This
area on our website is to keep you up to date with some of the newer
services we offer and to inform you of planned improvements.......
Patient
Participation -
We offer patients the opportunity to get involved with the
surgery in various ways. One of these is our online surveys which
are available
here.
Patientcare
Messaging -
Appointment reminders to your mobile phone. We have now started
a text reminder service.
Extended Opening Hours - for our working patients unable to
attend normal appointment slots.
.
New Services
at Winyates Health Centre
There are a number of
new services now in place at Winyates to make it
easier for patients to access the things they frequently need.
Appointment
Reminders
:
To
reduce the number of missed appointments wasted every year we have
now introduced a new service. Appointment Reminders direct to your
mobile phone. In the last 12 months, Winyates has had over 5000
appointments wasted due to patients not attending and not cancelling
their appointment beforehand.
Help us to help you by not wasting valuable appointments. Please
ensure we have your up-to-date mobile phone number. You will then
receive a text the day before your appointment is due reminding you
of the date and time to attend.
Your mobile number number will not be used for any purpose other
than to send you appointment reminders and other uses directly
related to your care (such as informing you of seasonal campaigns
like flu vaccinations).
To start receiving this service all you need do is ensure we have
your correct mobile phone number and remember to inform us if you
change it in the future.
Should you wish for some reason NOT to receive this service, simply
reply via text stating so or inform a member of staff on reception.
Please ask at reception for further details.
Extended Opening
Hours
:
To
improve access for our working patients unable to attend normal
daytime appointments, we now offer a limited number of appointments
between the hours of 6:30pm and 7:30pm twice weekly. We also offer
alternate Saturday mornings. Please ask a
receptionist for further details.
Practice Telephone
Number
:
To
improve our service we have invested in an up to date telephone
system. During
the busiest times the old telephone system was at times too busy to
take any more calls. The new system will help to manage your call to
the right department, and will give information should there be
delays in getting through.
Calls from a BT landline pay no more than the cost of calling
equivalent geographical numbers. Click
here for more information.
Patient Touch Screen
(Self Check-in)
: Patients
can check-in for their appointments on
arrival without the need to queue at reception or speak to a
receptionist.
The touch screen is located on the left immediately as you enter
Winyates. Follow the simple on screen instructions to select your
gender and date of birth, confirmation that you have checked in
and where to sit will then be displayed.
Patient
Participation Group: We are
looking for patients to get involved with the surgery in various
ways including:
helping us provide services and facilities.
contributing to service development and decision making.
If
you feel you have the time and would like to be involved please get
in touch by contacting the practice manager Julie Ingram. Written
enquiries only.
Patient
Partner:
Now anytime during the day or
night (including weekends) appointments can be booked, altered and
cancelled via the telephone, without the need to speak to a
receptionist. Just telephone the surgery as normal
and select the appointments option (2), followed by option (1). By following the simple instructions
you can organise your appointment even when we are closed. Click
here for more information.
New Practice Telephone
Number:08444 773 803 Not only will we
be able to answer your calls more quickly and more efficiently, the
updated telephone system also allows us to offer a better service.
Offering patients the option of organising appointments day and
night makes it easier for people with busy schedules to arrange to
see a Doctor. This will mean it should be easier to get through
to reception staff during the daytime.
When calling the surgery
you will be given various choices. This will make it easier for
you to be directed to the correct person for help. Listen to the
options available and then select the option you require by
pressing the appropriate key on your telephone to be put through.
When calling you can choose from the following options:
Press 1 for Emergencies.
Press 2 for Appointments.
Press 3 for Repeat Prescriptions.
Press 4 for Community Services.
Or hold for to speak to the operator.
The new 0844 number is a lo-call rate number. Calls from a BT
landline pay no more than the cost of calling equivalent
geographical numbers. Calls are charged at 4.032 pence per minute (incl VAT,
correct as of May 2011). Calls from mobiles and payphones will be the same rate as
you pay now.
Patients should note that
if they have contracts with other suppliers the BT 'lo-call' rate
of 4.032 pence per minute will still apply and therefore your calls
may be more expensive. See
here for more detailed information relating to 084 number
pricing and usage.
Our fax number will remain the same on 01527 517969
Patient Partner: At any time during the
day or night (including weekends) you can book, alter and cancel an
appointment using our automated service. Just telephone the surgery
as normal and select the appointments option (2), followed by
option (1). Follow the simple
instructions and you will be able to organise your appointment (even
when the surgery is closed).
If you experience a problem the first time
you use this system this may be because we do not have an up to
date telephone number, leave your details on the answer machine
when prompted to do so and your records will be updated for the
next time.
Alternatively ask us to update your
telephone number next time you visit the surgery.
