National Data Opt Out
We have had a few queries about NHS digital sharing pseudonymised data for research purposes. Further information can be found as below:
Type 1 Opt-out (opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data)
We will not collect data from GP practices about patients who have registered a Type 1 Opt-out with their practice. More information about Type 1 Opt-outs is in our GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice, including a form that you can complete and send to your GP practice.
This collection will start on 1 July 2021 so if you do not want your data to be shared with NHS Digital please register your Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice by 23 June 2021.
If you register a Type 1 Opt-out after this collection has started, no more of your data will be shared with us. We will however still hold the patient data which was shared with us before you registered the Type 1 Opt-out.
If you do not want NHS Digital to share your identifiable patient data with anyone else for purposes beyond your own care, then you can also register a National Data Opt-out. Via the online link below. Please do not contact the surgery with regard to the National Data Opt-Out
2nd Covid Vaccines
Please can we ask all patients that had their first Covid vaccine with ourselves at the Surgery and as yet does not have a second appointment to contact us as soon as possible, as we have brought all second doses forward and will not have any more vaccine clinics at the surgery after 12th June.
Covid Vaccine Passports
We had a couple of people asking us about COVID vaccine proof for international travel, the latest advice we have is from NHSE:
How to access your COVID-19 vaccination status
You can access your COVID-19 vaccination status through the free NHS App from 17 May. You can access the app through mobile devices such as a smartphone or by tablet. Proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status will be shown within the NHS App. We recommend that you register with the app before booking international travel.
If you do not have access to a smartphone and know that the country you are travelling to requires COVID-19 vaccination status, you can call the NHS helpline on 119 (from 17 May) and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine. We expect the letter to take up to 5 days to reach you.
Do not contact your GP surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your COVID-19 vaccination status
Protected Learning Time
We will be closed for staff training from 1pm on the following dates:
Wednesday 16th June 2021
Thursday 15th July 2021
Wednesday 15th September 2021
Thursday 14th October 2021
Wednesday 17th November 2021
Thursday 13th January 2022
Thursday 10th February 2022
Wednesday 16th March 2022
If you need medical advice before we open the following day please contact 111
We are very proud to have been accredited as a veteran friendly Practice
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Keeping it Green
We as a Practice are signed up to the Green Impact Scheme. This is a scheme to help general practices become more efficient and to improve sustainability.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTION PHONELINE : 016973 22491
We now operate an automated telephone service for repeat prescriptions on 016973 22491. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week allowing patients to call and leave their medication requests at times convenient for themselves.
We hope that by having a dedicated prescription line separate to the main surgery number 016973 20209 callers requesting appointments, home visits etc will experience fewer delays in having their calls answered.
Please use 016973 22491 to order your repeat medications as the previous options on the main number is no longer available.
Download our new appointment bookings app to your smartphone for free.
myGP was developed to make access to healthcare easier and faster for patients. Once downloaded, simply log-in with your date of birth and mobile number and add the people you care for, allowing you to book and cancel appointments for them. It’s really that easy! For more information, please visit: mygp.com
Extended Access
GDPR
Data Protection law is changing and we want to keep you up to date with the steps the Practice is taking. On the 25th May the General Data Protection Regulation, known as GDPR, comes into effect. GDPR imposes additional obligations on organisations and gives you extra rights around how your data is used. We want you to know that we respect the information we hold on you and that we take the security of your information very seriously. We have recently published a new Privacy Notice 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. Our updated Privacy Notice is available to view now.
Practice Privacy Notice
Do you need physiotherapy?
Back problems?
Stiff joints?
Muscle injuries?
Strains or sprains?
We are trying out a new way for you to get an appointment to see a muscoskeletal Physiotherapist at Wigton Community Hospital.
If you wish to access the service in this way and are over 16 years of age please complete a self-referral form by printing the form below, or asking for a form at the reception of your GP's surgery and post it to:
Wigton Community Hospital,Cross Lane,Wigton,CA7 9DD.
Self-referral physiotherapy form
This self referral system does not necessarily mean you will receive immediate treatment. Depending on the nature of your condition and the number of referrals received, you may be placed on a waiting list for a physiotherapy appointment.
You can access advice about various conditions on the local Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website.
http://www.cumbriapartnership.nhs.uk/musculoskeletal.htm
Certain conditions may be better treated by other specialist services, for example neurological conditions. In this instance you should discuss your condition and options available with your GP.Under 16’s require referral by their GP.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics aren’t always needed when you feel unwell. Coughs, earache and sore throats can get better by themselves. Taking antibiotics when you don’t need them puts you and your family at risk and antibiotics encourages harmful bacteria that live inside you to become resistant. This means antibiotics may not work when you need them. Antibiotics are essential for treating serious bacterial infections, such as meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis. Always take your doctor’s advice on antibiotics. Help #KeepAntibioticsWorking
CQC Report
The Care Quality Commission, a government agency that inspects all providers of health services visited the practice on 7th December,2018
We are delighted to report we met all their inspection criteria and obtained an overall rating of good. Please see attached the report
CQC Report
Blood Donors
The blood donation service is facing a constant challenge to recruit new blood donors. If this is something that you may be interested in please call the helpline on 03001232323 or register online at blood.co.uk
Named GP for all Patients
All patients at Aspatria Medical Group have a named GP who is responsible for your overall care at the practice.
Patients should be aware that this GP is not the sole provider of your care, and you can continue to see others in the practice as you currently do.
New patients are allocated a named GP when registering with the Surgery. If you wish to know who your named GP is, please contact reception.
Patient access to their GP record
Here at Aspatria Medical Group we now allow patients access to their medical records in line with national guidance.
The summary will include current medications, allergies, adverse reactions, test results and coded consultations.
Aspatria Medical Group paracetamol prescribing policy
Paracetamol or ibuprofen are the first choice treatments for pain and fever in adults and children and are cheap, safe and readily available. The practice policy is that we do not prescribe them for occasional use as it is normal for a household to keep a supply for family members in the event of aches, pains and fever. This policy includes paracetamol or ibuprofen suspension (e.g. Calpol and Nurofen) for infants and children as we would expect you to keep a supply in case it is needed for colds, earache etc.
For those patients being treated for chronic pain we will continue to prescribe them if indicated.