NHS App Messaging Service
You can now receive messages through the NHS App Messaging Service.
This is a convenient and secure way for the practice to send you messages about your care.
What to expect from messages
We will send you:
- appointment reminders
- changes to practice services
- Health questionnaires
We will only send you a message if we need to contact you, for example if we have an update about your care.
We may continue to send you some information by SMS (text) message while we transition to using the NHS App Messaging Service.
If you do not want to receive messages from the NHS App Messaging Service
Contact the surgery to discuss your preferred contact method.
How to check if you have a message
You will receive messages, in 'View messages from your GP surgery and other NHS Services.'
The best way to keep up with your messages is to download the NHS App on Google Play or the App Store and turn on notifications.
To check your messages:
- Log in to the NHS app.
- Go to View your messages.
- Select View messages from your GP surgery and other NHS Services.
- Then select [GP surgery name].
Get NHS App notifications when we send you a message
To turn on notifications:
- Log in to the NHS app.
- Go to More.
- Select Account and settings.
- Then select Manage notifications.
- Use the toggle to turn notifications on or off.
You will see a new notification from the NHS App the next time we send you a message. Your notifications will tell you that you have a new message from your GP.
You will still receive our messages if your notifications are turned off, but you will not see a notification on your device when you have a new message.
How to contact Thurleigh road practice
You can make contact with us by:
- Online consultation forms https://florey.accurx.com/p/H85114
- phone 020 8675 3521
Your privacy while using the NHS App
If you want to find out how the NHS uses your information, read the NHS account privacy policy.
Adult Proxy Access
I want someone to help me with my GP services
Do you need help managing your healthcare?
You can ask a trusted person to apply on your behalf using this service, if you are both aged 16 or over and both registered at the same GP surgery, which we are taking part in the trial. Talk to them about what you want them to be able to help you with, and give them the details they need to apply.
Invite your trusted person to find out more about applying for access to another patient's GP services on the NHS website.
This service is designed and run by the NHS, so your personal information is safe.
The NHS is trialling a new service where you can apply online for proxy access. You can only use this service if your GP surgery is taking part in this trial.
You will need to use your NHS login. If you do not have one yet, you can set one up as part of your application.
Letter to all patients
Dear patient
Firstly we’d like to thank you for your patience and understanding during what has been an extremely challenging last 18 months. We have been working hard to offer you a good level of service and understand there have been occasions where you feel things haven’t gone the way you’d like them to.
We have taken on quite a bit of feedback from patients over the period of the pandemic into how we provide services to our patients. The way we provide care for you has understandably changed due to the impact of COVID-19.
We have though, remained open throughout the pandemic and have continued to see patients face to face when needed.
We have also added in new work streams to make it easier for other patient cohorts to contact a doctor or nurse. These include video appointments and text message communications which have both been warmly embraced and received very good feedback from our patients.
However, in line with instructions from NHS England we have had to change to a triage model whereby all calls are triaged at the point of contact before being assessed by a member of the clinical team. The clinician in charge then processes this and books an appointment based on clinical need and any potential COVID risk to other patients and staff.
I can assure you that reception staff do not make this call. All calls are discussed with a partner and assessed immediately. They are then dealt with based on clinical need and an appropriate time frame for an appointment is found.
We have found this system to work well in freeing up a lot of emergency slots on the day - resulting in patients with an actual emergency medical need, being able to see a doctor or a nurse on the day. Previously these appointments were being booked inappropriately at times.
Overall the response has been good and we will continue to review and improve our workflow systems to enable us to offer prompt medical care when needed. We are seeing a huge increase in clinical demand at the moment and are continually assessing how best we can service this.
We continue to see patients face to face when appropriate and will continue to assess how this can be best managed as the pandemic evolves.
Whilst he vaccination programme has been very successful and life is beginning to return to something like normal - a word of caution. We are unfortunately seeing quite a few cases of double vaccinated individuals contracting COVID-19 (in most cases the delta variant). It is for this reason that we continue to operate the way we do, with safeguards in place to keep both our patients and our staff safe. It has not been easy but we do this with the best of intent.
Please do remember that this virus is still looming and that is why we remain cautious.
Thank you for your feedback and I hope you find this explanation helpful.
The partners
TRP
Thank you
Dr Jonathan Christopher