Private Fees (Non NHS work) – Information for patients and third parties (May 2022)

The Government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients, including the provision of ongoing medical treatment. In recent years, however, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work.

Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is that they are in a position of trust in the community, or that an insurance company or employer wants to ensure that information provided to them is true and accurate.

The BMA (British Medical Association) suggest fees for non-NHS work, which is not covered under GP’s NHS contract, to help GPs set their own professional fees. However, the fees are guidelines only, not recommendations, and a doctor is not obliged to charge the rates suggested. The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients and third parties in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up the individual doctor to decide how much to charge.

Do GPs have to do non-NHS work for their patients?

With certain limited exceptions for example, a GP confirming that one of their patients is not fit for jury service, GPs do not have to carry out non-NHS work on behalf of their patients.

Whilst GPs will always attempt to assist their patients with the completion of forms for example for insurance purposes, they are not required to do such non-NHS work.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his or her patients.

Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time, so many GPs find they have to complete this work outside of and in addition to their normal hours. 

I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true.

In order to complete even the simplest of forms therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record.  Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council (the doctors’ regulatory body) or even the police.

A sincere message to our unvaccinated patients (20/12/2021)

Dear unvaccinated patient,

We are very worried about you.  We know the reasons for choosing not to be vaccinated are complicated but the situation is urgent.  You see, until now, everyone who is vaccinated has been shielding you.  Because their jabs have stopped vaccinated people spreading, the Delta variant there has been much less change of catching coronavirus.

The problem is that Omicron can infect vaccinated people even if they have had two jabs.  If it does, those jabs still probably mean they will not get seriously ill.  But it does mean that the shield they have put around you is weakened because they can pass it on to you.  This makes it much more likely you will be infected in the next few weeks.  And if you catch Omicron, you might get seriously ill, in similar numbers to the first wave.

This is why we are rushing to offer booster jabs, to repair that protective shield.  The message in the media that it’s to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed.  But really, it’s because we are trying to protect you.  The NHS being overwhelmed only happens when lots of people are really sick and right now unvaccinated people are at the highest risk of that.

We think the vaccinated people are proud to protect you, even if they don’t fully understand why you have said no to your jabs.  But we are very worried our efforts to repair the shield by getting vaccinated people boosted might not be enough.  You can still protect yourself by taking the plunge and getting the vaccine.  That first dose will start to protect you within days, so the sooner you get it the better.  Many who have said no before are coming forward now, and we celebrate each person who does.  Please join them.  You will be protecting yourself.  Even more, you will become part of the shield, not the shielded.

Phone the surgery and tell the Receptionist you need your ‘First jab’ or visit https://www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk to book you jab or find a walk-in centre.

Yours sincerely

Parkfield Medical Centre

COVID Booster Vaccination (Sun, 10^th Dec 2021)

The government has announced that all people over 18 are now eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccine. We have been instructed to focus on the most vulnerable patients in the first instance. You will be contacted to invite you for your vaccine when we are ready to give it to you. We kindly ask that you do not call your GP practice and be assured you will be called in the forthcoming weeks for your vaccine.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – Telephone System Update (Tue, 7^th Dec 2021)

The telephone system has now been restored.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

(Mon, 6^th December 2021) We are experiencing intermittent problems with our telephone system.  The service provider is looking at this urgently.

If you require an appointment you can email parkfields.medicalcentre@nhs.net

(Please note this email address is not intended for appointment booking, except in exceptional circumstances such as a telephone system fault).

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Disposing of Sharps Boxes from September 2021

From 1^st September 2021, the way you dispose of your medical sharps boxes is changing.  You will no longer need to bring these back to the doctors surgery.  Solihull Council will collect them from your home.  Find out more here:

 https://www.solihull.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling/sharps-collection

Shortage of Blood Collection Bottles

A supplier to the NHS has advised them of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests. NHS England have therefore issued guidance to GPs that all non-urgent blood tests should be halted.

Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems will still get one, but where your clinician recommends that it’s safe to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled. 

Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.

If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally.

NHS COVID Pass

People in England who have had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine can demonstrate their COVID-19 vaccination status for international travel.

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-app/nhs-app-guidance-for-gp-practices/nhs-covid-pass

Please note Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres cannot be used to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccine status.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

North Solihull PCN has been undertaking Covid-19 vaccination clinics at Chelmsley Wood Primary Care Centre, Crabtree Drive, Chelmsley Wood, B37 5BU.  

The vaccination site is now temporarily closed

If you need to book a COVID vaccination, you can go online to book at one of the MASS Sites:

Birmingham and Solihull COVID Vaccine booking site

Or, if you do not have online access, ring 119.

More information on the Covid-19 vaccination can be found here

COVID-19 is unlikely to cause serious illness in children but...

please remember children can still become seriously unwell from other causes that are always around. Please do not let concerns over COVID19 stop you from contacting medical services. If you are not sure if your child needs to be seen please go to https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national for advice or contact 111 or your GP. For information about crying babies go to https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national

If your child is severely unwell call 999 or go to A&E

Shielding Patients

People who have been advised to shield can contact the NHS Volunteer Responders Service.  To arrange support for yourself or someone you know call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week)

COVID Update: 27th April 2020: COVID-19 Care Assistant

If you’re finding it hard to access information for Coronavirus, or are self-isolating, meet Ask A&E’s free COVID-19 Care Assistant, powered by Babylon. It helps make it easier for you to take care of yourself and the ones you love.

 The COVID-19 Care Assistant offers free information from NHS doctors and clinicians. You can access it through the University Hospitals of Birmingham website, or by searching for ‘Ask A&E Birmingham’. You will then be asked to register for an account.

 Here’s how it can help you, in four easy steps.

1. Get the latest information: The COVID-19 Care Assistant gives you continually-updated information about coronavirus. Topics like how to self-isolate and how to take care of someone with coronavirus. Information comes from NHS doctors and Public Health England.
2. Access a symptom checker and live chat:The symptom checker has the ability to recognise what might be COVID-19 symptoms and suggest possible next steps. You can access the symptom checker (24/7) via the website and use the live chat feature (8am-8pm) to ask questions and receive answers from a member of the team.
3. Receive a care plan:After you receive information about your symptoms, the COVID-19 Care Assistant will give you a care plan, based on the latest guidance. After downloading the Babylon app and using your existing log in details, you’ll get daily notifications to track your symptoms, including your temperature, information for the isolation period and general tips for your physical and mental wellbeing.
4. Speak to a healthcare expert:The COVID-19 Care Assistant allows you to have a video consultation with a clinician via the website. After you enter your symptoms into the symptom checker, it will indicate possible next steps. But, if you believe you need to speak to a healthcare professional, you can book a video consultation. You can do all of this within the website or by downloading the Babylon app.

 Access the COVID-19 Care Assistant here.

Do not use this service during an emergency (emergency services should be contacted instead), or if you are pregnant. Steps 1-3 of Ask A&E’s COVID-19 Care Assistant is a general information service. It does not provide medical advice or a diagnosis but will provide you with information and/or possible actions you may take. Depending on the outcome of Steps 1-3, you may be referred for a digital consultation with a local clinician (Step 4).

 Online Services

To register for these services you will need to contact reception at the Medical Centre and they will grant you access to "SystmOnline" and print you a username and password.

Click on the button on the home page "access to appointment system" which will take you to your log on page.  Once logged on you will arrive at your "home page" on SystmOnline which gives you the opportunity to book appointments, cancel appointments, view past appointments, view future appointments and order repeat medication.

Please note, you are still able to phone in or call in to book an appointment.

Appointments

Click on the relevant tab on your "home screen".  If you wish to book an appointment, you will see a list of the appointments available, along with the GP's name.  Select the appointment you would like to book and follow the instructions on screen.  If you have registered for text message reminders, you will receive an appointment reminder the day before your appointment.

There are limited appointments available at the moment for online booking, however once patients start using this system we will increase the number of appointment slots available.

Repeat Medication

The repeat medication link will show you exactly which medications are on repeat, the dosage, quantity and when they are next due. To request a prescription for any medication just tick the box of the drug you require and submit your request.

Medical Records

All GP's were given a target for allowing patients to directly access their medical records online by the end of March 2015.   For those patients who have already signed up to the online service you will automatically be able to view your records once they become available.  If you are interested in using this new service please contact the surgery for more information.