Welcome to Orchard Medical Practice
We strive to provide the best service we can to our patients. The demand for GP services has spiralled over recent months and this has been throughout GP practices in the country
APPOINTMENT SYSTEM - How can I book an Appointment - what appointments do we offer?
Book an On line Face to Face - You can book a face to face - non-urgent appointment on line - please go to the tab above (online services) to learn how we can sign you up to to do this. These are available for GP Appointments only and you can book up to 4 weeks in advance for these.
LA pre-booked phone call for medical advice - Contact us on line - You can use this form to ask for a call back for a non-urgent medical problem by clicking this link CLICK HERE TO DO THIS We will receive the form, text you back with a date and an approximate time we will call you. You are usually looking around 5-6 working days for a call back. Please note we may have to temporarily suspend this service if it reaches unacceptable levels so please try again the following day and we are unable to take urgent on the day requests. You can request which GP you would like contact from and the time of day - we will do our best to accommodate this where possible. Please note there will be a longer wait if you wish to speak to a GP who works part-time or less.
Need an urgent appointment on the day? - Please call the practice on 400100 and explain your problem we can help more this way - the reception will signpost you to the most suitable clinician, this could also be to a pharmacy, both options will give you a call back or should we have reached maximum capacity for the day we may refer you to 111 for advice.
What appointments do we offer for working people or children? We do offer some face to face evening appointments on a Monday & Tuesday evening between 6.30 pm & 8 pm - there may be a wait for these, our receptionist will advise you of the next one.
What other services do we offer in practice? We currently offer services such as a First Contact Practitioner to deal with any musculoskeletal problems, FCP's can also order x-rays, offer physio advice, refer on to the pain clinic, give exercise advice. We have Health & Well Being Coaches who can help with your diet, fitness and well being, this is usually a 6 week course to help you feel better. We can refer to our social prescribers who deal with any health & social issues you may have - they are a signposting service to services for benefits & social help.
I have an administrative query or a fit note how do I ask this? You can either complete this form CLICK HERE TO DO THIS and we will reply or contact you within 1-2 working days. Please don't forget to self certificate for the first 7 days, we can only back date a fit note.
I have a prescription query how can I get help? You can either complete this form CLICK HERE TO DO THIS and we will reply or contact you within 1-2 working days or you can call our prescription on 400100 between 11 and 12 am and again between 2 and 3 pm Monday to Friday.
If you wish to cancel your appointment please either reply to your appointment reminder or choose option 1 on the phone line or cancel via Systmonline.
Worried about your blood pressure? we have a blood pressure machine you are welcome to use in the our reception area - please feel free to come and use it, your reading will be put in to your record as well as read by a clinician who will contact you if it is high.
Struggling with everything being on line these days? We are encouraged by NHS Digital to offer on line services as the way forward, but we appreciate not everyone can do this. Our receptionists can help you either to sign you up or by explaining your problem we can see how we can help you get an appointment.
We thank our patients for helping us to provide the best care by using other services such as pharmacies or ringing NHS 111 service by pressing 111 on your phone. NHS 111 may book you in to the practice to see a GP if there are slots available (they only have a certain amount). You may want to try the NHS 111 advice link prior to calling NHS 111 link click here.
Should you require help outside of practice hours please either call NHS 111 or go to Primary Care 24 based at King's Mill Hospital.
Please also visit LIVE WELL for advice and tips on healthy eating/exercise/alcohol and a whole host of help and ideas to help you make the best choices about your physical health, mental health and wellbeing
Coming Soon ......................
New Telephone System - We've listened to you and appreciate our telephone system needs replacing! Before the end of March we will have a new phone system in place which will enable you to request a call back if you wish rather than hanging on in a queue! We welcome this as much as you do!
New Website - We are also upgrading our website soon - so hopefully everything will be easy to find - watch this space we will keep you posted!
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Behind the Scene's Nov - Jan 24
We would like to share with you what goes on behind the scene's at Orchard Medical Practice - Between November and January 2024
17’076 patients have had an appointment or telephone call with our Doctors
Our Doctors and Nurses have Viewed & Filed or actioned 25’324 test results
Issued 9267 prescriptions for 115’638 individual items!
Written 2160 referral letters
Issued 832 fit/sick notes
7077 patients have had an appointment or spoken to a nurse/HCA
Our dedicated receptionist team have answered a staggering 22’150 incoming telephone calls
19’318 Incoming letters have been processed
This only just scratches the surface of what is done day to day by our incredible staff.
Baby sleep survey
Parents and caregivers are being encouraged to complete the baby sleep survey. This year the survey was worked on with around 25 parents who helped shape the questions and is open until 30th April 2024.
Baby's under 12 months sleep survey
Men's Mental Health Support Group
'In Sams Name' is a local men's mental health support group - for more information please visit Men’s Mental Health Support Group In Nottinghamshire | In Sam’s Name (insamsname.co.uk)
April Meetings Mansfield : 
Health and Wellbeing Coaches
Are you in need of some health and well being support? Our practice health and well being coaches can help you with a holistic approach to health and well being. They can offer support on lifestyle choices such as physical activity/exercise and basic nutrition. It can be tailored to individual needs which include behavioural changes including unhealthy and harmful lifestyle choices. Our Health and Well Being Coach can offer you a 45 minute initial face to face or telephone appointment or a home visit to offer coaching and encouragement for patients to take ownership of their own care, health and well being by increasing their skills, knowledge and confidence, further sessions can be offered to continue to help and support you to get back to better health.
Some examples of what a health and well being coach would see are: diabetic/pre-diabetics, overweight/obese, sedentary lifestyle, mild/moderate COPD and other respiratory disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, muscular-skeletal conditions not made worse by exercise, high cholesterol, osteoporosis/osteoarthritis, mild to moderate mental health problems, depression, anxiety, insomnia, panic disorders, long covid.
Please note there is an exclusion criteria of under 18's, acutely unwell patients, acute mental health crisis, undiagnosed pain, chest pain not investigated, pregnancy or less than 6 weeks post-partum, severe/very severe COPD.
Either a healthcare professional or a receptionist can refer you to this service - you can either use our contact us messaging above or speak to a receptionist to be referred.
Loneliness - Every Mind Matters
Loneliness. It's a part of life. Let's talk about it.
We're all affected by loneliness at times in our lives. We can feel lonely in a busy city or rural location, on social media or spending time on our own or with others. Try not to feel embarrassed or ashamed if you do.
Find out about possible signs of loneliness, reasons we feel lonely and ways to manage it. There are also links to more support if you or someone else needs it. Click this link for more help & resources https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/
Bereavement Information:
Losing a loved one is a very stressful and emotional time, you are often left wondering where and who to turn to first. We would like to offer our condolences to you. The leaflet below aims to help you through some of the practical aspects of what comes next.
Different Health Professionals at your GP practice, please click on the link for information regarding how Nottinghamshire ICB are introducing other staff to GP surgeries, you may not always need a GP.
https://notts.icb.nhs.uk/2023/05/09/patients-now-able-to-access-more-healthcare-professionals-at-gp-surgeries/?fbclid=IwAR3e0rbZqfxOeN38bz6wePxh3m2U2g5VDnu6wEiVjTLtufM8rDoGj0xW2lo
Frequently Asked Questions
You Said We Did
We have listened to your feedback and suggestions over the last few weeks with regard to you preferring to be informed there are no more appointments available on the day rather than being held in the queue. You will now hear Dr Mills stating when our calls are full rather than putting you in the call queue. Our receptionists are still available for any other patient queries or appointment bookings for example nurse appointments.
Why does the receptionist ask what is wrong with me?
The reception staff are members of the practice team and it has been agreed they should ask patients ‘why they need to be seen’. Reception staff are trained to ask certain questions in order to ensure that you receive:
- The most appropriate medical care,
- From the most appropriate health professional,
- At the most appropriate time.
Receptionists are asked to collect brief
information from patients:
1. To help doctors prioritise house visits and phone calls
2. To ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care
3. To direct patients to see the nurse or other health professional rather than a doctor where appropriate.
In the last 6 months we now have new types of clinicians working with us such as pharmacists, paramedics, First Contact Physio's, Social Prescribers for example so it is important to direct your call to the most correct person.
On line symptom checker
Prior to contacting the practice you may wish to try the NHS symptom checker which may help you decide how to best manage your symptoms.
Coronavirus Information
If you need help and advice regarding coronavirus symptoms please click here https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/
Are you waiting for your hospital appointment?
The My Planned Care website supports people waiting for a hospital appointment, operation or treatment, and gives them advice and support while they wait. This includes access to average waiting times at their hospital and other useful advice and local services.
Virtual Wards:
Over the next few months you may begin to hear about Virtual Wards being available to patients across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Virtual Wards are a safe and efficient alternative to NHS care that usually takes place in a hospital setting and they are enabled by utilising the latest technology.
Virtual Wards will support patients who would otherwise be in hospital, to receive the care, monitoring and support they need in the place they call home. This includes either preventing avoidable admissions into hospital or supporting early discharge out of hospital. The initial phase of the initiative will focus on early supported discharge out of hospital, whilst remaining under consultant care.
Ukrainian Refugees - have you recently come to the UK? please see the links below for information as to how the NHS works, please do not hesitate to contact the practice for more information.
English:How the NHS works
Ukrain: How the NHS works
Russian: How the NHS works
Accessing your Medical Records
GP records include information about your medicine, allergies, vaccinations, previous illnesses and test results, hospital discharge summaries, appointment letters and referral letters.
Subject Access Requests
The General Data Protection Regulations give you the statutory right of access to any information, manual (paper) or computerised.
You do not have to give a reason for applying for access to your General Practice records. If you do not need access to your entire records, it would be helpful if you would inform us of the periods and parts of your health records that you require, along with details which you may feel have relevance (e.g. Clinic type, location, dates)
Requests for access to Medical Records should be made to the practice in writing where possible or call into the practice for a form. The Practice will deal with your request as quickly as possible. The information should be available to you within 28 days of receipt of your accurately completed form and confirmation of consent. Under certain circumstances, this period can be extended to 3 months but we will keep you informed of the progress of your request during this extended period.
We will not make a charge for the first request for access to your medical records. We may, however, charge for subsequent requests and if we deem that the volume of information requested is excessive. You have the right to simply view your records (i.e. not receive a copy in a permanent form).
Online Access
You can register to view your electronic medical record as well as book appointments (currently unavailable due to the ongoing pandemic) and manage your prescriptions online. To get access you will need to bring proof of ID to the practice, 1x photo ID and 1 x address ID (we ask that you do this in person as we will not give your account details to anyone else)
Cancer
Do you have Questions around Cancer? If so Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust in Partnership with Macmillan have opened a Macmillan Cancer Information and support Centre. Please use the link below for more information:
Sherwood Forest Hospitals (sfh-tr.nhs.uk)
Mental Health Awareness
Every Mind Matters has a range or tools to help you manage anxiety, boost your mood and sleep better. Click here https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/
Loneliness:
It’s ok to feel lonely, particularly at a time like this. Don’t suffer in silence, we can all help each other stay connected, visit https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/ for advice and support.
For more information about the services and help for Veteran's please visit :https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk
Carer Information:
Help for Carers
Please click on below help for information available to you:
Nottinghamshire Carers Information 2023
Carers Poster
Access to virtual support:
Prescription Ordering
You can order your repeat prescription in a variety of ways by brining it in by hand/post and putting it in our box on reception, you can order it on line either through our 'contact us' page above or sign up to 'on line services' on the tab at the top of the page. We can then send it directly to your nominated pharmacy or you can collect the prescription at our reception desk. Most chemists also offer to order and collect your prescriptions each month also and most deliver medication too. Please leave up to 72 hours for the turn around from when you order your prescription.
Repeat Dispensing
Electronic Repeat dispensing is an option for some patients who we deem suitable on stable regular medication. . For more information on Electronic Repeat Dispensing please visit this link - https://psnc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/eRepeat-Dispensing-leaflet.pdf
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Try the new NHS App
If you’re a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.
You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.
If you already use Systmonline you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.
For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp'
And in other news at the practice ……….
Our new GP Registrars (Doctors in training to be GPs) this quarter are:
Dr E Deocoreza (F)
Dr E Hesketh (F)
Dr S Enabi (M)
Dr B Mustapha (M)
Dr M Negm (M)
CQC Report
(Site updated 18/04/2024)