'NEW Contact us online'
You can contact us about a medical, administrative or prescription issue by clicking HERE . Answer a few short questions and we will get back to you within 2 working days. Please do not use this online form for urgent or emergency requests. The submitted forms will only be read during working hours 9.00 am - 5.00 pm. The forms will not be read on the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) or on bank holidays. They will not be read Monday-Friday between the hours of 5.00 pm - 9.00 am
Patient Engagement Survey
We would appreciate if you could spare a couple of minutes to complete this Patient Engagement survey we would really appreciate gathering your thoughts please.
Covid Booster Vaccinations
We are working alongside Orchard Pharmacy to deliver our Covid Booster Vaccination Programme. Clinics will be held on site at Mansfield Community Hospital. Parking is free and in the main Hospital Car Park. Please do not contact the practice or pharmacy as you will be invited when it is your turn to have your Covid Booster, the programme is being rolled out in age cohorts. You will then need to directly book your appointment via the National Booking System using the below link:
Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
A single point of access for parents & carers whow would like to speak to the Healthy Family Teams for support and advice covering 0-19years.
Help for Teens - are you looking for a range of advice from mood to sexual health -follow the link to a website offering a range of advice/help
Help and advice for 0-5 years including pregnancy advice follow the link:
Health for Kids - Helpful website to help your children grow and flourish:
Veteran Health
As a veteran friendly accredited practice, we are mindful of the specific health needs for veterans and their families. Further information on veterans health and wellbeing is available from this NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/
Dementia Connect
Dementia Connect from the Alzheimer's Society is a new personalised dementia support service for anyone affected by dementia. The can offer support online,fact to face or by telephone and can help with coping techniques, local support groups, emotional support and support with everyday living, such as govenment benefits.
www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementiaconnect
Kickstart your health:
Are you ready to kickstart your health? Be it getting more exercise, stopping smoking, losing weight, drinking less or even taking care of your mind, the NHS Better Health website has lots of tools and support to help you reach your goals, visit www.nhs.uk/better-health/ or click this link
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/
SCAM & Phishing Messages and e-mails
We have been alerted that there may be a scam message being sent. This looks genuine as it says NHS No Reply and asks users to click on a link and may appear from different surgeries. Please be vigilant when responding to messages you receive especially if you are not expecting them or haven't initiated it. If in doubt please check with us. Our health informatics service have provided the following advice for any e-mails/text messages etc that you may receive from any source.
1. Be vigilant and suspicious – if something looks too good to be true it generally is. If an email comes from a colleague, but doesn’t sound like them and isn’t formatted in the way they would write – be suspicious. Call your colleague to check or validate the details by contacting them directly. 2. Never give out your own or anyone else’s passwords, bank details or other sensitive data. A legitimate organisation will NEVER ask for this data via email (or telephone). If in any doubt don’t say anything and seek advice. It is best to be cautious.3. Check the spelling – Often spam emails may look like the real thing, but with words misspelled or contain bad grammar.4. Were you expecting this email? Use your mouse to hover over any links to check that it matches the URL (web address) that you were expecting. Check the ‘reply to’ email and address, does it match the ‘from’ address? 5. Check links in any password reset (or other) emails very carefully – check they are taking you to a legitimate site. If in doubt, navigate to the site directly (without using the email link) and login directly. This is a common “phishing” technique.6. Don’t open attachments from anyone you don’t know or that are not from a trusted source.7. Don’t reply to spam or forward chain emails. Do not unsubscribe from any unsolicited “spam” emails – this just confirms you are a real address.
Mental Health Help and Support
Are you worried or concerned about someone else's mental health but not sure how to start a conversation - please click on the link below for tips and help
Useful Links:
Age UK Notts: 0115 844 0011 – Covid 19 support including shopping for essential items, prescription collection and daily social contact calls for those who are self-isolated/ shielded.
Silverline: 0800 4 70 80 90 – 24/7 friendship/ information/ advice for older people
The Alzheimer’s Society are taking referrals and are providing 1-1 support over the phone to people with dementia and their carers. Dementia Support Workers are doing specific risk assessments for people with dementia for covid-19 and are doing welfare calls weekly for those that live alone or are otherwise vulnerable and fortnightly/ monthly calls for other people. They are also providing general dementia support e.g. benefits, lasting power of attorney, planning for the future, accessing care homes etc over the phone. There are also volunteers working centrally to provide companionship calls for anyone with dementia/ their carers who just wants a chat which can be as regular as needed. This can all be accessed by phoning 0115 9343811
For carers:
Nottinghamshire Carers Hub: 0115 824 8824
https://www.carerstrustem.org/hub
The carers hub provide information, advice and guidance.
Signposting to other services.
Access to carers breaks
Peer support.
Access to counselling.
Access to carers assessments and much more.
Asthmatics
We have been made aware of some posts on social media saying that if you have a respiratory/lung condition, your GP will issue a rescue pack of steroids and antibiotics.
For people with asthma, it is not recommended as standard management. If someone's asthma is bad enough to consider steroids they should be assessed by a health care professional.
Further information can be found on https://www.asthma.org.uk/
Rescue packs may be part of the agreed management plan for some people with COPD. If you NORMALLY have a rescue pack to treat your lung condition its a good idea to check that you have one.
Please bear with us, your help and understanding is appreciated.
Do you pay for your Prescriptions?
If the answer is NO. Are you suffering from any of the following?
| • Allergy | • Hay fever |
| • Athlete’s Foot | • Conjunctivitis |
| • Constipation | • Diarrhoea |
| • Earache | • Haemorrhoids |
| • Headlice | • Insect Bites/Stings |
| • Sore Throat | • Teething Pain |
| • Threadworm | • Toothache |
| • Thrush (Vaginal) | • Verruca’s |
| • Warts | |
Stay Well - Think Pharmacy First
Helping you to help yourself
If the answer is YES to any of the above, then you DO NOT need to see a GP. Choose from one of the Chemists listed in the link below and they will be able to prescribe you medication that the GP would offer you FREE OF CHARGE.
Pharmacy First
‘Pharmacy First’ is also available to patients who pay for their prescriptions. Many over the counter preparations are cheaper than paying for a prescription.
A Pharmacist will refer you back to the surgery if they think you need to be seen by a GP.
PLEASE NOTE:
When making an URGENT Appointment.
The Doctors kindly ask that you give the Receptionist a brief description of your problem, to enable them to direct you to the most appropriate Clinician.
However, we do understand if you DO NOT wish to disclose this.
Bower Cancel Screening
Bowel Cancer Screening for over 60, have you done your test? Please read this leaflet
Common complaints
Sports injuries
Sports-related injuries from playing football and outdoor activities are also a bigger issue. Sprained ankles, wrists and broken bones are common sights in urgent care clinics and emergency rooms between spring and summer, according to the experts.
Treatment for these injuries typically requires a little home care. If you’ve suffered a strain or sprain use RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression Elevation) therapy or visit your pharmacy for advice. But if something feels seriously wrong or keeps getting worse, head to the doctor or call 111 as soon as possible.
Choose the right service for your illness or injury
Unnecessary GP visits can drain resources from caring for older, chronically-ill people, and have a knock-on effect of placing A&E and emergency departments under further pressure.
All kinds of minor illnesses and injuries, from insect bites to hay fever, sun burn to minor cuts, can be treated at home with advice and medicines from your local pharmacist.
Self-care is the best option if you have a common summer health complaint.
Your high street pharmacy can give you expert advice without an appointment.
You can also call 111 free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a week for a medical emergency that does not require a 999 call.
Condom Collection Point, anyone aged 13 - 24 years old - C-Card Scheme
We are a collection point for free condoms and lubes if you are aged between 13 & 24 years old and have a C-card. Our staff are fully trained to give these out. We have lots in stock. You don't have to be a patient at Orchard to collect them just show your C-card to one of our receptionists.
If you would like to register for a C-card please click on the link below to find a registration point near you.
http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/health-and-wellbeing/sexual-health/c-card-scheme
NEW: SELF REFER - PHYSIOTHERAPY REFERRALS in 3 easy steps - NO NEED TO SEE A GP
Patients can now self refer to physiotherapy without the need to see a GP first Fill out this form Self Referral - Physio and send off via email, post or hand it in to the practice to send off, the service will then contact you.
Help for Homeless
We support the homeless by having a box in our waiting area of warm items of clothing and blankets which are available if you need it or you know of someone who does. If you also have any items of warm clothing or tins of food (non-perishables) please feel free to bring them in. We do from time to time also give the items from the box to the Salvation Army on Victoria Street Mansfield when the box is full.
If you feel you are at risk from becoming homeless, help, information and advice is available for you. If you would like some help and information regarding who to turn to and where to go please click this link http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/article/5745/Homeless-or-at-risk or contact Mansfield District Council on 01623 463121. If you are not able to retrieve this we have this information within the practice printed out. Help is out there for you. We also have a box in our waiting area
Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Don't forget you can be part of the Patient Participation Group for Orchard, we are look for any age patient to become a part of it to give ideas, opinions and feedback on the way services are managed and what we can do better and work towards in the future. Please take a look number 8 under 'further information' if you would like more detail, this also includes dates & times.
Our Next Meeting date: Wednesday 22nd June 2022 at 1pm face to face (with masks) via Microsoft Team - new members welcome to join please email maccg.orchardppg@nhs.net for the link
Patient Group Donation - 'YOU SAID WE DID'
Together with our Patient Participation Group it was discussed with patients as we didn't have enough 24 hour blood pressure monitors as one had not been returned. Thank you to our Patient Participation Group who have donated £500 towards a 24 hour blood pressure monitor to help patients needing to record their BP over a 24 hour period, the practice has also purchased 3 more also. This will mean less of a wait to loan it out. The practice are extremely grateful of this kind donation. Below is a picture of the group donation.
Are you a Carer - help is at hand
Are you a carer or look after someone, help could be at hand, click the link below for details.
http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/caring/adultsocialcare/backgroundsupport/social-care-publications/?entryid126=147003&p=2
Find us on Facebook, Join & Share with your friends
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Orchard-Medical-Practice/785369651494411?ref=hl
NHS Website
Please take a look at the NHS Website (formally NHS Choices). If you would like to leave a review please go to
https://www.nhs.uk/Services/GP/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=C84051
Insertion & Removal of Coils & Implants
We offer the insertion and removal of Mirena Coils & Implants. We hold regular clinics with a female GP. Please speak to our receptionist for further information.
Text Messaging Service
You can now register to receive information by text message on your phone regarding appointments and health care.
If you wish to register for this messaging service please fill out the consent form.
Named Accountable GP
From 1 April 2015, practices are required under the contract to allocate a named, accountable GP to all patients (including children).
Unless you have specified an alternative GP your named accountable GP will be the doctor you are registered under. This will in no way effect your care from the Practice and you will be seen by all GPs who have equal access to your medical records. Unless you pre-book your appointment in advance you will be allocated a GP subject to availability on that day.
Accessible Information Standard
The Accessible Information Standard aims to ensure that people who have a disability or sensory loss receive information that they can access and understand (for example in large print, braille) and professional communication support if you need it, such as from a British Sign Language interpreter.
We can update your patient record with this information you can let a receptionist know or complete the attached form. Accessible Information Form