This website has been prepared as a guide to the services the Practice offers to patients. We hope that you will find the information helpful. Please bookmark this page for future reference.
COVID-19 Update
September 2020
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, how you contact your GP surgery will be different at the moment. This is to limit face-to-face contact where possible and help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Your GP practice is open and if you need to see your GP, please ring us on 01405 762830 – our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (except for Wednesday between 12.30pm and 1.30pm when we close for staff training).
You can also call NHS 111. Please do not come to the surgery unless you have an appointment. If you are waiting for a check-up, please be assured we will be in touch.
Appointments are being delivered face-to-face, online and over the telephone. If you are asked to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment, please remember to wear a face covering. Measures are in place to keep you safe from infection during your visit to the surgery.
Face-to-face appointments are available to all patients, but you may be asked to discuss your conditions over the phone or online first to assess what would be most appropriate for you.
In addition to face-to-face consultations, many GP practices are offering consultations online or over the phone. This can be a convenient and flexible way to receive healthcare but if you would prefer to see a GP or healthcare professional in person then this will be arranged for you.
Four ways to seek healthcare advice from a GP
- Call your surgery to discuss a face-to-face or virtual (telephone or video) appointment
- Visit your GP surgery website and complete a confidential online form to receive a response before the end of the working day
- Call NHS 111 or go online to seek advice – https://111.nhs.uk/
- Download the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions, book appointments and check your symptoms
COVID-19 Update 16.06.20
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING WEARING A FACE COVERING UPON ENTERING THE PREMISES
Due to recent government changes from 16th June 2020, please do not enter the surgery unless you are wearing a face mask or face covering.
Please telephone the surgery on 01405 762830 for any routine issues and we will deal with your query over the phone.
If you have an appointment booked and do not have a face mask, please check in at reception and we will provide one on this occasion.
Thank you.
COVID-19 Update 13.03.20
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING CHANGES TO THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM
As you will all be aware we are facing a constantly changing situation with regards to the COVID-19 Pandemic. We understand how anxious you all are at the moment and will continue to do our best for you in these uncertain times. We are taking measures in line with guidance shared by NHS England and Public Health authorities to minimise risks associated with the virus.
In order to try to protect our most vulnerable patients, from Monday 16 March we are trying to reduce all face to face appointments to a minimum.
In order to protect our patients and staff and we are asking our patients support with this.
As of the 13th March 2020, the guidance is that if you have a new continuous cough (within the past 7 days) or a fever (temp above 37.8) you should self-isolate at home and only contact NHS 111 (preferably through the website), if you are really concerned. This might be because of shortness of breath or worsening symptoms.
What does this mean for you?
Appointments:
We are asking all patients not to attend the practice without prior agreement from a member of our clinical team. From Monday 16th March 2020 we want to minimise the number of patients attending the Practice for face to face appointments. This means that all patients are required to contact the practice by telephone to request an appointment, providing details of their need. A member of the clinical team will then phone you back to discuss your need, and wherever possible this need will be met over the telephone. If the Clinician deems that you require a face to face appointment, you will be asked some screening questions to determine whether there is a need for a coronavirus assessment. If this is the case you will be asked to self-isolate for 7 days. If there is no risk you will be given a face to face appointment.
Existing appointments:
All pre-existing appointments are being reviewed by the clinical team. If it is deemed that your appointment is not urgent this may be cancelled and re-scheduled at a later date by the Practice. If the appointment needs to go ahead, wherever possible this will take place over the telephone. If your appointment is being cancelled or changed to telephone, our administrative team will contact you to advise you of this. If the appointment needs to be face to face you will be contacted prior the appointment and asked some screening questions to ensure it is appropriate for you to attend the Practice.
Access to the Surgery
Access to the building will be restricted to the patients who have been invited for an appointment by a Clinician.
Prescriptions
We request as many patients as possible order their repeat prescriptions using the practice online services. Paper requests for repeat prescriptions have temporarily been suspended, again to avoid the spread of the virus and you will not be able to collect your prescription from the surgery. We will electronically send the prescription to your nominated pharmacy.
To order a repeat prescription, please either:
- Telephone the surgery between the hours of 10.00am and 3.00pm
- Request online. If not registered please contact the surgery to register for online services.
- Email the request to: eryccg.receptionmontague@nhs.net
Please note that it takes us 48 hours to process your prescription requests and you will need to inform the receptionist the exact names of the medications you are requesting.
Please remain courteous to our staff at all times. Any incidents of verbal or physical abuse will result in removal from the practice list. As you might expect all our staff are working hard to implement these changes at short notice and we may have staff shortages due to self-isolation. Please be patient with us as we are having to adapt our plans every day.
This is a very challenging time for us all and we would appreciate your co-operation during this period of uncertainty.
In order for the surgery to remain open as long as possible, our priority is the health and safety of all our patients and staff.
Thank you.
Doctors
Dr S Bhasme, Dr J Gopal
Named Accountable GP
All patients at Montague Medical Practice are registered to the practice, not to an individual GP and this will remain unchanged.
All GP surgeries are now required to provide all their patients with a named accountable GP, who will have responsibility for the coordination of a patient’s overall care and support that we provide to you should the need arise.
Please be aware this does not mean you will always see this GP, you are still able to see any GP at the practice and the actual care you receive can be provided by any GP or a member of our nursing team when appropriate.
If you have a preference as to which GP is your named accountable GP, the practice will make reasonable efforts to accommodate these requests, however this may only be possible where there is a significant medical reason for this.
You do not need to take any further action, but if you want to check who your named accountable GP is please contact the surgery.