Managing Partner Update

Update on BMA Collective Action

Our Practice is under extreme financial and workload pressure, and we fully support the BMA's campaign to get fairer funding for General Practice to prevent further Practice closures, and prevent GPs leaving. The additional expenses imposed on our practice are not  being covered by the small increases in funding we have received this year. leaving a further shortfall. This will worsen when an additional 6% or our funding will have be returned to the Treasury via employer's National Insurance with no direct benefit to the staff. 

Our two newly elected MPs Brian Matthew and Claire Young have jointly written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting asking for a meeting to discuss our Practice’s position which we are very grateful for. We will update if this is successful (no response Nov 2024)

Our Partnership has decided that any changes to our appointment processes in line with Collective (Industrial) action will be starting in November. Any Action by the practice will be in line with BMAs suggested actions here

From a patient perspective -limiting GP consultations to 25 per a day may have the largest impact. Demand on GPs is variable, but tends to go up in the winter months due to infectious diseases. 

We will continue to have a blend of pre-booked, and on the day appointments. We will triage (assess) your phone call. If demand is high, we will ask you to complete an online request via the Contact us online button above.

There, you will be able to give us information so that we can safely advise you on managing your current condition. We may direct you to other providers, such as Minor Injuries, Accident and Emergency departments or 111.  If you have difficulty filling in our online triage request, our reception staff can assist you with this.

We are very grateful for the newly established Friends of Threes Shires Group which has been set up to assist with financing equipment and repairs that are not currently funded -but are of direct benefit to patients. You may see posters and other communications locally. 

Dr Richard Greenway updated 18/11/2024

Living Well with COPD

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 Appointment Information

Diabetes Appointment Information

Chronic Kidney Disease Appointment Information

Mental Health Annual Review

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

This year Flu and Covid Vaccinations will start in October (national policy decision).
We will be offering a number of clinics in all of our Surgeries this year including Marshfield Community Centre. You will be able to book at neighbouring practices in our PCN group as last year.

We will  contact you directly during September to allow direct booking into Flu and Covid /Flu Clinics. We are also starting a new RSV vaccination in different  for a limited group of patients over 75 who will be contacted.

Click on the Flu & Covid for more information

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.