Winter Pressure Appointments

The Practice will be offering additional same day appointments between December 2019 and February 2020.  These additional appointments are being added to help during the winter period.

Christmas and New Year opening hours – 2019/2020

Over the Christmas and New Year period our opening times are as follows:

• Mon 23rd Dec –  08:30-18:30
• Tues 24th Dec – 08:30-18:00
• Weds 25th Dec – CLOSED
• Thurs 26th Dec – CLOSED
• Fri 27th Dec – 08:30-18:30
• Mon 30th Dec – 08:30-18:30
• Tues 31st Dec – 08:30-18:30
• Weds 1st Jan – CLOSED
• Thurs 2nd Jan – 08:30-18:30
• Fri 3rd Jan – 08:30-18:30

If you require urgent medical advice when your GP Practice is closed call NHS 111. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Just dial 111 free from any mobile or landline.

Additional Appointments

The Clinical Commissioning Group is currently supporting the practice to provide additional same day Doctor appointments over the winter period

Extended Access – Local GP practices working together to offer more convenient appointment times for patients

As from 1^st October, 2018, we will be part of a network of practices (known as ‘hubs’) in Shropshire, working together to offer patients ‘Extended Access’ to pre-bookable appointments - in the evenings, at the weekend and during bank holidays.

Part of the national agenda by NHS England, Extended Access means patients will be able to make pre-bookable appointments to see a GP, practice nurse, or other qualified healthcare professional, at a time which may be more convenient for them.

In Shropshire, local practices will work together in a network of ‘hubs’ to provide this service. The ‘hubs’ will take turns to provide the Extended Access appointments to patients. This means patients could be offered an appointment at their own surgery or at a nearby practice in the local area (part of the hub). Patients will be advised about appointment location at time of booking, enabling them to make an informed choice about their where and when they access care.

Locally the pre-bookable appointments will be available as follows:

• Weekday evenings (Monday to Friday) appointments between 6.30pm and 8pm (at a local area hub)
• Saturdays & Sundays ring your own GP surgery or 0333 222 6649 appointments between 8:30am and 12:30pm (at a local area hub)
• Bank holidays - RING 0333 222 6649 appointments between 8.30am and 12.30pm (at a single site in central Shrewsbury)

Arranging a pre-bookable evening, weekend or bank holiday appointment is easy to do - patients simply need to contact us, during normal opening hours, and speak to the practice receptionist or a member of the practice team who will be able to help. Appointments may not be with your registered GP but will be with a GP or other qualified healthcare professional.

Some additional weekend appointments and bank holiday appointments can also be arranged by ringing 0333 222 6649.

Extended Access adds to the existing range of healthcare services already available in Shropshire to help patients, including pharmacists, NHS 111, the walk-in centre, minor injury units, and A&E (which is there 24/7 for life threatening serious emergencies only).

It isn’t always necessary to see a GP for minor and common conditions - find out more about

how to self-care for these types of conditions on the Self-care section of the NHS Shropshire

Clinical Commissioning Group website (https://shropshireccg.nhs.uk/health-advice/selfcare/).

It is important to be aware of how long common conditions should take to clear up

and always seek medical advice if you are unsure or if you feel it is an emergency.

Extended Access comes into effect as from 1^st October, 2018.

Information to help patients understand more about Extended Access is available on the NHS England website, visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/redesign/improving-access/. 

Practice Vision Statement:

“Working Together To Support a Healthy Community”

Pontesbury Compassionate Communities - ‘COCO’ VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Can you help? Would you like to get involved?

Do you have a couple of hours once a week or fortnight to support someone in their own home to stay healthy and socially connected?

Would you be interested in:

• Visiting and befriending;
• Playing cards / games with someone;
• Doing the crossword or reading to someone;
• Helping with errands;
• Helping someone with social activities.

Then COCO befriending may be for you.

Initial training is provided at Severn Hospice, Shrewsbury

Ongoing support is provided throughout your time as a volunteer.

For further information on COCO volunteering, please contact Helen Tazewell at Pontesbury Medical practice on 01743 790325 or h.tazewell@nhs.net.

We would love to hear from you.

GP Online Services

If you haven’t yet signed up for GP Online Services simply call into the practice with two forms of photo ID and proof of address. We can sign you up there and then. GP Online Services makes it easy to book appointments online, request repeat prescriptions and view some of your medical records. Find out more about this on www.nhs.uk/GPonlineservices.

If you are not able to attend an appointment you have booked, for whatever reason, please let us know. We can then offer that appointment to someone else that needs it.

Named GP

All patients at Pontesbury Medical Practice have a named accountable doctor who is responsible for your care. Your named doctor will be allocated to you by the practice. You can still talk to or make appointments to see any of our doctors or nurses, not just your named GP. If you have a preference and would like to request a particular doctor at the practice to be your named GP please talk to one of our receptionists.

Diamond Drop In Centre