An Open Letter to All Patients
Dear patients,
We want to be honest about the challenges our practice is facing and to ask for your patience and support during this time.
Right now, we are experiencing very high demand for appointments. More people are living with long-term or complex health conditions, which increases the number of appointments and support our team needs to provide. Winter adds further pressure, as colds, flu, and other infections spread more easily.
Staff sickness also affects what we can do. At one point last week, half of our Reception team were off sick. This meant fewer people to answer calls, and longer waiting times.
When other staff are sick, there are fewer Doctors to see patients, fewer Nurses to take bloods or do health review, or fewer Admin staff to process prescription requests.
We understand how frustrating this can be — it is for us as well. Our goal is to provide fast, efficient care that meets your needs.
Some challenges, like high demand and staff illness, are beyond our control, but we are working hard to manage them as best we can.
How We Prioritise Care
Our priority is to ensure patients with the greatest need get the right care as quickly as possible. Every request through askmyGP is assessed by one of our Doctors, and we continually review how requests are handled to ensure this remains fair and safe.
By “urgent,” we mean something that needs attention today. This could be a sudden new problem or a long-term condition that has unexpectedly worsened. You can ask yourself:
- Am I feeling much worse today than I was yesterday?
- Has something changed that means I need help today when I didn’t before?
If the answer is yes, your request is urgent, and we want to you to get in touch soon as possible.
How You Can Help
Using online services whenever possible helps us care for everyone more efficiently:
- Sending a request through askmyGP goes straight to a Doctor.
- Ordering repeat prescriptions or requesting sick notes through the NHS App goes straight into our system and is processed faster.
- Chasing hospital referrals or checking test results can also be done through the NHS App.
For minor illnesses or common health questions, your local community pharmacy is a great first point of contact. Pharmacists can advise on medicines, colds, coughs, aches, minor infections, and other common problems. You do not need an appointment or to see a Doctor first. This is part of the Pharmacy First programme.
Our Resources page also has helpful information on policies, specific conditions, self-help, referrals, and materials in different formats. Filters and categories make it easy to find what you need.
A Kind Reminder
Please be patient and kind to our team. Every member of staff is working hard to care for patients under pressure. Your understanding and calm approach make a real difference.
Thank you for your support and trust.