** Please note that the surgery will be closed between 12-2.00pm today (Thursday 21st March) for staff training. If you need urgent medical advice during this time then please call 07511 044891. **

We have recently received guidance from NHS England on the wearing of face masks in primary care settings.

As you may or may not be aware, the number of COVID cases is now, once again, on the increase and as per the guidance received, our clinicians will now revert back to wearing face masks during face-to-face appointments with patients.

This decision has been made to not only protect our staff but also our patients, particularly those who are extremely vulnerable.

We will therefore also be asking patients to wear a face mask if attending the practice for an appointment.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support

A brand new Shrewsbury wide initiative to support local GP practices with extra capacity through the winter is launching soon. The winter Illness Centre set up by Shrewsbury Primary Care Network will start to offer extra appointments from late October 2023. The aim of the service is to provide additional appointments to reduce pressure on primary care and support reducing the number of people visiting hospital Emergency Departments. The winter illness centre will provide appointments for patients with respiratory symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or earache. It is not a walk in service and appointments will not be offered to patients with conditions that are chronic, complex or require ongoing care. If patients are not able to get to the centre they will be seen in their usual practice. Dr Charlotte Hart, Clinical Director for Shrewsbury Primary Care Network said “We are pleased to be able to offer extra face to face ‘on the day’ appointments that will help to take the pressure off our GP practices this winter. The hope is that the centre will run Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm once it gets established.” Please remember that if you need help and advice quickly about a medical condition, visit NHS111 online to find out where you need to go to get the treatment and help you need.

Riverside Medical Practice - New appointment system

AccuRx Triage

Here at Riverside, we have been very aware of the increasing difficulties you have been experiencing as patients in accessing appointments when you need them. Whilst we recognise this is a national issue, it has been made more difficult in our Practice as we have had significant shortages of GPs in the last 6 months.

We have been reviewing the ways we can make this better, so that you have the confidence you will get the advice you need, when you need it.

From 6 July 2023, access to appointments will be made via the Practice website –

www.riverside-medical.co.uk and clicking on the Accurx – Electronic Consulting box.

Patients will complete a simple form outlining their reason for the appointment request. This request will be submitted through the secure online process and be reviewed by a clinician for the appropriate appointment to be made. The online form is available 8.00am-4.00pm every weekday.

For patients without access to the internet they will continue to speak to reception who will complete the online form for them and will submit on their behalf, in the same way as if it were submitted through the internet.

Patients will be contacted within 2 working days of submitting the request unless the clinician triaging the submitted request feel it is more urgent. In this case we will make contact before 3pm that day.

Patients will also be able to use the online form to make enquiries about blood test results, fit notes, reports, and other administrative issues, to save them having to telephone the practice.

For patients, one of the benefits of using this on-line access system, will be that the phone lines will be freed up, making the practice as accessible as possible. If you do have access to the internet from a Smart phone/ tablet or PC then please submit the request yourself. All forms are dealt with in the order they come in and getting a receptionist to complete it will not mean it is dealt with any quicker.

Relatives can also complete the forms for their relatives with the assurance that the response will go to the patient.

Our aim is to help you get the best clinician for the problem you have described, within a time frame that is clinically appropriate.

Tips to help us help you!

• Put as much relevant detail in the text box when you complete the form.
• It is always useful for us to know how long something has been troubling you, and if you are able to state what it is you are worried about, that too can help.
• If you have seen someone at the practice already then let us know who.
• If you have a strong preference to be consulted in person –face to face, on the telephone or via text response that is also useful to know.
• If you think you may need a home visit, please tell us.
• If you think your problem is urgent and needs help on that day, please tell us.
• Please make sure you keep us up to date with your contact details.

We will be evaluating how this system develops and would welcome your feedback on how you found this new service.

Many Thanks for your understanding

Dr Sarah Henshaw on behalf of the Partners and Management team

We are aware that we are currently very short on routine appointments. Unfortunately, this is due to us having numerous clinicians on long-term sick leave.

Whilst we are doing everything in our power to try and resolve this, we have so far been unable to find locum cover.

We are in regular contact with the Primary Care Team at the Integrated Care Board and are keeping them up to date with our situation.

We understand that this is frustrating for patients, but we ask that you do not take this out on our members of staff as we will not tolerate any form of abusive behaviour.

We are continuing to try and find cover but are providing the best service that we can with the staffing levels that we currently have.

Thank you for your understanding.

The Partners at Riverside Medical Practice

We currently have multiple clinicians off sick which is having an impact on the services we can offer. We will be running an urgent only service next week. Please only contact us if you require urgent medical attention that cannot wait. If your query can wait, please contact us in a few weeks. Alternatively, you can contact NHS 111 (https://111.nhs.uk/) for advice. Thank you for your understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.