Surgery Extension
The surgery extension has now received NHS approval and ENDC planning permission. Construction will commence on 27 April and works should be completed in September 2020. We apologise for any disruption which may be caused.
Prescription Forms
Paper prescription forms are changing. The updated FP10 forms include a new exemption box U for patients who are in receipt of Universal Credit and meet the criteria for free help with health costs. Exemption box G ‘has a War Pension exemption certificate’ has been re-worded to better represent the exemption certificates by Veterans UK and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: Age exemption boxes A (“is under 16 years of age”) and C (“is 60 years of age or over”)have been combined into one single exemption category, A “is 60 years of age or over or is under 16 years of age”. For more information visit:
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/prescription-forms
Patient Sharps Boxes
Please note that with immediate effect we are unable to accept sharps boxes from patients for hazardous waste disposal. You should contact East Northamptonshire Council (Tel: 01832 742026 or E mail: waste@east-northamptonshire.gov.uk) to arrange collection.
Minor Injuries
If you get a minor injury, don't wait - WaitLess. WaitLess combines up-to-the minute travel information with live waiting times at KGH, NGH and Corby Urgent Care Centre, meaning you can access treatment for your minor injury faster. See below for full details:
Wait Less
East Northants Hub
East Northants Hub is a new GP led evening and weekend service where local GPs and other clinicians offer a range of services for patients registered with a GP practice in East Northants. Please visit the Hub Website for more information. Also see the Extended Access page under the appointments tab.
Data Storage Notice
The Practice uses a system called EMIS Web to manage clinical information about your care and health. This system is provided by a company called EMIS Health LTD who act as a data processor on behalf of the Practice. EMIS Health LTD also uses a sub-processor which is Amazon Web Services (sub processor) who act under written instruction from EMIS Health LTD to store the data. Under no circumstances is it technically possible for Amazon Web Services to access any information about you. Should you have any concerns or queries please do not hesitate to contact the Practice.
Armed Forces Veterans
We are keen to support Armed Forces Veterans. Top Tips for Veterans are outlined below:
Armed Forces' Veterans Top Tips Leaflet
Electronic Prescribing Service
We now use electronic prescribing within the practice. You are now able to choose any pharmacy from where you can collect your prescription and medication. You should contact the pharmacy of your choice for information and to sign up. More details are at:
Wi-Fi
We now offer free Wi-Fi access for patients in the surgery (GP-Guest)
General Practice In Crisis
A letter from the Northamptonshire Local Medical Committee to all patients is available to read below:
General Practice in Crisis
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection:
The Cottons Medical Centre was inspected by the CQC on Wednesday 4 December 2019. Their final report is published below and on the CQC website. The Practice was graded GOOD in 3 of the 5 categories and INADEQUATE in 2 of the 5 categories outlined below, with an overall grading of INADEQUATE. It has been placed in SPECIAL MEASURES for a period of 6 months.
The CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
Their purpose:
To ensure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encourage care services to improve.
Their role:
To monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and publish their findings, including performance ratings to help people choose care.
The Inspectors try to ascertain answers to the five key questions of GP services and then give their reports at a later date. The five key questions are for GP Practices:
- Are they safe?
- Are they effective?
- Are they caring?
- Are they responsive?
- Are they well-led?
CQC Report Evidence Table
Friends and Family Test
Patients are able to feedback on their experience within the surgery in order to improve services using the Friends and Family Test (FFT). The FFT asks if people would recommend the services they have used and offers a range of responses. When combined with a supplementary follow up question, it provides a mechanism to highlight both good and poor patient experience. Comments can be submitted as follows:
- Using the cards provided in surgery; to be placed in the box provided
- On line, using the FFT link under the "Have your say" icon
- By replying to text messages sent after appointments (a maximum of one per month.
Full guidance is provided below:
http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/fft-gp-summ-14.pdf
Friend and Family Results (Texts, internet and hand-written cards combined) are shown below:
FFT Results
Medical Records
Patients who have registered for on line Patient Access are now able to access their full medical records, including consultations, test results, problems, medication, immunisations and allergies. Note that "Current Medications" may list all medications that have been prescribed for the patient during previous years. If you wish to be given full access, you must request that your GP activates your patient access account. See the guide at:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/patient-online/
Appointment Reminders
We have a SMS text messaging system which reminds patients of their next appointment 24 hours in advance. This message will be sent by text to the patient’s mobile telephone, so it is important that contact details are up to date. Patients will also be able to cancel their appointments using this system by texting the word CANCEL. Please do not use any other explanatory words, as it will not work.
Extended Hours Clinic
Face-to-face clinics will be held from 6.30 - 7.30 pm on Thursday evenings in surgery. On other evenings during the week GPs will offer telephone consultations from 6.30 - 7.30 pm.
Out of Area Registration
From 5 January 2015 we will be offering in hours urgent primary medical care, including home visits, to patients who are working or living within the practice boundary, but are registered with a practice elsewhere. We will not accept registrations for patients living in neighbouring localities.
New Service
Social Prescribing is a new free service available to adults (18+) who are ready to make a change in their lives to improve their health and wellbeing.
A Social Prescribing Link Worker will support you to access activities and services within your community, enabling you to improve your health and wellbeing helping you to stay well.
How does it work?
A member of your GP practice team may suggest a referral to the Social Prescribing Service. A Social Prescribing Link Worker will make contact with you to talk to your and find out more about what you would like help with. The link worker can arrange an appointment at a time and place convenient to you.
A Social Prescriber is: • Confidential, practical, helpful, non-judgmental • Someone who can help you to decide what you’d like to do to improve your health and wellbeing by finding you activities that will suit you • Someone to support you on your way
Services Available may include: • Healthy lifestyles and activities • Arts, music, outdoors and creative • Befriending, counselling, support • Housing benefits, financial advice • Employment, training and volunteering • Education and learning • Access to specialist services
Named GP
All patients have a named GP. Please ask at reception who your named GP is. This is done on an alphabetical basis, so there is no scope to change your named GP. You are, however, at liberty to see any GP for a consultation.
Repeat Prescriptions
Repeat prescriptions can be ordered using the Patient Access portal on the surgery website
Closure of Phone Lines
The main surgery telephone line will be closed daily from 12.30 - 1.30 pm