Managing Partner Statement & Petition

General Practice nationally is under huge pressure, and locally our main challenges are financial. Funding to GP has been flatlined or cut,  with more cuts announced. Any new monies are not allowed to be spent on Doctors or Nurses, and are difficult to fully access. When Hospitals have long waiting lists, and Ambulance delays -patients need to come to us more often for help. We believe strongly in the value of GP practices rooted in their communities, but these need to be funded to match inflation at least. Many GP surgeries are closing nationally for the first time in my career. This is not a sustainable position.

I have personally been lobbying sitting MPs (including Luke Hall and Michelle Donelan) and politicians from all major parties since 2022, as well as the BMA, LMC and others to help fight our corner. Dr Brian Mathew approached us in April following concern from a local resident /patient. He supported us with a petition to support our cause. Please sign up if you feel able- and put some free text if possible (1500+ signatories so far). This helps to show the strength of local feeling amongst the public.

Petition · SAVE OUR SURGERIES! - United Kingdom · Change.org  

For clarity, Dr Mathew is Local Councillor, and now prospective Lib Dem candidate for the new constituency which includes Colerne. Dr Mathew, Cllr Phil Chamberlain (Colerne, Green) met with the Partners recently see what additional support can be rallied for our Surgeries, and had ideas to further help us.

As a GP, I support people of all political views, genders, religion and ages -so for transparency I want you to understand why we are having to engage politicians so that our voice is heard.

At Three Shires, our Partners are all dedicated to keeping our four sites open and operational. There are no immediate threats of closure to any site, but we are having to review our levels of service provision, for example ECGs and Dressings. We are really hoping that things will improve! We are lucky in having an active Patient Participation Group (PPG) who we speak with regularly, and who have been a major support. We will keep you informed -please sign the petition if you can.

Many thanks

Dr Richard Greenway  3/6/2024

Long Term Conditions

If you have a long-term condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, pre-diabetes, asthma or COPD you will be invited to annual review of your condition(s). We aim to review all long-term conditions in your birthday month.

We will let you know when you are able to book your appointment via a text message or a letter. You may need to see more than one clinician depending on your condition(s), however we will try and combine appointments where we can. 

For more information about the appointments please see the leaflets below. 

Long-Term Condition Appointments Patient Information

Diabetes Appointment Patient Information

Is your long-term health condition affecting your mood or causing worry? NHS Talking Therapies could help! They provide practical mental health support which is proven to people to help improve their mood and live better with a health condition.

Find out more in this short Youtube video: NHS Talking Therapies - Long Term Health Conditions. 

You can contact NHS Talking Therapies directly with any questions or to request an appointment: call 0333 200 1893, or visit the website: 

https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/nhs-services/nhs-mental-health/bristol-north-somerset-and-south-gloucestershire-mental-health-services/?utm_source=Training+slides+-+31/10/22&utm_medium=Powerpoint&utm_campaign=NA. 

Covid + Flu Vaccination Programme

We will contact you either via text message or via a call to book your appointment when the 2024/2025 campaign kicks off. 

We will be offering to all eligible patients.  Please wait to be contacted.

Community Pharmacies

For access to community pharmacies during bank holidays please see find a pharmacy webpage

PPE and Masks

Firearms Application
Medical Reports- Feb 2022
new Fee

In January 2022 , the Police Firearms Licensing Authority have introduced stricter checks on new firearms applications and renewals. They now have asked applicants to obtain a report from their GP prior to renewal. This new process is comprehensive and time consuming for us, involving a GP reading an entire medical record, and vouching for the presence or absence of medical conditions. Although we understand their position, they have declined to fund or pay for this process which they have effectively transferred to the NHS. Due to the complexity of this, we will now charge £86.67 +VAT  for completion of these forms, which we have to return directly to the licensing authority.