August 2022

A statement from the Partners of Poplar Grove Practice, August 2022

It is hard to believe we are over halfway through 2022- how time flies by! For the team at Poplar Grove, the second half of 2022 brings some exciting changes.

New phone system goes live 26th August!

We are delighted to announce our new phone system is being installed from the 18th August with a go live date on 26th August. Our IT team have worked hard since the beginning of 2022 to ensure Poplar Grove was one of the first surgeries in Phase 1 to get the new system in place. It has taken time to negotiate a buy out from our current telephone contract, alongside an essential upgrade to the surgery’s IT infrastructure to support the new system, but it will be worth the wait.  The new system will place you in the queue after calling in. You can receive a call back instead of waiting on the line, saving your time and no more busy tone! All staff will have full training on the new system before we go live.

Ask first- online access

You can now use Ask first for symptom checking and to submit administrative requests online for

  • Med3 certificates (extensions only),
  • Data Subject Access Requests
  • Travel advice
  • Inform us of changes to your demographics including address, email and telephone.

In Autumn we will introduce some online bookable appointments via the App.  This will include Flu clinics and cervical smear appointments to start with additional specific appointments types being introduced shortly after. In addition, we are planning to release ‘on the day’ telephone triage slots that can be booked via the App once the patient has gone through the symptom checker and a GP triage is deemed appropriate.  Please see our website https://www.poplar-grove.co.uk/ for more information.

Flu Season – save the date for our Autumn Flu Clinics

Subject to our Flu vaccine delivery schedule, we are planning to run dedicated Flu clinics on Saturday 24th September, 1st October, 8th and 15th October.  This year’s flu vaccine will be offered to all eligible patients and if operationally possible, we may also be co-administering with the Autumn Covid Booster to our most vulnerable patients. Similar to last year, flu appointments will be bookable online or via reception.  More details to follow shortly.  Please do not contact us yet as appointments will only be released dependent on vaccine delivery dates.

Welcome to some new faces joining the Poplar Grove team

  • Dr Mitchell Burden will be joining us as a salaried GP from 8th August and he will be taking over Dr Cornish’s list. Dr Burden was our GP registrar, and we are very pleased that he has accepted a post to stay with us.  He will be providing seven clinical sessions on a Monday, Tuesday morning, Wednesday and Friday.
  • Dr Tomi Aridegbe is currently one of our registrars until September. She will then be re-joining us in October to replace Dr Taylor and will be working six sessions a week.
  • We are also delighted to welcome, Dr Rochele Arulanandam and Dr David Naylor, our new GP Registrars, joining the team this month.
  • Dr Tammy Wellen is a UK Trained GP returning from abroad to re-join General Practice in the UK. Dr Wellen will undertake a 3 month supervised role at Poplar Grove, supported by Dr Sutton.

A sad goodbye to some familiar faces

We are very sad to say goodbye to Dr Helen Taylor, Jackie Cousins and Jenny Burrows who retired at the end of July. We wish then all a wonderful and well deserved retirement.  They will all be greatly missed by all our staff and patients.

Community Pharmacy Consultations- A new service to help you be seen more quickly via your local pharmacist for treatment of minor conditions

When you contact us regarding a minor condition, after discussing your condition, where appropriate, our receptionist may offer you the option of being referred for an appointment with your chosen community pharmacist.

Community pharmacists are highly qualified and experienced in providing clinical advice and care (including recommending over the counter treatments) for minor illnesses and conditions.  

Advantages for patients using the new GP Community Pharmacist consultation service

  • Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practices and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you either on the phone, in person or through a video consultation
  • If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP or other health professional, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.
  • This will help ensure as patients you receive the right care, in the right place, with the right person and at the right time.
  • Introducing this new service, frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

And finally….

In August, staff will be taking their planned annual leave to spend time with their young families.  We will have reduced capacity on some days but please be assured all of the team are working as hard as possible to meet demand. There may be delays in answering calls so please be patient with us.

We are looking forward to the positive changes coming from September 2022, and as always, we thank you for your continued support.

The GP Partners

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