Important information about the coronavirus (COVID-19)
The NHS in Wakefield and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to protect patients, our community and NHS staff while ensuring as many services as possible are available to the public.
If you have symptoms associated with coronavirus including a new continuous cough and / or a high temperature, you are advised to stay at home for 7 days.
Please do not book a GP appointment or attend your GP practice.
If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine.
But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days. The most up-to-date public guidance is always online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
If your symptoms are serious, or get worse, NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do.
Only call 111 direct if you are advised to do so by the online service or you cannot go online.
During this time if you have any other medical needs please contact the surgery by telephone and your health needs will be assessed – this may lead to a face to face consultation if needed.

GP ONLINE CONSULTATIONS

We have a new system that allows patients to consult with the surgery online - this can be for an admin query such as a sick note or a clinical query.  Once you have logged the details of your request, a member of the surgery will contact you with a response.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SYSTEM IS NOT TO BE USED FOR URGENT MEDICAL ISSUES.  To use the new system, please click on the blue box on the home page.  If you require any help using the new system, please contact a member of our administration team.  Using this system is particularly useful during the current coronavirus outbreak - it avoids you having to visit the surgery which protects you and our staff

CORONAVIRUS

FOLLOWING GUIDANCE FROM NHS ENGLAND RELATING TO CORONAVIRUS, WE HAVE SUSPENDED OUR ONLINE BOOKING FACILITY FOR FACE TO FACE GP APPOINTMENTS.  HOWEVER PATIENTS CAN BOOK A TELEPHONE APPOINTMENT SLOT WITH A CLINICIAN WHO WILL THEN BOOK YOU IN TO SEE A GP IF APPROPRIATE.  DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY IN PERSON.  THIS IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS AND STAFF.   CURRENT BOOKED APPOINTMENTS ONLINE WILL REMAIN VALID BUT YOU MAY BE TELEPHONED  PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT TO ASSESS YOUR NEED.

IF YOU HAVE A PERSISTENT COUGH AND/IOR TEMPERATURE, DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY.  YOU MUST SELF-ISOLATE FOR 7 DAYS.  DO NOT PHONE 111 UNLESS YOUR SYMPTOMS DETERIORATE.

we are upgrading to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which will mean that almost all our prescriptions will be processed electronically from 4 March 2020

Electronic prescriptions help save the NHS money.

You will receive your prescriptions in the same way as you do now.

Read more about EPS on the NHS Digital website.

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/electronic-prescription-service

Outbreak of Coronavirus

For general information on coronavirus, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Please DO NOT visit the surgery if you have any concerns.  Visit https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19  for further advice on what to do.  For an up to date list of the affected countries, visit

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY

Stay indoors and avoid contact with others

Symptoms to look out for: Runny nose, sore throat, fever, breathing problems, cough

Do not go to work, school or public areas

Avoid visitors in your home

Avoid using public transport or taxis

PAPER PRESCRIPTION FORMS ARE CHANGING

Paper prescription forms are changing from the end of January 2020. Exemption boxes on the back of prescription forms are being updated to make it easier for eligible patients to correctly claim free NHS prescriptions and avoid penalty charges. For more information, visit:

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/prescription-forms

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.  New prescription forms include an exemption box for patients in receipt of Universal Credit who meet the criteria for free help with health costs. Not all benefits entitle people to free prescriptions. Find out if you are eligible using the online checker: www.nhs.uk/checkbeforeyoutick

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”

RESULTS OF 2019 PATIENT SURVEY

The national patient survey results are out and we are pleased to announce the we have scored really highly in all areas and have improved on the previous year.  Our results are higher than the national and CCG averages in nearly all areas. The survey found that:-

95% of patients find the reception team helpful
97% of patients said the professional they saw was good at listening
97% said they had trust in the professional they saw
99%  said their needs were met during their last appointment

If you want to view the full report, go to www.gp-patient.co.uk

It is a very pleasing result and demonstrates the commitment of all the staff at Northgate.

What is bowel cancer screening?

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and most people diagnosed are over 60 years old. Screening aims to find bowel cancer at an early stage, before you notice any symptoms. Finding cancer early makes it easier to treat and can help save lives.

The bowel cancer screening kit is a simple free test you can do at home. You will need to collect small samples of poo and then return the kit for testing. The test looks for tiny amounts of blood in poo, which can be a sign of cancer.

What to do next

• Contact the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Freephone Helpline on 0800 707 60 60 if:

  • You want to know more about bowel screening or have any questions or concerns about using the kit.

  • You did not receive your bowel cancer screening kit or you no longer have it and would like to ask for another free kit.

• You can also visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/fob-test/ for more information.

• If you would prefer to speak to someone at the practice please feel free to contact us.

Why not try to quit smoking in 2020! If you are a smoker with a long term condition it is really important you think about stopping. Not only can the symptoms of your long term condition decrease but your medication can also work more effectively. Yorkshire Smokefree Wakefield are a friendly service who have specialist advisors to help the people of the Wakefield district to stop smoking. The service is offering appointments at Pontefract Health Centre on a Thursday from 10am to 3pm to help you kick the habit and become smokefree. They can offer one to one appointments and specialist advice on the best product to help you quit, alongside support which will result in you being four times more likely to be successful rather than going it alone. Why not join the 82% of Wakefield residents and become smokefree!!! For more information log onto Yorkshire Smokefree Wakefield https://wakefield.yorkshiresmokefree.nhs.uk/ , phone the service on 01924 252174 to ask for an appointment or pick up a leaflet in reception.

GET YOURSELF ONLINE AND BEAT THE QUEUES!  If you need helping logging in with your password, please contact reception who will be able to help.

The law on how we process your personal data has changed.  There are new regulations called the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).  Please see our fair processing notice for adults and children under the Practice Policies tab on the right hand side.

Carers Packs.  We have put them together for Carers and the Elderly which contains a wealth of information on the services available to you.  To obtain a free copy of Northgate's carers pack enquire at Reception.

PLEASE SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE FOR ONLINE SERVICES.

Young Person's Telephone Advice Clinic - On Wednesdays between 12.00 noon and 12.30pm we run a young person's (13-19 year old) telephone advice line for dedicated advice on any matter that you would like to discuss with someone clinical on a totally confidential basis.  Please feel free to contact reception during these times and someone will help you.