Noticeboard

Summer Patient Newletter
We now have a new summer edition of our patient newsletter online. Please feel free to have a read in our 'patient newletter section.'

Online Services
We are pleased to announce the availability of online services with respect to booking, cancelling appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions. New patients can also register with our practice online. More information is available on our website.

Sickness Certification
Self-certificates should be obtained from your work place or they can be downloaded from http://www.hmrc.gov.uk /forms/sc2.pdf . Only if a period of sickness absence lasts longer than seven days does your employer require a doctor’s certificate. For periods less than seven days you may request a private certificate, but a charge is made for this. If you are being seen by a hospital consultant you don't need to make an appointment with a GP to acquire a sick note, just ask during your hospital appointment.

Out of Hours
For urgent access to a doctor out of surgery opening hours please use the out of hours service that is provided by Anglian Medical Care (Tel: 01603 488488)

Patients Group
All patients are welcome to attend the patient group which meets at the surgery four times a year. It is an opportunity for patients to discuss the provision of healthcare and suggest any improvements we can make and to discuss any current developments within the surgery

Gluten Free Foods Update
We have been advised that while the Norfolk PCT support the provision of BASIC gluten-free foodstuffs such as bread, pasta, bread-mix and pastry-mixes; FRESH bread can no longer be supplied.  Gluten-free products are widely available in supermarkets.

Evening Surgeries From October 6th you will be able to see a GP from 6:30pm on a Monday evening. This service is for routine (non emergency) appointments only and must be booked at least 2 days in advance.

New Telephone System 
From the 12th of August we will be installing a new phone system. We are keeping 01553 631469 as our main number. The system will answer calls automatically and let you choose which department you wish to speak with.

 

PALS

PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)

The NHS employs over a million staff in thousands of locations. It is a large and complex organisation providing a broad range of services. It is not surprising that sometimes you or a loved one may feel bewildered or concerned when using the NHS. And this can be at times when you are feeling at your most vulnerable and anxious.

So, what should you do if you want on the spot help when using the health service? The NHS expects all members of staff to listen and respond to you to the best of their ability. But sometimes, you may wish to talk to someone employed especially to help you. The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, known as PALS, has been introduced to ensure that the NHS listens to patients, their relatives, carers and friends, and answers their questions and resolves their concerns as quickly as possible.

PALS also helps the NHS to improve services by listening to what matters to patients and their loved ones and making changes, when appropriate.

What does PALS do?

In particular, PALS will:

  • Provide you with information about the NHS and help you with any other health-related enquiry
  • Help resolve concerns or problems when you are using the NHS
  • Provide information about the NHS complaints procedure and how to get independent help if you decide you may want to make a complaint
  • Provide you with information and help introduce you to agencies and support groups outside the NHS
  • Inform you about how you can get more involved in your own healthcare and the NHS locally
  • Improve the NHS by listening to your concerns, suggestions and experiences and ensuring that people who design and manage services are aware of the issues you raise
  • Provide an early warning system for NHS Trusts and monitoring bodies by identifying problems or gaps in services and reporting them.

Find out more
If you would like more information about PALS, the functions it is intended to provide and the standards it should strive to achieve , follow this link.