Help us help you – busy service
"All NHS services are under severe pressure at the moment, as we look after increasing numbers of patients who are sick with covid-19 in the community, and other deteriorating conditions too.
We are also delivering the huge and vitally important covid-19 vaccination programme. Please do not contact us regarding a vaccine, we will contact you.
So that we can focus on these really important issues, we will understandably be prioritising urgent care.
This means that when you contact us, we may have an initial conversation with you to understand how urgent your health needs are.
If you have an issue that is not urgent, you may have to wait longer than usual until your problem or concern can be dealt with. You may be asked to rebook at a later date, or at a safer time (e.g. attending for a non-urgent blood test).
Do please make sure that you continue to get in touch with us if you need to. This is particularly important if:
• your problem is genuinely urgent
• you have a long term condition that is getting worse
• you are worried about symptoms that might indicate cancer
Please also remember you can call NHS 111 for urgent concerns, and 999 for serious emergencies. Your local pharmacist can also help with minor complaints too.
For adults with mental health problems including depression and anxiety, you can refer yourself directly to the local wellbeing service, via 0300 300 0055.
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call the First Response Service by calling 111 and select option 2 (in Wisbech call 111, select option 1 and ask to be put through to the First Response Service).
The Cambridgeshire County Council has a range of support and information to help in times of urgent need: telephone 0345 045 5202 8am-6pm weekdays 9am-1pm Saturdays. Outside office hours if someone is in danger telephone 01733 234724. In an emergency, call 999. Also see www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/adults.
Thank you very much for helping us all manage under these very difficult circumstances."
Caring Together support for carers to access COVID-19 vaccinations
At Caring Together we know how important it is that people looking after a family member or friend get the coronavirus vaccination.
We also know it can be very difficult for carers and those they care for* to be able to go to appointments for a range of reasons. This could be due to transport, needing someone to look after the person they care for or any other reason.
We are here to help. If you are a carer in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire or Peterborough who has challenges attending your appointment to have your coronavirus vaccination please contact us.
You can call Caring Toegether on 0345 241 0954 or email hello@caringtogether.org
*A carer is anyone, including children and adults, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support.
Paston & Werrington Health Centres would like to invite you to join DoctorLink
We have been looking at how we can improve access to Practice services; DoctorLink is our new online service where you can:
- Access advice
- Book appointments online
- Request Repeat Prescriptions
- Request Fit/Sick Notes
Sign-up is simple and you can create an account here https://app.doctorlink.com/pastonandwerringtonhc/register
For all urgent appointments, we ask that you undertake a symptom assessment through DoctorLink. The symptom assessment will ask you a number of questions to help to identify your problem. The outcome of your assessment will direct you to the right treatment, whether emergency care, your GP, nurse or self-care. If your outcome indicates that an appointment is required at your GP Practice, you simply click on the “book an appointment” button and book your appointment directly. If no appointments are available, you will see a “request an appointment” button, please click this. Once the request has been submitted, you will then be contacted by the Practice Team, to arrange an appointment within the identified timeframe (as outlined in the outcome of your symptom checker).
The information you provide will be shared with our clinical team (where appropriate) and will assist in providing robust information of your problem to the required clinical team member prior to your appointment.
Online Services
GP online services allow you to access a range of services via your computer, mobile or tablet. Once you have signed up, you will be able to:
- book or cancel appointments online
- renew or order repeat prescriptions online
- view parts of your GP record, including information about medication, allergies, vaccinations, previous illnesses and test results
You can still contact the practice by phone or in person, this is just another option, which other patients have found is more convenient and saves them time. More information including “how to” leaflets and videos of patients and why they are using GP online services are available at www.nhs.uk/gponlineservices
How to sign-up
For more information, please contact reception or next time you visit the surgery, bring with you a piece of photo ID (passport, driving licence) and something with your address on like a bank statement but not a gas or electric bill. If you don’t have these, please talk to us and we will help you sign-up