[updated 28th July 2022]
Like all GP surgeries across the UK , Ainsdale Medical Centre is facing an immense challnge in dealing with rapidly increasing demand.
The number of calls into the surgery each day is running 30%+ above what we would normally receive and we are several staff short due to sickness and the need for some of our team to self-isolate. We are drafting in cover staff to help but this is not without its challenges.
We are sincerely sorry that out patients are having to wait longer than usual to get through to the reception team but all the staff are working flat out in very demanding circumstances and we all appreciate everyones understanding and support.
We are asking patients to help us manage this situation by using other methods of getting our help and by using the help of the wider healthcare services that are available.
- Don’t call the practice unless you have to – the answers to many frequently asked questions can be found on our website and on other NHS and Gov.uk websites. This is particularly true of questions realting to Coronavirus vaccinations and isolation guidance.
- Use NHS111 including the on-line 111 service which are available even during core GP opening hours.
- Use E-Consult – available via our website home page – to get non-urgent medical support from our practice team
- E-Consult should also be used for admin related requests such as repeat sicknotes.
- Community pharmacists are also very busy at this moment but are there to help with minor illnesses and ailments.
- The Cheshire and Merseyside ICB has some great resources on the range of services that are available in our community to help you .
In addition, a couple of things to avoid doing...
- Please don’t call us on the phone to order medication. For safety reasons only housebound patients who have been pre-approved can order over the phone. If you use a smartphone you can easily download the NHS smartphone health app and order medication that way subject to automated ID verification using a passport or photo driving licence. There is no need to contact the surgery to get set up on the NHS app.
Medication requests received via an on-line app are submitted directly into your medical record without anyone having to re-key them so this saves us a lot of reception time which will be more effectively used to answer the telephone.
