We have successfully signed up to a new contract with X-On who provide an award winning cloud based telephony solution for primary care, that is Surgery Connect.

We go live on 23rd May 2024.

This new system has features that enhance the patient’s experience of interacting with our services, as follows:

• Patient call back – your position in the queue can be held and you will receive a call back instead of waiting on the line.
• Integration with the patient medical record system – when the patient calls, the telephone number links to the record listed with the telephone number and loads the corresponding record saving time.
• A more sophisticated menu that helps direct your call to the most appropriate person to assist with your query more efficiently, meanwhile avoiding unnecessary queuing amongst other patients.

There are added benefits for our staff too, which will in turn make internal processes more efficient.

We hope the transition is smooth and apologise in advance for any disruption or inconvenience caused by this switch over. It should be short lived.

If you’re receiving a state pension, you could be eligible for Pension Credit even if you own your home or have savings . In South Gloucestershire, there is around £4million in unclaimed Pension Credit – a benefit which tops up the state pension by £67 a week and opens access to lots of other financial support such as

• Discounted energy and water
• A free TV licence (if you’re over 75).
• Cost of living payments

To find out more, visit your nearest One Stop Shop in Kingswood, Patchway or Yate, call freephone 0800 953 7778 or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/costofliving

With Christmas fast approaching we kindly ask all prescriptions are submitted to the surgery by

Monday 18th December .

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our patients a very Happy Christmas and a healthy 2024

We’re proud to be a Veteran Friendly Accredited GP practice and to support our veteran community this Remembrance Day.

We know that this Remembrance Day is likely to be particularly challenging for the many veterans in our community and we want you to know that we are trained and committed to effectively identifying and supporting your health needs.

As a Veteran Friendly Accredited practice, our team: 

• recognises the importance of identifying veteran patients within our community
• understands the unique health needs that veterans may have
• strives to provide veterans with the very best care and support 
• knows about the specialist veteran healthcare services that exist 
• undertakes regular training and development to ensure we’re able to deliver the very best care to veterans in our community and meet the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant

If you’re a veteran patient, please do let us know that you have served so that we can make sure you receive the most appropriate and best care, if and when you ever need it.

You can learn more about the accreditation and how it supports veteran patients, here: rcgp.org.uk/veterans

We are now sending out invitations to all patients that are eligible for a covid and flu vaccination this Autumn. The vaccines will be co-administered and invites will be sent out in order of vunerability. Please be patient and wait for your invitation as we will contact you in due course.

We will soon be inviting all our eligible patients for their annual Covid and Flu vaccine. Appointments will be available on Saturdays and during the week in pop up clinics. Please support your surgery by booking your vaccines when you receive an invitation.

We are delighted to announce that any patient registered with the NHS App or Patient Access will now have the ability to book a GP appointment online.

Unsure what to do when your child’s unwell? The NHS’ HANDi App has a quick, easy to use child symptom checker for all types of childhood health conditions and advises on how best to treat them. Developed by paediatric consultants you can download the HANDi App today by clicking on the following link: https://bnssg.icb.nhs.uk/health-and-care/health-advice-and-support/handi-app/

From Monday 14th November South Gloucestershire Council are starting work on a 6 month improvement programme in Rock Street car park (opposite Aldi supermarket). The car park will remain open but with reduced capacity . This will have a knock on effect to the surrounding car parks especially the St Mary Street car park opposite the surgery.

Please allow plenty of time to attend your appointment if you are arriving by car as there will be difficulty in finding a car parking space.

We will be running a reduced service on Monday 19th September with very limited staff.

We will only be seeing patients that are already booked in .

Our telephone lines will be off and we will not be accepting any walk- in or on the day patient enquiries.

Should you need healthcare assistance on Monday 19th September , please contact NHS 111 either by phone or online.

Please be sure to order your repeat prescriptions well ahead of the weekend.

If you have a booked appointment with us for Monday 19th September , we will be calling you to ascertain if you still want/ need this appointment. Alternatively ,feel free to call us to cancel.

Many thanks for your cooperation