The New “Normal”

• Firstly we’re still here, indeed we were never away nor “closed” and we continued to provide care throughout the pandemic.
• General Practice underwent a generational change between March and August 2020.
• Some of this was just broadening of options already being planned or
  the introduction of electronic options for referrals and prescriptions.
• Some is due to the 50% increase in patient request numbers that we are still experiencing each day.

Appointments - Telephone triage

• Like a lot of practices our intention was to switch to Telephone Triage to better cope with rising demand. Posters were put up in the waiting rooms in summer 2019 announcing this, but we needed to first change our telephone supplier and then fix some bugs before we were ready in February 2020 ... and then came Covid-19 with national instruction to switch to a Total Triage model in mid-March of that year.
• For routine matters, preferably, submit an AccuRx query online via  our websitehttp://www.langstonewaysurgery.nhs.uk
• For EMERGENCIES, or if have no internet, have a language issue or if you are calling for another adult, telephone us 020 8343 2401 and the receptionist will complete a template for you – the more information provided the quicker we can process both your own queries and the patient’s ahead of you. Some additional slots are released after 1.00 pm.
• Making use of our online request system, AccuRx, helps us to better help you. Your can provide details for us in advance or submit pictures. This allows us to review your notes, test results, or recent correspondence in advance of contacting you.
• Where sufficient information allows, we may be able to action directly (e.g. issue prescriptions, or provide fitness certificates) or then contact you back by phone or text message, and can arrange video or face-to-face appointments, as clinically required.
• Text messaging allows us to send advice or a link to advice from the NHS or other selected websites. We can send you documents (e.g. Fitness notes, blood test forms, letters), and we may offer for you to respond back, also attaching documents or pictures.

“Patient Access”

• Using the NHS App on Apple or Android phones, “patient access” shows your notes, including your problem summary, test results (once doctors have assessed the results and commented on them) and request repeat prescriptions.
• For an appointment request use our website http://www.langstonewaysurgery.nhs.uk

Our team:

• Doctors – 1 Partner and 2 Salaried doctors
• Advance Care Practitioner (ACP) Nurse who, following extensive training, now consults, examines, diagnoses and prescribes independently.
• Practice Nurse who undertakes vaccinations and cervical smears.
• Health Care Assistant (HCA) who carries out height, weight, blood pressure, and urine checks and performs annual diabetic foot checks.
• We have Extended Opening on Tuesday evenings until 8.00 pm with our ACP, HCA and Physician Associates
• Extended Access appointments with nurses and doctors are also available 6:30-8.00 pm weekdays, and weekends, morning & afternoon, at our PCN partner practices and through Barnet Federation.
• We are part of West Barnet Primary Care Network (PCN), 4 local practices working collaboratively to provide additional services & capacity:

1. PCN Care Coordinator - helps book patients into fixed appointment slots with some local pharmacists to manage minor illnesses.
2. PCN Health & Wellbeing Coach - undertakes support in reaching health goals, and also with smoking cessation.
3. PCN Mental Health Practitioner - offers initial access for advice on a range of mental health conditions, directing to support services, referral to Mental Health Trust or liaising with GPs.
4. PCN Pharmacists - review medication regimes, and undertake medicine related checks.
5. PCN Physiotherapist - offers initial access for advice (telephone initially and then face-to-face, if required) and where necessary arranges additional investigations or refers onwards to hospital services. Can also arrange some joint injections.
6. PCN Social Prescribers - can offer advice on accessing a wide range of support: Barnet Council, Social services, Local support groups, Local and National charities and issues relating to Benefits.

Additional sources of advice:

• Your local Pharmacists can advise on minor ailments.
• NHS website has advice on many topics.
• For emergency or urgent matters out of hours, call 111 for advice or a visit from a doctor.
• Walk-in Centres are open every day of the week at Edgware Community Hospital and Finchley Memorial Hospital for walk-in patients, however, they prioritise 111 booked appointments and urgent cases.

Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

• Repeat prescriptions can now be requested “on line” via AccuRx, or in writing at the surgery.
• Almost all prescriptions are now directly sent electronically via “The Spine” to your choice of pharmacy (so you no longer need to collect the green prescription sheets from our receptionists).
• It you have not requested a prescription from us before via EPS, please remember to state your choice of “nominated pharmacy”, and let us know if you wish to change your nominated pharmacy.

Electronic Referral Service (ERS)

• Referrals will now once more be made via your GP surgery. However, “Choose and Book” remains in use and many appointments can now be made through this system.
• Suspected Cancers are directly booked via the Two Week Wait system via your GP surgery.