Week Commencing Monday 21st September 2020
We continue to experience a significantly high number of telephone calls into the surgery.
We are no longer accepting repeat medication requests over the telephone.
To request your repeat prescription please either post your request, drop it through our letterbox or use the new online system.
Where appropriate (for administrative requests such as sick notes or test results) please use the eConsult option (link available below).
Flu Vaccinations for Patients Aged Over 65 - appointments are available for flu clinics. Please call the surgery after 2pm to book an appointment or use the eConsult option to request an appointment (link available below).
Flu Vaccinations for At Risk Patients - The flu vaccination for At Risk Patients is not due to reach us until early October. We will update the website when we have the clinics for the At Risk Patients organised. Please do not call the surgery for a flu appointment if you are in an At Risk category. Please check the website for updates over the next few weeks.
Please be patient with the Reception Team, we are working incredibly hard to get through the calls and repeat medication requests as efficiently and as quickly as we can.
We thank you for your support during this challenging time.
Change of electronic patient record system - Online Access
We are changing our electronic patient record system. To access online services from Tuesday 8th September 2020 you will need to do 1 of the following:-
- Download the NHS app from the relevant app store and follow the registration process
OR
If you do need to contact the surgery for assistance around online access please be patient; our phone lines are very busy and this is a new system that we will all be getting used to. We will endeavour to resolve your query as efficiently as we can.
Visiting the surgery
If you have been invited to attend the surgery by one of our clinicians we ask that you wear a face covering (that covers both your nose and mouth) to help protect yourself, other patients, our clinicians and other staff members.
The safety of all is of paramount importance to us.
Thank you.
Coronavirus and Travel Plans
The surgery is currently receiving a lot of requests for travel cancellation forms from people who want to cancel their trips due to the risk of contracting coronavirus.
Please Click Here for advice from the Foreign Office regarding travelling to specific areas of the world. Depending on your specific travel insurance policy, most insurance companies will cover cancelled trips to countries to which the Foreign Office advise not to travel. No certificate from your GP is required.
In addition, please be advised that the surgery is unable to provide letters or certificates to travel insurance companies supporting requests for refunds by patients who, without any significant medical illness, cancel their travel insurance.
Diabetes Course Made Free In Response to Coronavirus
Please see below press release for further details:
Press Release Diabetes Course Coronavirus April 2020
Asthma Annual Review
You may have received a text message or letter from us asking you to complete an online questionnaire about your asthma. Once you have done this and submitted it to the surgery it will be reviewed by one of our clinicians. We will only contact you again if we need to discuss anything with you further. You can access the questionnaire by clicking on the following link.
Annual Asthma Review
Zero Tolerance
At Chastleton, our staff come to work to care for others, and it is important for all members of the public and our staff to be treated with courtesy and respect.
In line with the rest of the NHS and to ensure this is fully observed, we support the NHS Zero Tolerance Policy. This means that aggrssive or violent behaviour towards our staff or any member of the public within our Practice premises will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Where unacceptable behaviour occurs, either in person or over the telephone, a letter will be sent from the Practice Manager advising that this behaviour will not be tolerated.
Any future violation of this policy will result in removal from the Practice patient list.
We feel sure that you will understand that proper behaviour is absolutely necessary for our staff and patients and that non-observance will not be accepted.
Repeat Prescription Ordering Service
From September 2019 community pharmacies will no longer be able to order medicines on your behalf. This is to ensure safe and responsible issuing of medication and to prevent unnecessary medicine waste. for more information please click here: Repeat Prescription Ordering Service Leaflet
Repeat Prescription Requests
Please allow 48 hours notice for repeat prescription requests.
We politely remind patients that it is their own responsibility to ensure they order repeat medication in time before they run out.
Armed Forces Veterans
Chastelton Medical Group are looking to actively improve the care provided for Armed Forces Veterans. Please let the Doctor or Receptionist know if you are a veteran. Please follow the link for more information.
Priority NHS Treatment for Veterans
Medicine Supply
Patient information on continuity of medicine supply in the event of a no deal Brexit is available on the NHS website and can be found by following this link:
Getting your medicines if there's a no deal EU exit
Evening & Weekend GP Appointments
Need to see a GP in the evening or weekends?
GPs in central Durham are working together to offer extra GP, Nurse and Health Care Assistant appointments from 6.30pm to 9pm on weekday evenings as well as Saturday and Sunday. This service is based at Meadowfield Surgery and is only accessible by appointment.
Contact the surgery to book an available evening or weekend appointment.
(Site updated 24/09/2020)