News

Dr Jessica Law and her husband have become the proud parents to a  beautiful daughter. Despite being early, Seren is a bundle of energy and both mum and baby are home and doing well.

Changes to our GPs

After 26 years of dedicated service to the local community, Dr Rachel Blackman retired at the end of July 2020.

As she rides of to new adventures, she has tried hard to tell each of her patients this news in person but COVID-19 has not helped in this aim.

We will certainly miss her at the practice and our quiz teams will be weaker for her departure!

We are also sad to be losing Dr Victoria Goodall, who trained with us and then stayed to become a very popular GP. With three small children, she has, reluctantly, accepted a position closer to her home in Basingstoke, which will allow a better work/life balance and will be leaving at the end of August. Her patients will be shared between Drs Mak, Overd, Salkeld and Walsh.

Dr Jessica Law has started her maternity leave, somewhat earlier than expected. Her patients will be transferred to other doctors, then back to her list when she returns next year.

Finally, the very popular Dr Felicity Herbert will be returning to the practice in mid September, following the birth of her son and her patients will be returned to her list.

We will shortly be contacting patients to let them know who is their new GP. Please bear with us as we have over 5,000 patients to move over the next month. Your new GP will have full access to your medical record and during August, which is peak holiday period, the whole of our clinical team will be working together to help with this transition.

How can we help you?

Getting the care you need during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Appointments

We are operating a "total triage" system. That means you need to have a discussion with a clinician who will try and help you. If a face to face appointment is needed, they will arrange for this to happen at a time and place which keep you and us safe.

Use our e-consult system at the top of the page - you will get a response the same day - this is the option the doctors would prefer you to use if possible.

Call us and let us know what you need. A doctor or nurse will call you back and video consultations are available too. If you call and our lines are busy, you can send us an email on NEHFCCG.OHG@nhs.net and a Receptionist will call you back.

All face to face appointments are currently happening at Yateley Medical Centre. Patients with Coronavirus symptoms will be seen in our "Hot Zone", separate from other non-symptomatic patients. 

Please do not come into the practice without an appointment.

All patients who need to be seen face to face should arrive wearing a face covering, to help keep staff and other patients safe.

Prescriptions

To request a prescription:

• Post your request into our post boxes at any of our sites
• Email us on NEHFCCG.OHG@nhs.net
• Request via Online Access
• Download the NHS App
• Use the e-consult service
• call us (our least favourite option - only as a last resort please !)

Your prescription request, once prescribed, will be sent to your nominated pharmacy for you to collect. Please order in good time, and avoid "urgent prescriptions" whenever possible.

At Risk Groups

Patients who have received a letter from NHS England or the practice, saying that they are in an at risk group and are extremely vulnerable can click here for more advice https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

Patients in this group should contact the practice as described above but if a face to face appointment is needed, a home-visit will be arranged by a clinician wearing full Personal protective Equipment (PPE)

Self Care

If you think you might be able to help yourself, our e-consult system can point you in the right direction. Alternatively, the NHS website www.nhs.uk and the NHS App both have symptom checkers and sensible advice. A particularly good site for concerns about children is www.what0-18.nhs.uk

Routine Care

We are doing our best to provide as many of our services as possible for our patients and being as resourceful as we can in these unprecedented times. The list below is just an indication so e-consult, email or call us to discuss you needs further.

Baby Immunisations - a clinic has been running throughout the pandemic, combining mum and baby's 8 week check with baby's first vaccinations. Pre-school boosters are also taking place as normal.

Blood tests including warfarin monitoring - blood tests are available including those needed for hospital appointments and these are being done at home for shielding patients. As a consequence, we are not doing some routine monitoring of patients with stable conditions, who may safely delay these checks under clinical guidance.

Cervical Screening - re-commencing, contact us for an appointment

Diabetes - Specialist Nurse advice available

Family Planning - contact us with your requirements

Mental Health Support - we recognise the addition strain that many are feeling under lockdown and telephone appointments are available with our Mental Health Practitioners, Tatenda Makombe and Sharon Burns. You can self-refer for free NHS CBT, counselling and therapy contact Talk Plus

or for more information about Crisis Services, Learning Disabilities, Services for Older Adults or services for Children and Young People click here

Orthopaedic Practitioners - available for muscular-skeletal advice and guidance - their preference is to be contacted by e-Consult if possible

Respiratory, including Asthma and COPD - Specialist Nurse advice available

Other Concerns

We are aware that some of our patients are concerned about aspects of their health but do not want "to bother the doctors" at such a busy time.

If you have any of the following symptoms, then you should contact us straight away:

• Lumps, bumps or swelling
• Blood in your pee, poo or coughing up blood
• Unexplained pain
• Change in bowel habit
• Extreme tiredness
• Weight loss (unplanned)
• Cough lasting over 3 weeks, especially if you have ever smoked

We are your local GP practice; we’re working very hard and doing things differently but are still here.

If you need our help – contact us!

The NHS test and trace service – be aware of scams

Oakley Health Group has a factsheet for our patients explaining how to spot genuine contacts from the service - and how to avoid scams:

Beware of scams - the NHS Test and Trace service