Telephone System February 2024
The surgery is updating it's telephone system during w/c 20th February, it is hoped this new service will improve communication for our patients. Patients will receive options to be connected directly with some areas within the surgery and to have an automatic call back instead of waiting on the line. We are hoping the transfer of our systems will go smoothly, but ask for your understanding during this process.
National Data Opt-Out Programme
NHS Digital is developing a new system to support the national data opt-out which will give patients more control over how confidential patient information is used. The system will offer patients and the public the opportunity to make an informed choice about whether they wish their confidential patient information to be used just for their individual care and treatment or also used for research and planning purposes.
Patients and the public who decide they do not want their confidential patient information used for planning and research purposes will be able to set their national data opt-out choice online.
And if you would like to opt-out, you can follow the process using the link below;
If you think you, your child or another family member may have coronavirus please go to the NHS website using the link below to check symptoms and follow the advice given by them.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SURGERY
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO TEST PATIENTS FOR COVID-19 OR SUPPLY TESTING KITS. PLEASE GO TO:
Coronavirus - Update
PROTECTED LEARNING TIME/STAFF TRAINING DATES FOR 2024-25
Please note that the surgery will be closed on these dates from 12.00pm.
The doctors and staff will be attending a training session on these dates therefore the surgery will be closed from 12 noon.
The telephones will also be unavailable as the system will be handled by the Out-of-Hours service who can be contacted by telephoning 111.
Any requests for appointments, prescriptions and blood test results will have to wait until the surgery reopens the following day.
2024
14th May/ 5th June/ 10th July/ 19th September / 17th October/ 13th November
2025
14th January/ 13th February / 12th March
IMPROVED ACCESS TO GP APPOINTMENTS
Top of Form
Local GPs are working together to offer patients better access to appointments in General Practice in Buckinghamshire, known as the ‘Improved Access’ Service. This means that you can now book an appointment in a practice local to you:
- Up until 8pm from Monday to Friday
- From 8am until 1pm on Saturday
- From 9am until 1pm on Sunday (at one of the three FedBucks Improved Access Hubs located across the county)
North Aylesbury Improved Access GP Surgeries
Patients registered with any GP Surgery within North Aylesbury will be able to access this service via the participating surgeries in their area. These surgeries are:
- The Swan Practice
- Norden House Surgery
- Ashcroft Surgery
- Edlesborough Surgery
- Wing Surgery
All appointments need to be pre-booked, either in advance or on the day.
How to book an Improved Access appointment
Ring your GP Surgery as normal. If you would like an Improved Access appointment, the reception staff will tell you where clinics are being held on what day, and the times of the available appointments. A convenient appointment will be booked for you. If you use this service, it is very likely that you will be seen by a clinician from another surgery and not your own GP. The receptionist at your GP surgery will be able to provide details on this service to help you book an appointment.
THIS IS NOT A WALK IN SERVICE – if you need urgent medical advice after 6.30pm, please phone NHS 111. NHS 111 will enable you to talk to a GP and book an urgent GP appointment if necessary. You can also use our local online symptom checker, Health Help Now (http://bucks.healthhelpnow.nhs.uk/) to help to find the right service in Buckinghamshire for your health needs.
WALK IN APPOINTMENTS
We have recently had an increase in patients coming into the surgery and expecting to be seen without an appointment.
Unfortunately as we are not a Walk-In Centre, patients can only be seen if an advance appointment has been made.
You should go to the Urgent Care Centre if you have an INJURY such as a possible FRACTURE, or new WOUNDS e.g. from injury or animal bite that may need washing out and/or dressing as they are set up to assess and treat these.
The nearest Walk-In Centre is Milton Keynes Hospital Urgent Care Centre
PRIVACY NOTICE - See our section covering this topic
TEXT MESSAGE REMINDER SERVICE
We are now using a text message service to send patients a reminder of their appointment.
Please could you check with Reception that we have your correct mobile telephone number.
If you do not want to receive a reminder by text please let our Reception staff know.
MISSED APPOINTMENTS
An average of 2 appointments are wasted EACH DAY by patients who do not turn up.
If you are unable to make your appointment please make sure you let our Receptionists know as soon as possible so the appointment can be offered to another patient.
ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS
NHS England’s Patient Online Programme ‘Improving patient experience’ - access to medical records
In response to NHS England’s Patient Online Programme ‘Improving patient experience', from the 31st March 2016 you will be able to view your medical record online. If you already have access to online services i.e. booking appointments and ordering repeat medication, you may now also see other aspects of your medical record - medication, allergies and adverse reactions, test results, list of medical problems and consultation dates.
If you would like access to your medical record please see our online services page for details on how to request this.
ALLOCATED GP
All patients are allocated a named GP.
If you wish to know who your allocated GP is please contact Reception
Ashcroft Surgery patients are always welcome to book appointments with any available GP and are not restricted only to their allocated GP.