Planning Permission - East Northamptonshire have approved planning for the surgery extension (see below). Construction is due to be completed by August 2020.
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
Surgery Extension Application
The Practice has submitted a second application to NHS England for funding to build an extension to the surgery in order to cope with the increasing population in Raunds. We have been informed at the end of May 2019 that the application has been successful, so we would hope to see it completed in 2020. Inevitably building works will cause considerable disruption to the surgery and we apologise in advance. The application can be viewed below:
Surgery Extension Business Case
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 Friday 24th October 2014. Their final report is published below and on the CQC website. The Practice was graded GOOD in all of the 5 categories outlined below, with an overall grading of GOOD. One area of OUTSTANDING practice was highlighted.
A CQC Inspection is scheduled to take place on 4 December 2019.
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?
The_Cottons_Medical_Centre_CQC Report.pdf
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.
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