. As I am sure you will appreciate, with the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation, and the already existing pressure on GP's to meet day to day demands from ill patients, the practice is unable to accomodate a school request for a GP letter. We hope that schools will work with parents to ensure that any time off is appropriately recorded, obviating the needs for a doctors note.
We would like to thank you for your co-operation in relation to the above.
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Welcome to the website for The Elms Medical Practice
Mission Statement: Our Service is to Care
Practice contact number is 01695 588710
Practice Fax number is 01695 588712
Please phone NHS 111 for advice when the practice is closed or use the online 111 website: https://111.nhs.uk/
Your named accountable GP is either Dr A Krishnamurthy or Dr G Duddukuri.
If you would like to know who your named GP is, please contact the Practice
Having a named GP does not prevent you seeing any other doctor's in the practice.
Your named GP will not be available at all times and if your needs are urgent you may need to discuss them with an alternative doctor.
myGP App
The surgery is now using the iPlato messaging system, which links with the myGP app that can be downloaded from any smart phone app store.
You can book appointments, view medical records and order repeat prescriptions through the myGP app the same way as you can through Patient Access. Both systems will run together.
POD Opening Hours
From Monday 9th December 2019, the POD's opening hours will change. The prescription ordering phone line will be open as below;
8:30am - 11:30am and 2:30pm - 4:30pm (Monday - Friday)
POD Survey
The CCG are carrying out a survey about the POD, and patient's experiences using the service. If you would like to take part in the survey and provide your feedback, please go to: www.surveymonkey.com/r/WLCCGPOD
Flu Vaccinations 2019
Flu vaccinations are available for patients who meet one of the below criteria;
Aged 65 and Over
Aged under 65 and either; has a long term health condition, pregnant or is a carer
If you meet the above criteria for a free flu jab, please contact the surgery on 01695 588710 to make an appointment. The walk in clinics for the flu vaccines have now finished.
Extended Hours Service
West Lancashire now have an extended hours service running 7 days a week, please see the page 'Extended Hours Appointments' for more information
Macmillan Support Group
Macmillan are holding a monthly support group at Christ Church Ministry Centre, Long Lane, Aughton on every 2nd Friday of the month (9:30am - 11:30am). Anyone affected by Cancer can attend.
Patient Access Appointments
We are pleased to offer the below type of appointments for online booking through Patient Access;
- Routine GP Appointments
- Cervical Smear Appointments
- Blood Test Appointments
If you would like to use our online booking facilities, please speak to Reception to sign up to Patient Access. Please note: You will need a form of Photo ID when you register with Reception
To get to Patient Access, follow this link: www.patientaccess.com