The Minster Practice, Lichfield
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Updated 25/08/2008 Out of Hours from 1st April 2008Out of Hours services (6.30pm - 8am weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays) are provided by your PCT who have contracted with Badger Harmoni from 1st April 2008. Calling the practice transfers you to the call centre but it is probably better to dial direct on 0300 1 30 30 30 as you call will then be routed correctly. The call is free from a BT and some other telecom landlines. Specially trained call handlers will answer your call and ask you for the following information
The call centre will decide on the call priority and if the patient needs to speak to a nurse or GP they will phone you back within a specified time. In the meantime, if the patient's condition worsens call back on 0300 1 30 30 30. The nurse or GP will ask for more information about your urgent health care problem and may:
Information updated: 25/08/2008
Out of Hours 2004-2008Out of Hours services (6.30pm - 8am weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays) are provided by your PCT from 1st November 2004 (see below for the details provided by the PCT). Calling the practice transferred you to the call centre and you could dial direct 01785 xxxxxx (effective 4th November 2004). The call centre will decide on the best of the following options:
Out of Hours service changes by PCT in November 2004A new and improved out of hours service is being introduced on 1st November 2004 to enhance patient care for residents in Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth. Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust have teamed up with Staffordshire Ambulance Service to develop a dedicated service designed to meet local needs. Under the new arrangements patients will have to make just one call to either their existing GP practice or NHS Direct, from which they will be transferred to a dedicated communication centre being run by Staffordshire Ambulance Service. Trained ambulance paramedics will then assess each call before giving appropriate advice based on a triage system. Patients will either be given medical advice over the telephone, offered an appointment at the Victoria or Sir Robert Peel hospitals, visited at home if deemed necessary, or referred to A&E or transferred to 999 for an emergency response.
Your Questions Answered: 1. When will changes take place? From 1st November 2004. 2. What is out of hours care? Out of hours care is the medical cover provided to patients outside normal surgery hours. Basically, this is the time that a doctor would be on duty or “on call” during the evening, nights, weekends and bank holidays. 3. Why is this being changed? The main reason for changing the current system is due to Government initiatives to centralise and improve the quality of out of hours care. There have also been changes in the national contract GPs have with the Department of Health to look after the health of their patients. 4. How do I get in contact with the out of hours call centre? As before, you will need to ring the emergency number of the surgery (01543 255511 for The Minster Practice). Your call will either be automatically transferred or you will be given a message telling you which number to ring. 5. What are the main changes going to be? · There will be no more Saturday morning “emergency” surgeries. · If you need medical advice, or feel you might need to see a doctor during out of hours times, your first point of contact will be through a new out of hours call centre, which will be run by Staffordshire Ambulance Service. · Specially trained call centre staff, with the back up of qualified medical professionals, will assess how best to help you – for example, by giving you advice or arranging for an ambulance to attend if the problem appears serious. · If it is felt that you need to be seen and cannot wait until the surgery is open again, you will be given an appointment slot at a Primary Care Centre at Lichfield’s Victoria Hospital or the Sir Robert Peel Hospital, Tamworth. You will be able to see either a nurse practitioner or doctor at the hospital. · If, because of your condition or your circumstances you cannot travel, you will be able to get a home visit from a Community Nurse, Community Paramedic Officer (ambulance nurse) or a doctor from Staffordshire Ambulance Service. 6. These seem very major changes Actually they are not, as many elements of the new system have already been introduced over the last few years. Patients are already used to their call being answered by a nurse (currently at the Minor Injuries Units at the Victoria and Sir Robert Peel hospitals). Most patients are used to being asked to come down to the Minor Injuries Unit at the hospitals if they need to be seen. Also, many patients who have needed a home visit have had this provided by a Community Paramedic Officer or a nurse from the “Rapid Response Team”. The new system, although introducing some additional changes, is largely building on existing facilities and services. 7. Are there any other numbers I can call? · For general medical advice, NHS Direct : 0845 46 47 · In a medical emergency you are still advised to call : 999
For further information please contact Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Primary Care Trust Merlin House, Etchell Road, Bitterscote, Tamworth, Staffs B78 3HF Tel. 01827 306111 Fax: 01827 306110 Email: feedback@blt-pct.nhs.uk
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Send mail to webmaster @minster.org.uk with questions or comments about our website. N.B. Website is for practice patients ONLY.
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