Reception

Phone lines are open as usual 8.00-18.30 Monday-Friday.

Our reception is open but we ask you to phone or use Online Consult before visiting the surgery wherever possible.

You may find we ask you for more details than usual. This is because it helps us decide how best to contact you since we can now answer queries by text, video call, and email, as well as see you face to face if needed.

We treat all information as strictly confidential, but if you’d prefer not to speak to our reception team you can use the Online Consult button above.

Urgent Appointments

For medically urgent problems we'll always try our very best to consult with you as soon as we can.

If you ask for a same day appointment, our reception team will send you an SMS link to provide some extra details, and this will go directly to the doctor. 

You can type as much as you need, and attach pictures where appropriate.

If it's more appropriate to re-assign your urgent appointment to another member of the team, we'll do this on your behalf and let you know. 

We know that no everyone uses mobile phones, and our reception team will help to pass the details onto the medical team if this is the case.

Mental Health Support

We are here to support you with mental health.  Please click here for further information on available support.

Flu vaccines Autumn/Winter 2021

We will be running our Covid booster and Flu vaccine programme together through Babington Hospital this year, with clinics starting on the 5th October and running every Tuesday and Thursday.

INVITATIONS TO BOOK will be sent 6 months after the 2nd dose of Covid vaccine.

Invites and booking will be sent by text, phone call and letter.

The practice will have a limited supply of Flu Vaccine for patients who aren't suitable for Covid Booster vaccine, or urgently need a flu vaccine before the date of their Covid Booster.

Please only contact reception if it is more than 6 months since your 2nd dose of Covid vaccine and you haven't been invited, using Online Consult above where possible

Online Consults

We will respond to your Online Consultation the same day if you submit one before 2pm (Mon-Friday) or the next working day if you submit it after 2pm

Phone consultations

You can request a phone consultation through Online Consult above, or by calling reception. If your query is best dealt with in another way, reception will talk you through this. The reception team may direct your query to a pharmacist, physio, nurse or social prescriber if this is more appropriate than speaking to a doctor.

Video consultations

Request via Online Consultation

Face to face consultations at the surgery

These are booked after a phone, video or online consultation so we can ensure we see you safely. We’ll see you wearing PPE and ask you to wear a mask unless you have a medical exemption.

Immunisations

Immunisation programmes are currently operating normally.

Covid19 Vaccinations

Details of our Covid-19 vaccination services are here. The surgery is directly involved in organising and delivering Covid19 vaccinations, and we'll be releasing staff to prioritise this. There may be a longer wait than usual for non-essential services during this time. If you have a non urgent query or problem, consider using the pharmacy, 111 or Minor Injury units for advice where possible and appropriate. The order of priority for these vaccinations is set by government guidelines. To see the latest updates please click here.

Procedures such as B12 injections, joint injections, contraceptive devices

If you have a query about whether you need is available, the best way is to contact us via Online Consult

Steroid joint injections need to be considered carefully and can be administered when safe and appropriate.

Contraceptive services are available, and pill reviews and prescriptions can be arranged remotely. A consultation with a doctor prior to injections, coils and implants should be booked via reception or Online Consult.

Urgent referrals

These continue as normal, including referrals for possible cancer. If you have any symptoms that could indicate cancer, like blood in your urine or poo, coughing up blood or unexplained weight loss, please contact the practice

Routine referrals

The surgery can make routine referrals to the hospital, but waiting times will be longer than usual for outpatient appointments.. 

Blood tests

For your safety blood tests are now pre-booked to keep waiting rooms from being full and allow for social distancing. You can book here https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/uhdb.php

Medication reviews

Wherever possible we are undertaking these by phone or text message. If your medication review is over-due we won’t prevent you from ordering your medication without contacting you to renew your medication. We’ll contact you to arrange the annual renewal of your medication.

Prescription requests

The quickest way to order repeat prescriptions is via the NHS App

This can be downloaded onto a smartphone without needing login details from the surgery. Paper requests can be posted or dropped into the post box at surgery.

Audiology clinics

Specsavers – bookable either via the website at the store you choose based on postcode or identify the store and call direct. Home visits are available: https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores

Scrivens – Hearing Customer Services on 0800 0274487 or you can check you are eligible and book online: https://scrivens.com/hearing/nhs-hearing/

OutsideClinic – home visit testing service. The booking line is 0808 239 0591 or you can book directly through the website: https://www.outsideclinic.co.uk/hearing-test-at-home/

Coronavirus support

Derbyshire is providing support during coronavirus, including food and medication delivery. Call 01629 535091 or register at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/home.aspx.

Support is also available from Amber Valley on 01773 570222 or at www.ambervalley.gov.uk.

You can request support from NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 1963646.

The national website is www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support.

At Riversdale, you can contact our care coordinator Helen Riley for support via our usual contact details.

Medical Reports

If a paid medical report is essential, please try to work with whoever is requesting the report to see if it can be done by someone who is not an NHS provider. For example, some reports can be done by private healthcare providers or by occupational health doctors, or by obtaining a copy of your medical records. If you contact us for a paid medical report, we may ask you to explain why this work is immediately necessary and ask if it can be postponed.  We do however understand that some reports are time-critical if, for example, they allow essential workers to continue to work, and cannot be done by another provider. We will prioritise urgent medical care over providing medical reports, and so you may wait longer than usual for your report.

Weight Management Enhanced Service

If you are eligible for a new NHS programme to improve your body weight and health you will receive an SMS text from us, if you'd like to accept or decline the offer of referral please reply using the link and select REFER or DECLINE along with filling out your details.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status

Please see here for further information.

Proof of your vaccination status will be available on the NHS app, which is also valuable for accessing your health records and ordering repeat prescriptions.

The NHS app can be downloaded here for iPhone or here for android. You can also get your vaccination status via the NHS website, see more here.

Alternatively, 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, the letter may take up to 5 days to reach you.

COVID-19 Tests

You can apply for a coronavirus test by:

(1) visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus; or

(2) calling the coronavirus testing call centre on 119.

A friend or family member can apply on your behalf.

Further information is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus

COVID-19 Sick Notes

You can obtain a sick note for Covid-19 symptoms, or for self-isolating by clicking here.

More information is available here.

You do not need a sick note from a GP for Coronavirus symptoms or for self-isolating, even if you are off work for longer than the 10 or 14 day period specified.  If your employer feels that these measures to protect vital NHS services do not apply to them, please ask them to write to us to tell us why.

COVID-19 Employment Advice

The government information for employers and employees is here.

The advice asks employers to use their discretion rather than requiring medical evidence so that the NHS can focus on caring for patients. If your employer feels that these measures to protect vital NHS services do not apply to them, please ask them to write to us to tell us why.

COVID-19 Shielding Letters

COVID-19 shielding letters are sent out nationally and do not come from Riversdale Surgery. Information on shielding is available here.

Hospital appointments

Do not contact us for updates on hospital appointments. We do not have this information. If an update is essential, then please contact the hospital. However please do be patient with them at this time of unprecedented demand on NHS services.