In April 2023, a joint safety alert was issued by the British Menopause Society, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health, the Royal College of General Practitioners, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This alert highlighted concerns about an increasing number of women being prescribed high doses of oestrogen that exceed licensed product limits.

Oestrogen should not be routinely prescribed at doses higher than those established and tested in clinical research. The upper recommended limits are:

• Estradiol 0.06% gel:Maximum of 4 pumps
• Estradiol patch:Maximum of 100 mcg
• Oral Estradiol tablets:Maximum of 2 mg

We are aware that some private providers may prescribe oestrogen above these recommended limits. However, our practice policy is that we cannot prescribe any medication that would contribute, even in part, to an overall treatment dose exceeding these limits, as this would constitute prescribing beyond established safety guidelines. This decision was made with careful consideration, as prolonged use of excessive oestrogen doses may pose significant health risks.

Therefore, if you are receiving oestrogen above the recommended limits, we request that you obtain your full medication supply privately. Alternatively, you may choose to reduce your prescribed oestrogen dose. If you feel unable to lower your dose and are unable to fund private treatment, please speak with us about the possibility of referral to an NHS complex menopause clinic for further management.

If you believe you may be taking a dose higher than the recommended limits or a combination of different oestrogen products (excluding vaginal oestrogen cream 0.1% or pessary 10 mcg), we strongly advise booking an appointment with our clinical pharmacist. This will allow us to review any potential risks and ensure your HRT regimen is safe.

Excessive oestrogen intake may increase the risk of uterine (womb) cancer, as well as potentially raising the risk of breast or ovarian cancer.

For further details, please refer to the British Menopause Society news update. The full technical statement can be accessed via the following link:

https://thebms.org.uk/2023/04/joint-bms-fsrh-rcgp-rcog-sfe-and-rcn-womens-health-forum-safety-alert/

Updated:15.04.25

At Orchard Medical Practice, we have a practice Facebook page which provides a range of useful information for our patient population.

This practice has a duty to maintain patient confidentiality and to safeguard vulnerable patients. You can help us to achieve this by adhering to the code of conduct outlined in this guidance.

Patients are expected to always adhere to the following code of conduct:

1. The organisation requires all users of portable devices to use them in a courteous and considerate manner, respecting their fellow patients. Portable devices are not to be used during consultations, except when agreed with your clinician.
2. Patients are not permitted to disclose any patient-identifiable information about other patients unless they have the express consent of that patient.
3. Whilst not encouraged, patients may record their consultation but this should be agreed with your clinician. This recording will solely be for your own purpose.
4. Patients must not post any material that is inaccurate, fraudulent, harassing, embarrassing, obscene, defamatory or unlawful. Any such posts on any of the practice’s social media pages will be deleted and the post reported.
5. Patients are not permitted to take photographs in any area where other patients are present, nor is it permitted to take photographs of staff.
6. Patients must not post comments on social media that identify any staff.
7. Patients can leave an official review about the practice on NHS Reviews Ratings and reviews – Orchard Medical Practice – NHS as this will enable the practice manager to respond appropriately. Reviews left on unofficial sites will not be responded to.
8. Defamatory comments about our team are not to be shared on any social media platform. Legal advice may be sought and the appropriate action taken against any patient who posts defamatory comments.

Click here to view our Patient Registration and Health check policy

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.

Your GP Practice is committed to operating in a way that complies fully with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. We recognise that the personal data legitimately required in order to carry out our business must be collected, processed, stored and disposed of fairly, lawfully and with due regard to confidentiality. We fully respect your privacy.

If you have any questions about your data or how we deal with it please contact the practice and get in touch with us by clicking on the Contact Us links available on this website.

At Orchard Medical Practice we aim to treat all our patients promptly, courteously and in complete confidence. We aim to deliver a “Best Practice” standard of care by providing suitable patient consultations to establish an appropriate diagnosis, treatment and care plans – a service which is further enhanced by patient participation, continuous improvement and staff involvement. We offer a family friendly service.  In order to achieve this, the following objectives have been set:

• To provide a full range of access options to ensure patients get appropriate, timely, high quality care as detailed by the GMS contract.
• To provide a service that incorporates patients’ suggestions.
• To respect the individuality of patients.
• To respond positively to feedback from patients.
• To continuously seek ways in which services can be improved.
• To protect patients and staff from hazards and abuse.
• To build and retain a stable, committed and highly trained workforce.

Orchard Medical Practice is a well established, respected surgery, situated in newly refurbished and modern premises within Mansfield Community Hospital, Stockwell Gate, Mansfield. We are a forward thinking and enthusiastic practice and are constantly looking at ways to improve and offer new services.

Our PMS (Primary Medical Services) practice serves just over 19,000 patients, making it the largest practice in the Mansfield & Ashfield area.

We are a 9 Partner Practice, 4 of the Partners are female. We are also a training practice taking on Registrars on a quarterly rotatation basis. Registrars are fully qualified Doctor’s under the supervision of our GP Trainers, Dr James Mills & Dr Kathryn West are responsible for all our Registrars

The Practice also employs a Management Team,Nurse Practitioner, seven Practice Nurses, two Health Care Assistants, two Phlebotomist’s, a team of Receptionists, Secretaries and Admin staff and is supported by Care Trust staff, including a Midwife, Health Visitors, a Pharmacist, District Nurses and counsellors.

The Practice offers a wide range of Enhanced Services including minor surgery and sexual and reproductive health, minor injuries, extended hours on a Tuesday evening and a Saturday morning.

To improve care your GP information will be made securely available to other authorised health professionals involved in your care.  This is called implied consent , this means that when you see another health professional such as a hospital doctor or a community nurse they will ask your permission the view your GP record, if you say ‘Yes’ your GP record will be available for them to view. If you say ‘No’ they will not be able to view your GP record, this is in line with our local CCG sharing policy.

For more information about sharing your GP record please click on the link to view the patient leaflet.

Click here for information on Sharing your GP record

If you would like to give explicit consent share your GP record then please download the consent form and drop it in the practice and your record will be amended.

Click here to view the Consent form to Share GP record

Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit here

Download a copy of the patient leaflet here

Or visit Freedom of Information Act 2000 here

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earning (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working at Orchard Medical Practice in the last financial year (23/24) was £83,917 before tax and National Insurance. This is for 1 full time GP and 12 part-time GPs and 0 locum GP who has worked in the practice for more than six months.

It should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

Updated 20.03.2025

Complaints

 Practice Complaints Procedure

Patient feedback is important to us as it helps us to improve the service we provide to patients. We take patient complaints seriously and will attempt to address your concerns to your satisfaction.

How do I make a complaint?

If you wish to complain please contact the Practice Manager Rebecca Tate either in person, by phone or in writing:

Tel: 01623 400100

Address: Orchard Medical Practice, Stockwell Gate, Mansfield, Notts, NG18 5GG

E-mail: maccg.patient-orchard@nhs.net.  Please put complaint in the subject field.

If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, the practice needs to know that you have their permission to do so.

 What Happens Next?

The complaint will be acknowledged within 3 working days.  The practice will respond, after investigation, within the timeframe specified to you at the acknowledgement stage of the process.  Some complaints may take longer to address but you will be informed of a response time.  If this cannot be met, the practice will keep you informed.

Please be assured making a complaint will not adversely affect your ongoing healthcare at the practice.  We will deal with you fairly, compassionately and will endeavour to resolve the situation to a satisfactory conclusion.

Wherever possible, we aim to learn from complaints and take action to avoid similar occurrences.

How do I complain to someone Independent?

GP Practices would prefer to have the opportunity to answer complaints ourselves in the first instance. However, you may pass your complaint directly to:

Patient Experience Team

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board

Sir John Robinson House

Sir John Robinson Way

Arnold

Nottingham

NG5 6DA

Tel: 0115 8839570

Email: nnicb-nn.patientexperience@nhs.net

 If you would like further information please follow the link to the ICB website: Patient Experience and Complaints – NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB

Data Processing Concerns:

Should you have any concerns about how your information is managed at the GP, please contact the GP Practice Manager or the Data Protection Officer as above. If you are still unhappy following a review by the GP practice, you have a right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority: You have a right to complain to the UK supervisory Authority as below.

Information Commissioner:

Wycliffe house

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Tel:       01625 545745

https://ico.org.uk/

If you are happy for your data to be used for the purposes described in this privacy notice, then you do not need to do anything.  If you have any concerns about how your data is shared, then please contact the Practice Data Protection Officer.

If you would like to know more about your rights in respect of the personal data we hold about you, please contact the Data Protection Officer as below.

Data Protection Officer:

The Practice Data Protection Officer is Paul Couldrey of PCIG Consulting Limited. Any queries regarding Data Protection issues should be addressed to him at: –

 

Email:   Couldrey@me.com

Postal: PCIG Consulting Limited

7 Westacre Drive

Quarry Bank

Dudley

West Midlands

DY5 2EE