Patient News

You may notice a test result appear in your NHS app test results page referring to segmentation (Recorded as “Johns Hopkins adjusted clinical groups system score”). Segmentation is a simple way of categorising patients based on their specific health needs. It helps us as a practice understand the individual needs of our patients based on their health and wellbeing to support personalised care and ensures you get the right support in a timely way. There is no action required from you in relation to this comment on result”’.

We are currently hiring for various roles within Ringmead Medical Group and The Health Triangle PCN.

Below are links to our job adverts on NHS Jobs.

GP Receptionist/ Patient Services Advisor - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

GP Assistant - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

Care Coordinator - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

Nurse Assistant - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

Paramedic Practitioner - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

Clinical Pharmacist - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

Pharmacy Technician - Job Advert (jobs.nhs.uk)

Unavoidable essential car park and fire safety repairs will be carried out at our Crowthorne site from Monday 8th April for one week. The rear of the car park will have reduced parking. Please walk to the surgery if you are able and please speak to a member of staff if you require assistance.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding.

After careful consideration, The Partners of Ringmead Medical group will no longer prescribe diazepam for patients with a fear of flying, undergoing MRI/CT scans or other investigative procedures including dental, cataract or surgical procedures. This is adhered to all prescribers in the practice.

Some people find scans daunting and you may have been prescribed diazepam in the past to help with anxiety and claustrophobia. This will be no longer possible for the reasons outlined below, which is in line with NHS Frimley guidelines.

1. Small doses of diazepam may be sub-therapeutic for most adults for any effective sedation. Although diazepam makes most people who take it sleepy, in some rare situations it can have the opposite effect and make people aggressive, disinhibited and severely agitated. This may result in your procedure being delayed or if an emergency scenario difficulty following instructions.                                                                                                                  
2. A patient may take a sedative an hour before their assumed procedure, to then attend the hospital and find that the procedure has been delayed, therefore the timing of the anxiolytic being sub optimal.                                                                                   
3. GP’s are not involved, skilled, or trained to provide the correct level of sedation for a procedure or scans.                                                                                                                          
4. It is the clinical and prescribing responsibility of the hospital doctors requesting the imaging to prescribe medication if they deem necessary. They can do this through the hospital pharmacy or organising a prescription themselves.                                                                                    
5. Sedated patients should be monitored regularly for any adverse effects of the medication. The Royal College of Radiologists have strict guidance on the safe sedation of patients during investigations such as CT and MRI scans. It would be unsafe for us as GPs to prescribe a sedative that we unable to monitor. If you were to become unwell during a scan after taking a sedative that the Radiology team did not know about, this could be very dangerous.                                                                           
6. We appreciate a fear of flying is very real and frightening. A few airlines have created fear of flying courses, with experienced teams for both new and experienced flyers.

We have a duty of care to provide safe, consistent, and appropriate care for our patients. Again, if you have concerns about anxiety or claustrophobia with regards to a scan, please contact the department who requested the scan or the Radiology department.

https://www.frimley.icb.nhs.uk/policies-and-documents/medicines-optimisation/prescribing-policies/1612-004-mog-position-statement-use-of-benzodiazepines-hypnotics-dental-procedures-diagnostic-scanners-jet-lag-and-fear-of-flyi/file

If you’re a patient at our practice, you can use the NHS App to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. 

It doesn’t replace existing services. You can still contact us in the usual ways. But, once you have verified your identity in the app, you will have easy, 24/7 access to a growing range of health services and information. 

You need to prove who you are to get full access to the NHS App. You must also be aged 13 or over and be registered with a GP surgery in England or the Isle of Man.  With full access you can: 

Get advice and information: 

• search symptoms, conditions, and treatments  
• get health advice through 111 online  
• find NHS services near you  
• check your NHS number 

Manage appointments: 

• book and cancel appointments  
• check your referrals and hospital appointments  
• manage vaccinations  

Manage prescriptions: 

• nominate a pharmacy and order repeat prescriptions   

Manage your health: 

• access your GP health record securely  
• register your organ donation decision  
• take part in health research   

Send and receive messages: 

• send an online form about your symptoms, conditions, or treatment directly to the surgery   
• receive messages and notifications  
• view messages from your GP surgery and get notifications through your phone or tablet  

Help someone else: 

• link profiles. You can apply to access the health records, appointments and prescriptions of people you care for (including children) – or get help from someone you trust  

If you already use [insert name of GP online service available at practice] you can continue to use it. But the NHS App will give you easy and secure access on your smartphone.   

Keeping your data secure 

To access the NHS App, you will need to set up an NHS login and prove who you are. Your NHS App then securely connects to information from your GP surgery. 

If your device supports fingerprint detection or facial recognition, you can use it to log in to your NHS App each time, instead of using a password and security code. 

If you have any problems using the NHS App, you can select ‘help’ in the top right-hand corner of the app or visit nhs.uk/helpmeapp. 

Measles warning amid 'devastating resurgence' of life-threatening diseases as vaccination rates miss targets | UK News | Sky News

Shingles vaccine

The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. It's recommended for people at higher risk from shingles, including all adults turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 and those aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.

What the shingles vaccine is for

Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash. It can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness.

You're more likely to get shingles, and it's more likely to cause serious problems, as you get older or if you have a severely weakened immune system.

The shingles vaccine helps:

• reduce your chances of getting shingles
• reduce your chances of getting serious problems if you do get shingles

Who should have the shingles vaccine

The shingles vaccine is recommended for some older adults and people with a severely weakened immune system.

People who turn 65 on or after 1 September 2023

From 1 September 2023, you're eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 65.

You'll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart.

Your GP should contact you to make an appointment to have your shingles vaccine. Contact your GP surgery if you think you're eligible for the shingles vaccine and you've not been contacted about it.

You'll remain eligible until your 80th birthday.

Information:

If you turned 65 before 1 September 2023, you'll be eligible for the shingles vaccine when you turn 70.

People aged 70 to 79

Everyone aged 70 to 79 is eligible for the shingles vaccine.

Depending on the type of vaccine you have, you'll have either 1 dose or 2 doses (given between 6 and 12 months apart).

Contact your GP surgery if you missed your vaccine. You're eligible up until your 80th birthday.

People aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system

You're eligible for the shingles vaccine if you're aged 50 or over and you're at higher risk from shingles because you have a severely weakened immune system.

This includes:

• some people with blood cancer (such as leukaemia or lymphoma)
• some people with HIV or AIDS
• some people who've recently had a stem cell transplant, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or an organ transplant
• people taking certain medicines that severely weaken the immune system

You'll be given 2 doses of the shingles vaccine. These are given between 8 weeks and 6 months apart.

Ask your GP or care team if you're not sure if you're eligible for the shingles vaccine.

For patients with a normal immune response - to check your eligibility, please follow this link: Immunocompetent patients: timeline for the phased implementation of the change to eligible age (publishing.service.gov.uk)

For patients who are aged 50 and over and immunocompromised – to check the eligibility criteria, please follow this link (page 7): Green Book on immunisation - Chapter 28a shingles (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Menopause awareness is a very ‘hot topic’ at the moment and we are very fortunate that our Patient Participation Group has a member who is very active volunteering for ‘Menopause Support’. (A not for profit community interest company). 

‘Menopause Support’ have produced an extremely easy to read, informative, evidence based booklet entitled ‘Understanding the Menopause.’ 

All patients in the Ringmead Medical Group and their families may find it helpful. The guide is available on Patient Group section and it has been added to the British Menopause Society Website too. 

There is also a short animated film about the menopause that can be accessed via the link below:- it really does affect woman in different ways. Please take 5 minutes to watch it as it may help you or someone who you care for. 

youtube.com | Watch Cycle of Change; Understanding Menopause

Dr Sahota, one of our GPs is a member of the British society of lifestyle medicine and is attending their annual conference. She has been given 2 free virtual tickets for our patients to attend who would benefit from lifestyle medicine. 

The course is over 3 days, from Thursday 21st September to Saturday 23rd September. The course will cover a broad range of subjects from the 6 pillars of health to ways which we can prevent chronic disease, like stroke, cancer and dementia. Please see the BSLM annual conference 2023 for more details and if this does interest you please email the practice at Ringmeadmedicalpractice@nhs.net. 

From Monday 11th September, we will be offering flu and COVID vaccinations to our eligible patient populations who are registered at Ringmead Medical Group, Crownwood Medical Centre and Evergreen Practice.

Eligible patients are able to have co-administration of both flu and COVID vaccinations at our designated vaccine clinics at Birch Hill.

We are in the process of contacting eligible patients via text message or phone call to get them booked in. We have adequate capacity and enough vaccines to administer to all eligible patients.

If you have any questions and you are registered with Ringmead Medical Group, Crownwood Medical Centre or Evergreen Practice, you can email us on frimleyicb.ringmead.healthtriangle@nhs.net

We have the following appointment only clinics coming up:

Monday 11th September - 09:00 - 18:00 - Birch Hill

Tuesday 12th September - 09:00 - 18:00 - Birch Hill

Wednesday 13th September - 09:00 - 18:00 - Birch Hill

Thursday 14th September - 09:00 - 18:00 - Birch Hill

Friday 15th September - 09:00 - 18:00 - Birch Hill

Saturday 16th September - Edgbarrow School - FULL

Monday 18th September - 13:00 - 18:00 Birch Hill

Tuesday 19th September - 13:00 - 18:00 Birch Hill

Wednesday 20th September - 13:00 - 18:00 Birch Hill

Thursday 21st September - 13:00 - 18:00 Birch Hill

Friday 22nd September - 13:00 - 18:00 Birch Hill

Saturday 7th October - 09:00 - 17:00 - Birch Hill

Saturday 14th October - 09:00 - 17:00 - Birch Hill

MORE DATES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE SOON!!

Those patients due for Breast Screening will be getting invites soon. The screening dates are September-October 2023.  The screening will take place at the Mobile Unit, Bracknell Sports Centre

Screening aims to find breast cancers early, when they have the best chance of being successfully treated.

• To have screening you have an x-ray of your breast called a mammogram.
• Breast screening is for women between the ages of 50 and 70, it is also for some trans or non-binary people.
• You should get a letter with your results within 2 to 3 weeks. This will tell you what you need to do next.
• There are potential benefits and risks.

Contact your breast screening service if you haven’t received your invitation or breast screening test results.

What is breast screening?

Cancer screening involves testing apparently healthy people for early signs of cancer.

Breast screening uses a test called mammography which involves taking x-rays of the breasts. Screening can help to find breast cancers early when they are too small to see or feel. These cancers are usually easier to treat than larger ones.

It is important to remember that screening will not prevent you from getting breast cancer but aims to find early breast cancers.

Overall, the breast screening programme finds cancer in around 9 out of every 1,000 women having screening.

Who has breast screening?

The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites all women from the age of 50 to 70 registered with a GP for screening every 3 years. This means that some people may not have their first screening mammogram until they are 52 or 53 years. 

If you are older than 70

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you can still have screening every 3 years but you won't automatically be invited. To continue to have screening contact your GP or your local breast screening unit.

In Scotland you can continue to have breast screening after you are 71 years of age up until your 75th birthday, but you won’t automatically be invited, you have to contact your local breast screening service.

If you are younger than 50

Your risk of breast cancer is generally very low. Mammograms are more difficult to read in younger women because their breast tissue is denser. So the patterns on the mammogram don't show up as well. There is little evidence to show that regular mammograms for women below the screening age would reduce deaths from breast cancer. 

Breast screening for transgender or non-binary people

Breast screening is also for some trans or non-binary people. This includes:

• trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth who have not had an operation to remove their breasts (bilateral mastectomy)
• trans women and non-binary people assigned male at birth who have taken feminising hormones

The screening invitations you automatically receive depend on how your sex is registered with your GP. Any hormones or surgeries you’ve had will impact which screenings are relevant for you.

If you haven’t had a breast screening invitation when you think you should, or you have any further questions, speak to your GP or gender identity clinic.

For more information please follow the link Breast screening | Cancer Research UK

There are two ways people can make a complaint about GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacies:

o They can complain to the healthcare provider: this is the organisation where they received the NHS service, for example a GP practice, a dental practice, a community pharmacy or an optometry practice or

o They can complain to the commissioner of the service: this is the organisation that paid for the service or care they received.

After 1 July 2023 if people want to make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner, the way to do this is changing. Rather than contacting NHS England, people will contact the Complaints team via new contact details below:

South East Complaints Hub

NHS Frimley ICB

Aldershot Centre for Health

Hospital Hill 

Aldershot 

Hampshire 

GU11 1AY

Phone number: 0300 561 0290 

Email address: frimleyicb.southeastcomplaints@nhs.net

As each email received is so important to the team, an acknowledgement to all complaints will be sent as soon as possible.

Information governance regulations mean that the emails sent to the old email address after 1 July, cannot be automatically forwarded and the inbox will not be accessible. People will therefore receive an automatic response, asking them to resend their email to the new address.

Members of the public with ongoing complaints received after 1 July 2022 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that the Complaints team based in the South East Complaints Hub, hosted by NHS Frimley ICB will now be handling their complaint with confirmation of their case handler. We would like to reassure you that the current team and case handler will remain the same as the staff move organisation.

Members of the public will still be able to make a complaint to the provider. This is NOT changing. There is also no change for people wishing to make a complaint for specialised services, health and justice, screening and immunisations and Continuing Healthcare.

Practice Update

Since the merger we have been working hard to improve the services we provide for you. We are also keen to improve the environment for our patients and staff.  Work will start shortly on the outside of the buildings at both Yorktown Road and Owlsmoor. Over the next few weeks, we will be making repairs to the roof and the windows at both sites as well as other necessary work to upgrade the external fabric of the buildings. 

We will be starting the internal works during September, which will include replacing the waiting room flooring at Yorktown Road.

Our team will be working with the contractor to keep the disruption to a minimum, but please bear with us as we try to make the necessary improvements.

If you have any queries, please speak to a member of the team and they will answer any questions you may have.

Ringmead Medical Group Partners

Dear Patient 
We are pleased to announce that our clinical system integration was successful and we are planning to switch back on your Patient Online Access on Tuesday 11 July. It was necessary to switch this off to prevent any information being lost during the data integration. 

From 11 July to use the Online Access system you will need to re-establish access to your account. To do this please follow the instructions below. Once you have re-established your account you will be able to access care at any of our 5 locations as well as online via Klinik, while still ensuring access to online repeat prescriptions. 

1. Login to Patient Access using the details you have always used for the Sandhurst Surgery. 
2. Enter your postcode in the available field and click search. 
You will then see a screen with a map. Select the practice from the list of results. 
REMEMBER: Sandhurst Group Practice will now be named Ringmead Medical Group. 
3. Then Select NO to link to your practice so that we can verify your online access. 
4. Please confirm the personal details and Press Continue. 
5. This will now give you basic access to your account. The practice will then verify your details electronically and you will have full access to the online services we offer. Until then you will only be able to book one appointment.

Please note the following:

•  Registration for Online Services is only available to patients aged 16 and above.
•  We are unable to offer proxy access for parents/guardians of under 16s.
•  All users must have their own individual email address.
•  Family email addresses cannot be accepted. 

We apologise for the inconvenience, but the need to verify your account is beyond our control. Our staff will be happy to help you with any support you need to re-establish your account; please email ringmead.onlineservices@nhs.net, or ask our reception team at the practice.

Finally we would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to download the NHS App. The NHS App allows you to access a range of NHS services. You can download the NHS App on your phone or tablet. It is free and managed by the NHS and means that with the App there will be no impact on accessing online services. You can download the App using the Link below, or go online for information on the App at https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/about-the-nhs-app/ 

Yours sincerely 
Diana Lock 
Practice Business Manager

Patients are being urged to take note of important appointment information ahead of a GP practice merger on 1st July.

Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice will join to form Ringmead Medical Group

To prepare for the merger the practices will start combining their electronic record systems on the afternoon of this Friday, 30th June. When this is finished it will mean patients will have the option of attending appointments at any of the merged practice’s five sites, as the clinicians will be able to access electronic patient records. This is aimed at giving patients greater flexibility to request an appointment in the location and at a time that best suits them. 

The work on the record system will only affect current patients of Sandhurst Group Practice, who are advised that if they need emergency on-the-day treatment on Friday, 30th June they should contact their practice. 

On Monday, 3rd and Tuesday, 4th July, GP ‘Emergency on the Day Only’ Clinics will run between 8am and 6.30pm, while nursing appointments will operate as usual.

Routine GP and nursing appointments are expected to resume at 10am on Wednesday, 5th July.

Anyone with any queries or concerns about the arrangements during this time should let reception staff know and they will be happy to help. Alternatively, please visit www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk to find out more about patient services and how to contact the practice. 

A spokesperson for the practices said: “We are asking for people’s patience and understanding during this time. Bringing GP practices together is a considerable task and our staff are working extremely hard to ensure that all our services are available to patients once again as soon as possible. 

“We’ve had nearly 600 people complete the survey online and others have completed paper copies which are yet to be processed and analysed. We have become aware that there have been issues with accessing on-line information on the links in relation to the merger, but it appears this may be due to the large number of the public trying to access the links and not due to anything organised by ourselves. If anyone can’t access the survey online they are able get a paper copy at any of the five surgery sites, as we really want to hear from patients.

“Demand on GP practices continues to be extremely high and we have been investing in technology to improve access to appointments, including phone technology and online access. The easiest way to access medical advice, is to complete the online form, which will be triaged on the same day and contact will be made with the patient after prioritising with the offer of an appointment if appropriate. Those that cannot access online consultations can obviously call the surgery where the waiting time is on average 8 minutes with our new phone system, with a call back facility after a certain time of waiting. As a newly merged practice we will continue to strive to improve patient access to our services.”

Further information:

There are a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) available on our websites that may help you with any further questions you may have.

We are interested in your views about the merger as the feedback you provide is important to shaping future services for all our patients. There is a link to our patient survey on our websites. The survey will not take long to complete and all answers are anonymous.

Alternatively, please  email ringmeadmedicalpractice@nhs.net  or admin.sandhurst@nhs.net or collect a copy of the survey in any of the practice sites. 

If you have any questions, please  see the Frequently Asked Questions and answers available on the practice websites: https://www.sandhurstgp.co.uk and http://www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk. 

Alternatively, please email ringmeadmedicalpractice@nhs.net with your enquiry.

Dear Patient 

Merger of Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice.  

As a patient of Sandhurst Group Practice and Ringmead Medical Practice, we are writing to you to inform you about important changes to your GP practice. You do not have to take any action as a result of this letter. 

We would appreciate if you could share the content of this letter with other family members registered with the practice.

The NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (which organises the delivery of NHS services in the East Berkshire area) has approved the request for Sandhurst Group Practice and Ringmead Medical Practice to merge. 

General Practice is seeing a substantial increase in demand coupled with fewer doctors choosing a career in primary care.  In order to ensure that we can continue to provide a high standard of care that is sustainable for the future, the partners at both practices believe this merger needs to take place.

At the heart of the merger is our commitment to : 

• Providing quality care for our registered patients that is sustainable for the future.
• improving access to primary care services for the community and improving health outcomes.
• Delivery of a resilient and consistent service by sharing staff, knowledge, innovations and resources across both practices.

The merged practice will be called Ringmead Medical Group. We will continue to operate from both practices’ current premises including Birch Hill, Crowthorne, Great Hollands, Owlsmoor and Yorktown Road. The telephone number for the merged practice will be 0333 332 0008 from 1 July 2023.

There will be no reduction in services or in opening hours and as a registered patient you will be able to access services at any of the five sites. There will be an increase in the range of services for patients as a larger practice means enhanced access to a wider range of health services.

We would very much like you to continue to be a registered patient with us. However, you may prefer to register with another practice of your choice. For further information on local GP practices, please visit www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-GP

If you do have questions and/or comments, or would like further information, please come and see us at the public patient information session we are holding on:

• Monday  10 July at 7pm in the Sixth Form Atrium, Edgbarrow School, Grant Rd, Crowthorne RG45 7HZ.
• There is also an opportunity to feedback by picking up a copy of our patient survey at the practice or accessing it online via our website at www.sandhurstgp.co.uk or www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk

As we prepare to merge both practices we will continue to update our websites with any news. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document available on each practice website and in the practices. 

Over the coming months we will identify areas across both practices that could be improved to benefit our patients. We will provide updates on any significant changes and let you know when they are to take place. We will work closely with our practice patient participation groups (PPGs) to ensure that any changes meet the needs of all our patients.

Yours sincerely 

Dr Anant Sachdev                              Dr Anita Vakil

Executive Partner                               Senior Partner

Ringmead Medical Practice             Sandhurst Group Practice

Tuesday, 20th June, 2023

Press release

Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice Merger

Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice are excited to announce that they are merging on the 1st July, 2023.

The two practices will come together to form Ringmead Medical Group, combining their management and clinical teams to be more resilient and to offer patients a wider choice of services.  The letter sent to all patients can be found here at Ringmead Patient Letter

Ringmead Medical Practice already delivers services from three sites in Bracknell Forest; the main site at Birch Hill Medical Centre, a branch surgery at Great Hollands Health Centre and one at Heath Hill Road, Crowthorne.  In addition to these sites, the merged Group will continue to deliver services from the Sandhurst sites at Owlsmoor and York Town Road. 

The newly merged practice will have a new phone number – 0333 332 0008. Calls to the existing number will be automatically diverted to the new number for a period of time to ensure patients can continue to access the practice.

The practice has extensive experience and a proven track record in delivering quality services across more than one surgery. Ringmead Medical Practice has 9 partners, and is rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission, the national regulator. More information about Ringmead Medical Practice can be found here: Ringmead Medical Practice

Dr Anita Vakil, Sandhurst GP Partner said: “Both Practices share the same values and commitment to delivering quality clinical care and this merger will help to deliver improved access and choice for our patients. We look forward to the merger and working together to deliver healthcare services for the Sandhurst population.”

Dr Anant Sachdev, Executive Partner at Ringmead Medical Practice said: “We are fully committed to providing excellent healthcare services for patients in the Sandhurst area and are excited by the opportunity this offers local residents and staff, as we share skills, experience and innovations.  Our ultimate goal is to provide an enhanced patient experience.”

Nicola Airey is Director of Strategic Commissioning and Assurance and Bracknell Forest Place Convenor for NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board, the local health service commissioner. She said: “the purpose of the merger is to provide GP services in Sandhurst that are sustainable and offer people the good access, high-quality, personalised, and friendly service they want. We, at the ICB, would like to express our thanks for the hard work and commitment from both Ringmead Medical Practice and Sandhurst Group Practice throughout the merger process and in a very short timeline, and we look forward to supporting the work of the practice team in improving care to its population.”

Ringmead Medical Practice have arranged a public event for Monday, 10th July at 7pm in the Sixth Form Atrium at Edgbarrow School, Grant Rd, Crowthorne RG45 7HZ , where patients will have the opportunity to meet the Ringmead team and to ask questions about the merger.  All are welcome. See the following link for directions to the school. https://goo.gl/maps/MSX1PqGqm4UK5ArA7

All patients registered at both practices will be sent a formal notification of the merger and a link to a patient survey. The survey will not take long to complete, and all answers are anonymous. The feedback you provide is important to shaping future services for the Sandhurst Population.

To access the patient survey, please click the following link, https://mysay.is/RingmeadMedical. You can also email ringmeadmedicalpractice@nhs.net  or admin.sandhurst@nhs.net or collect a copy of the survey in any of the practice sites. 

If you have any questions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions and answers available on the practice websites: Sandhurst Patient FAQs and Ringmead Patient FAQs.

Alternatively, please email ringmeadmedicalpractice@nhs.net with your enquiry.

Contact: Diana Lock - Practice Business Manager, Ringmead Medical Practice 

Email:

ringmeadmedicalpractice@nhs.net

Great News – Improved Telephone System coming soon!

As part of Ringmead Medical Practice’s ongoing commitment to ensuring quick access to quality care, we are upgrading our telephone system. 

As of the Wednesday 3rdMay the new telephone number you must call to access your GP services will be 0333 332 0008. 

This new number will be the same for all our locations.  The call queuing system will also be the same, but please listen carefully to the call instructions.

To ensure you can continue to access the practice, the old number will be diverted to the new 0333 332 0008 number for a period of time. 

If you have any queries or concerns, please let reception staff know and they will be happy to help. 

Please visit our website www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk to find out more about the services and our contact details. 

Please listen to the podcast here.

Over this weekend, we had to perform an upgrade in response to our most recent PEN test (a requirement of the NHS Digital Data Security and Protection Toolkit). The update took place, and all the functionality was tested to ensure it was all working and available for the coming week. The weekend work had one engineer performing the update and a second test engineer who was responsible for independently testing the update.
 
On Monday morning, we experienced more load than anticipated (which is difficult to test for), which caused one service to reject some clients, knocking onto other areas of our network. We highlighted the shortfall in the update very quickly. Unfortunately, it took longer than expected to find the secondary issues caused by the initial problem.
 
As part of this upgrade, we have
 
1. Resolved the outstanding report from our most recent PEN test
2. Migrated to a much more fault-tolerant architecture
3. Migrated to much more energy-efficient equipment - which is part of our continued work to ensure we are as green as we possibly can be
 
We will be looking at how we can simulate load much more accurately so that out-of-hours updates do not fall foul of this.

 

Dear Patients,

It is with sadness that we write to inform you that Dr Sangita Judge will be reducing her sessions at Ringmead Medical Practice from November onwards. It has not been an easy decision for her with the dedication she has provided to her patients over the years, but due to ongoing ill health, Dr Judge has decided to take a step back and focus on her own recuperation. It is also not easy for us to let go of such a devoted doctor, but we are pleased that she will still be working at least one day a week for us (health permitting of course).  Please see below the personal message from her, and we wish her a speedy recovery to full health and all the best for the future.

“Dear all, I’ve had to make the decision to reduce the amount of days I’m working at the surgery. This has been due to contracting long Covid, which has drastically reduced my capacity and strength to carry out the full duties that are required of a fully functioning GP.

Since last year, the partners and staff at Ringmead Medical Practice have patiently supported me through the long and gradual improvement, but as it is such a protracted period, it is no longer fair of me to ask them to continue to put up with my physical limitations, when they could have a healthy member of staff to fulfil all duties.

I am, however, going to remain working at Ringmead Medical Practice for one day a week with the continuing support from the partners.

There are so many capable and caring clinicians at the surgery now and your care will always remain the surgery’s priority.

I look forward to continuing to serve you,

My very best to all our patients,

Dr Sangita Judge”

We wanted to clarify with our registered patients the 3 ways how they can obtain an appointment.

1. Via our website and using Klinik access: Since September 2022, we have been using Klinik, which is an online consultation service for appointments and administration for on the day urgent, non-urgent medical advice, long term condition management and enquiries. This therefore makes it possible for patients to contact us from a computer, smartphone or tablet through our practice website www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk rather than relying solely on the phone. Based on information confidentially provided by the user, this information is reviewed by a clinician on the same day and is then routed to the appropriate team within the surgery or patients are advised by the system to call emergency services where necessary. Ideally, but not essentially, you should use your NHS App log in to access the system, meaning that you won’t have to enter your personal details each time you want to ask us something. Initially patients can submit an online consultation request from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday but we plan to improve access outside these hours once we have established the pathways. From 4pm to 6.30pm you can access the surgery by telephone as below. Please click the following link to understand further about how to access Klinik and any questions you may have (frequently asked questions – Patient FAQs): klinikhealthcaresolutions.com. There is also an opportunity to provide feedback directly to the provider. The current feedback received to date shows that over 80% or patients who have used Klinik have found it very easy and helpful to access services from our practice
2. By telephone: Our reception team also have access to Klinik and if you telephone the practice for an urgent on the day appointment, you will be taken through the same questions and triage system that our online users will experience. You will almost certainly find it quicker to ask your question online rather than waiting to speak to one of the reception team. This applies to anyone who has difficulty using online services.
3. In person by attending the surgery: If you come into the surgery requesting an on the day appointment then you will be asked to complete a paper version of the form which will be entered onto the Klinik Connect interface by the patient services advisor. All requests will then join the same queue within Klinik for the “On the Day Team” based in Birch Hill to review.

The NHS App (Online Access):

We encourage you to register for this (will be processed online via our website, without the need to visit the practice) as it makes Klinik quicker, you can access other information online e.g.  your medical record, book and manage appointments directly, order your repeat prescriptions and much more.

More appointments available now for Ringmead patients:

From 1st October, Ringmead Medical Practice together with our Health Triangle PCN partner Practices (Evergreen and Crown Wood) are delivering Enhanced Access appointments from Birch Hill Medical Centre on weekday evenings 6:30-8pm and Saturdays 9-5 pm.. The service runs between 18:30 - 20:00 Monday to Friday and on Saturdays between 09:00 - 17:00.

We have a range of services available, e.g. GP appointments, nurse appointments, pharmacist appointments, blood tests, smears, health checks, procedures such as Coils/implants, minor surgery, etc. The appointments, limited in number, are bookable via your GP practice and will be held at Birch Hill Medical Centre. However please note that our phonelines will not be open during these enhanced access times, and any emergency advice is via the usual route, by calling 111 or 999.

Also please note that this service now replaces appointments that were previously at Boundary House surgery.

The demand for medical advice and appointments continues to be very very high, and we are doing all that we can to facilitate availability. But we are innovating and trying new ways of working to make it as best as we can for our patients. 

We would like to thank patients for being kind and respectful to all our staff, and for being very understanding and patient during these difficult times.

Thank you

A new prescribing hub is being launched, to serve the prescribing needs of the three sites that make up Ringmead Medical Practice – Birch Hill, Great Hollands and Crowthorne. This will be based in the Great Hollands site and will commence from Wednesday 28th September 2022.

What is the benefit of having a prescribing hub?

The hub will give a single point of service for all your prescription needs, providing continuity and a high level of service to all patients. It will simplify and streamline the prescription service, reducing wastage, liaising with pharmacies, synchronising repeat prescriptions, undertaking medication reviews and empowering patients to take control of their prescriptions and medications. 

 Will this affect how I order and collect my prescription?

No. You can still drop your repeat prescription into your normal surgery

 How can you help your practice?

The best way to request a repeat prescription is Online. Our Online Services can help you request repeat medication at your convenience with automated delivery of your prescription to your preferred pharmacy. For online Access please use the NHS App but if you currently use Patient Access please click here.

Make sure your GP practice has your up-to-date contact number so the prescription team can contact you if they need further information about your request.

Order at least three days before your medication is needed to ensure your prescription arrives at your chosen pharmacy in time.

Only order the items you need for the next month to avoid having large stocks of medication at home.

If you order a number of medicines, it is easier for your GP practice if you order them all at the same time. If you need help making sure that all your medicines run out at the same time, please contact the prescription team at the hub using Klinik on our website www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk

How to Order Your Prescription

• Order using your patient access account. If you don’t have an account and would like to use the online service please contact us for further information. 
• Order through your local pharmacy
• Deliver or post repeat slip to your practice. 
• Repeat prescription requests cannot be taken over the phone.

What if I have a question?

• Contact the prescription hub for medication related queries using Klinik on our website
• Call the prescription hub 9am-12pm (and from October, the line will also be open 3-5pm)
• You can also discuss medication queries at the Great Hollands site with a member from the hub between 8am-6.30pm

Flu Vaccines Available: Update for patients of The Health Triangle. (Ringmead, Crownwood & Evergreen Medical Practices)

On Saturday 24th September we will be hosting a walk in clinic at Edgbarrow School, Crowthorne for those patients in the "at risk" groups or aged over 65 years old.

If you are not sure if you are eligible - please visit https://www.nhs.uk/.../vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

Appointments are also available - please check online via the NHS App/Patient Access.

walk-in from 10am to 430pm ONLY.

Please note those aged 50-64 and not in an at risk group will be invited for their vaccine mid October.

In memory of the Queen and especially remembering her selfless and charitable work, The Partners have set up a GoFundMe page for 3 charities that were dear to her, namely Cruse Bereavement Care, The Princes Trust and Cancer Research UK. All donations received by Thursday 22nd September will be divided equally between these 3 charities. Please follow the link below should you wish to donate. Thank you.

https://gofund.me/5b3b5b2e

 

Monday 19 September, the date of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral, will be a national bank holiday. As a result, the surgery will be closed. 

If you have an appointment booked with us for Monday we will contact you to make alternative arrangements. Please bear with us while we contact patients individually – do not call us direct.

If you need health support over the weekend or during the bank holiday visit https://111.nhs.uk/ or call NHS 111. You will be directed to the most appropriate health service in a timely and safe way. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.

We are excited to let you know that we will be launching our new online consultation service Klinik on Tuesday 6th September at 8am.

If you have a clinical or non-clinical enquiry you could save time by visiting our website www.ringmeadmedicalpractice.org.uk, and click on the secure link. You will be asked to complete a simple form that enables you to provide us the information needed to direct your enquiry to the right member of the practice team. Please note this is only available between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday. If it is after 4pm and your issue needs to be dealt with urgently that day, please call the surgery and the staff will complete the form with you on your behalf. 

We have been aware for some time of the pressure on the phone system and the stress this causes for both patients and staff members and over the past year have been looking at ways to improve our service. We also wanted a system that could help us to make better use of the other clinicians we now have access to such as Paramedic Practitioners, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Pharmacists, First Contact Physiotherapists and the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service. Our aim is to make sure we offer fair access to our appointments based on medical need.

For more information about Klinik please see our newsletter or visit their Frequently Asked Questions page for patients at Patient FAQs (klinikhealthcaresolutions.com)

There is a lot happening at Ringmead Medical Practice at the moment so we wanted to let you know directly, via newsletter, about a couple of critical updates.

1. Flu Clinics
2. Autumn Booster
3. eConsult being replaced by Klinik Access

Please read the patient newsletter here.

Flu Clinics ‘by appointment only’ for all eligible patients

Saturday Appointments available to book NOW

Please book via online access (NHS app or Patient Access) or call the surgery.

PLEASE NOTE: THE WEARING OF A FACE COVERING IS RECOMMENDED

Saturday Dates - 08:00am onwards

17th September 2022 – Birch Hill Surgery, Bracknell. RG12 7WW

24th September 2022 – Edgbarrow School, 6th Form Centre, Crowthorne. RG45 7HZ. This is accessed directly from the Sandhurst/Crowthorne Road.

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Please note: the COVID vaccination will also be available on these dates ‘by appointment only’ for invited patients only – please book via the National Booking System or call the Practice. Initially there will be limited COVID vaccine availability and we must follow the Government eligibility invitation criteria and guidance. Please only book when you have been invited.

Also - Friday afternoons at our Great Hollands site. 

Friday Dates - 1:00pm to 6:00pm

Great Hollands only ‘by appointment’

09th September 2022

16th September 2022

23rd September 2022

30th September 2022

All three sites will be closed from 1230-430pm on Wednesday 24th August for essential staff training.  

Should you contact the surgery when we are closed, our answerphone will guide you to contact the out of hours’ service or call back when we reopen. Please see our website or posters in the surgery for any additional planned closures. 

If you are unwell and require urgent clinical advice during this time then please call the out of hours’ service on 03000 24 0017.

Frimley Health has launched a new electronic patient record system that is affecting the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at Wexham Park and Frimley Park Hospitals. Safety remains paramount, so please be patient with the staff. Waiting times are likely to be longer than usual. 

Unless it’s an emergency remember there are lots of alternatives for you to make use of:

• Visit your local pharmacy
• During the day contact your GP practice via online consultation or phone
• Contact NHS 111 online, www.111.nhs.uk or dial 111. If you are calling NHS 111, please be patient. NHS 111 may advise you to contact your GP or its out-of-hours service or attend the Bracknell Minor Injuries Unit.
• For minor injuries, such as sprains and strains, suspected broken limbs, or minor head injuries, visit the Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge in Bracknell or the High Wycombe Urgent Care Centre – open 8 am-8 pm 7 days a week.

Anyone with a life-threatening condition should call 999. Help us to help you by seeking alternatives to A&E where it is safe to do so.

Unfortunately, we’re not able to access the hospital system to determine what stage your referral has got to and how long it will be before you are contacted. To find out where your referral has got to you will need to contact the relevant service at the hospital trust.

If your referral is with Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, you’ll find the relevant contact details on the trust website.

We’re sorry we can’t give you the information you need in this instance. Please contact us for any health concerns while you are waiting.

Dementia Action Week is Alzheimer's Society's biggest and longest running awareness campaign. Each year, they work with individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to ‘act on dementia’.

This year’s campaign will run from 16-22 May and focus on the theme of diagnosis.

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get.../dementia-action-week

Frimley Health's new 24-hour telephone triage service supporting pregnant women and new mums goes live at Wexham Park Hospital on 28 April 2022. 

The Maternity and Midwifery Advice and Support (MAMAS) Line is a collaboration with South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and provides a single point of contact for women from 16 weeks into their pregnancy through to 28 days postpartum.

A team of our midwives will give consistent, evidence-based advice to women who are concerned about their pregnancy or who think they may be in labour. They will signpost other callers to alternative services when appropriate.

From 28 April at Wexham Park, mothers and families should call 0300 013 2004 to contact MAMAS Line. The same number will be able to be used by Frimley Park families in a few weeks' time.

The team, which will be based at the SCAS northern headquarters in Bicester, Oxfordshire, will also monitor 999 calls, enabling them to provide support when needed and to offer guidance to paramedics on the road. Their expertise could result in some ambulance callouts being stood down, ensuring they are available to respond to other emergencies. 

The scheme will replace separate telephone triage lines currently operating at Wexham Park and Frimley Park hospitals, ensuring all future calls are answered in a timely manner and improving the experience for women.

The initiative is another example of the Trust collaborating with our partners to improve services for our communities - one of our key strategic ambitions.

The new phone number will be shared with women in their maternity notes and widely publicised in our hospitals, clinics and in the community. 

Debbie Simkin, Lead Midwife for the Telephone Triage Project, said: “This brand new and innovative pregnancy advice telephone line will give women and community clinicians access to 24-hour evidence-based, consistent advice and support from midwives via a single point of contact.

“It will maximise our clinical expertise and empower women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.”

The Emergency Departments at Wexham Park and Frimley Park hospitals are currently experiencing an increasing level of demand which is likely to continue throughout this weekend. Please only attend if you have severe symptoms or suffering from a life-threatening condition. Check out our Know Where To Go  guide for advice on how to get the help you need quickly and close to home. Remember, if it’s less than an emergency, call 111.

The phone number for all sites of Ringmead Medical Practice is 01344 20 80 60.

If you are still using the old Heath Hill Surgery number (01344 777915) please note that it will no longer work after the 1st April 2022. 

• In order to obtain an exemption, patients are asked to phone 119 to request an application for an NHS Covid19 medical exemption application form. Carers can do so on behalf of others. Patients are asked not to contact their GP to request this form, or an exemption certificate, and if they do should instead be directed to call 119.
• The application form will be sent to patients by post; they are then asked to submit this form to their GP/Specialist or Midwife, as should be signposted during the NHS 119 discussion
• Patients are advised a decision on exemption will be made within 2-3 weeks and there is no appeal process in place following this decision.
• Having form from 119/discussion with 119 will not automatically imply that GP/Midwife will approve the clinical exemption. This will be a clinical decision based on current NHS England guidance by GP or midwife. Patient preference or do not want to have the vaccine is not a reason for exemption
• Patients are also being advised that having an exemption certificate does not confer any protection against Covid19 infection.
• For more information please visit COVID-19 medical exemptions: proving you are unable to get vaccinated - GOV.UK(www.gov.uk)

We are installing a new phone system on Wednesday 9th February 2022. 

Having received lots of feedback about our current system, which appeared unable to cope with the huge volumes of calls we are now receiving, we are moving to a cloud based system linked to our computers.

There may be some disruption to the calls around 11am when the switch to a new provider takes place. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience

As with anything new, it may take our staff a bit of getting used to even though we have been trained. 

We are looking forward to some big improvements.

Please note our phone number is 01344 20 80 60. 

Ringmead Medical Practice working with The Health Triangle PCN Bracknell, are working with Thames Valley Cancer Alliance to pilot and try out a new way of carrying out Skin cancer checks for the community. 

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and dermatology services receive more urgent referrals for suspected cancer than any other specialty. 

During the past 18 months, as a result of the Covid pandemic, the number of skin cancers diagnosed has dropped meaning that potentially there are many that have yet to be diagnosed and possibly advancing in severity. Additionally, the number of referrals and waiting times have increased greatly to the hospital Dermatology departments, presumably due to the lockdown effect and patients not accessing health services easily at the start of the pandemic, but are now being seen in greater numbers by their GP Practice and therefore being referred. And these departments struggle to meet this growing demand due to the limited consultant dermatologist workforce and clinic space. 

Ringmead Medical Practice, for the Health Triangle PCN population, has commenced a direct on-line booking service for the PCN registered population, for a trial period of about 6 months to see if can benefit patients and the NHS, with eventual roll-out in the whole Thames Valley area if successful. Patients that may be concerned about a mole or skin lesion can book in to see our Dermatology Specialist GP who in addition to examination and assessment in a clinic, will also use a powerful magnifying glass (Dermatoscope) to help reassure, diagnose, advise management plan, and refer on to other services or hospital if required 

We would encourage anyone who is concerned about a mole, to book-in when possible as the earlier any skin cancer is diagnosed, the more likely something can be done about it and survival can be improved. We would also like to hear about what you think about this service and be very grateful for any feedback. 

GP surgeries and health centres participate in regular staff training. Staff training is valued by all staff and is a benefit to patient care. Where possible we do not close the practice for staff training but there are occasions when this is needed. Please see our website or posters in the surgery for any planned closures.

Please note, when the surgery is shut after 18:30 and at weekends you should use the NHS 111 online service or call  111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.

For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999.

Bracknell Protected Learning Time – also known as BASE

The practice partakes in monthly Protected Learning times Bracknell and Ascot locality clinical training (BASE) whereby we close at 12.30pm and will reopen the next working day. Should you contact the surgery when we are closed, our answerphone will guide you to contact the out of hours’ service or call back when we reopen. Please see our website or posters in the surgery for any additional planned closures.
If you are unwell and require urgent clinical advice during this time then please call the out of hours’ service on 03000 24 0005

Dates for 2022-2023

• Weds 23rd March
• Tues 5th April
• Tues 17th May
• Weds 22nd June
• Tues 19th July
• Tues 13th Sept
• Tues 4th October
• Tues 15th November
• Tuesday 10th January 2023
• Wednesday 22nd February 2023
• Wednesday 29th March 2023

Planned Lunchtime Closures

We currently have no planned lunchtime closures. If you are unwell and require urgent clinical advice during this time then please call the out of hours’ reception service on 03000 24 0017.

2021

Summer 2021

Winter 2021

2020

Summer 2020

2019

Summer 2019

Spring 2019

2018

Winter 2018

2016

Spring 2016

Following a Government announcement on 29th November, the NHS is developing plans to extend the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme to include everyone aged 18 and over.

12 to 15 year olds will also be offered a second dose of the vaccine and an additional booster will be available for people who are immunosuppressed.

People will become eligible for their booster three months after their second dose (reduced from six months).

For now, all you need to do is wait to be contacted by the NHS. Please help us to help all patients by not contacting your GP practice about your booster or attending vaccination sites.

If you are over 40 or a health and social care worker, and are eligible for your booster, go online to www.nhs.uk or call 119 to book your appointment.

Visit www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins to see all the places you can go for a walk-in appointment

The Healthier Together programme relies upon patients and healthcare professionals working together to improve how local healthcare is delivered. 

The website provide advice for parents, young people and pregnant women, and clinical resources to support healthcare professionals – which means that your child is likely to receive consistently high-quality care, irrespective of which healthcare professional they see.

Website

The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules.

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.

Read the infection prevention control guidance for further details.

The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year to protect the nation against the Omicron variant.

As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today.

The best way to get your vaccine is by booking online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119 – please do keep checking availability as appointments are loaded onto the system every day. The website and phoneline are understandably very busy and we thank you for your patience when booking.

The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some sites offer walk-in appointments where no appointment is needed. Please check here for clinics with walk-in availability and their opening hours www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins

GP teams have been asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up maximal capacity to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care. This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.

Scientists are very concerned about the spread of Omicron due to the speed with which it spreads and because two doses do not appear to provide much protection but thankfully, a booster dramatically improves this.That is why the Government has asked the NHS to prioritise boosters over other routine care.

We appreciate your support and understanding – and urge you to come forward for your vaccination as soon as possible.

Advice in your region:

England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland

Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms

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Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms

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Testing and tracing

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People at high risk

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Social distancing and changes to everyday life

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 GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support

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