Download FAQs - DUKINFIELD MEDICAL PRACTICE

Merger FAQs – DAVAAR MEDICAL CENTRE AND THE HOLLIES SURGERY PARTNERSHIP
1.
If the decision has already been made why are you calling the meetings on xx/xx/xxx consultation
meetings? The decision to merge the practices is a business one that the Partners have taken based
on the way the Government is moving forward with the NHS and how it contracts GP services. What
we are consulting on are Patients’ opinions on what currently works well and what, as a result of a
merger could work even better. It is also to offer information and answer queries and concerns.
2.
Will I still be able to make appointments at my usual surgery? Yes you will.
3.
Will I still be able to see my usual doctor? Yes you will. All staff and partners (whether clinical or not)
will be based at their original site but will work across both sites so that we ensure the best practices
are used across the whole new organisation. This should be very beneficial to staff and patients and is
also a requirement of the Care Quality Commission.
4.
Can I see another doctor if I want? Patients will be able to request appointments with any doctor.
Across both sites we will have 2 male GPs and 6 female GPs on a regular basis. There will be a further
male GPs joining our team.
5.
Will I have to go to one of the other sites for particular consultations or treatments? If we feel that
one site may provide a more appropriate service – for example the Hollies surgery premises at Boyds
Walk has a minor surgery suite - you may be asked if you are able to attend there.
6.
Will the practice boundaries change? No – both practices already have very similar boundaries. We
will continue to register and provide services for patients that fall into both catchment areas.
7.
How will the new arrangement benefit patients? A larger practice can offer earlier and later
appointments – for example, appointments are offered at Davaar medical Centre from 7-8am and
6.30-7.30pm once a week.
8.
Will any service currently offered be removed or stopped? No – As a result of the merger all previous
primary care services offered by the practices will remain unaffected. All services we currently offer
under the GP Contract will continue.
9.
Will any new services be introduced? We strongly hope so. We are still in the early stages of
investigating what services would be appropriate and helpful to the people of Dukinfield but are all
committed to improving access to and delivering the best healthcare possible.
10. How will the new arrangement benefit the medical staff at the practice? Medical staff will have a
wider pool of knowledge to draw upon and will have more opportunities to specialise; annual and sick
leave should be better covered leading to lower stress levels of the remaining staff. Partners will be
able to share the ever increasing administrative work load required of them by the Government.
11. Can I choose whether to make an appointment at any of the sites? We will shortly be working to
facilitate access to both IT systems from each site to ensure clinical safety. This system needs to be
robust before we allow cross booking on a routine basis. We need to roll this out with care and not
rush it for clinical reasons.
12. How do I make an appointment at one of the other sites? From July 2016 you will be able to book in
person, over the phone or online to any site; before that, online booking will remain site specific.
13. Will the nurse, phlebotomist and healthcare assistant be available as often as they are now? Will
they also work at the other sites? Yes they will be working across all sites and we do not intend to
reduce appointments
14. Will the phone number remain the same? At the moment each practice retains the usual number
however, at some point in 2016, the surgery number will change to enable calls to be handled across
the merged practices.
15. Will the website for making appointments and reordering prescriptions remain the same? At the
moment we have both websites running but we are developing a website for Davaar Hollies
Partnership which will include both sites.
16. Will the arrangement with the pharmacy to deliver my medications continue in the same way? Yes.
There will no change to this.
17. Will the reception operate in the same way? We do not anticipate any changes except with the
phones.
18. What is the PPG? This is a Patient Participation Group run by patients for patients. It provides a link
between the surgery and our patients and is an important part of ensuring that the impact of the
Government's plans for the NHS meets the needs of all our patients. Things that PPG’s could do can
include:
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Setting up information events for patients to attend
Jointly discussing the feedback from the patients survey
Feeding back concerns expressed by patients where services were not effective or coming up
with suggestions that could lead to saving money, for example where things are being
duplicated.
Discussing why the practice is not offering the same kind of service as another
Providing feedback from patients on ways to improve the surgery
19. Will the PPG continue to operate in the same way after the merger? The PPG members need to
meet jointly and decide their preferred way forward. Dukinfield Medical Practice would like the
Davaar Medical Centre and The Hollies Surgery PPGs to work together for the benefit of the patients
of the new organisation and feels that joining together would be the best way forward for this.
20. Will I be removed from the list if I don’t attend any of the consultation meetings or respond to the
written feedback requests? No – All patients will be automatically transferred to the newly merged
practice under the name of Dukinfield Medical Practice. Only if a patient chooses to move practices
will they be removed.
21. Do I need to do anything as a patient to remain on the list? No – patients will automatically be
transferred onto the new practice list under the name of Dukinfield Medical Practice
22. Will this affect any treatment or medication I am currently receiving either at the GP practice or
Any Hospital? No – Any patient’s current treatments/ medications or any investigation that they are
undergoing at a hospital will be unaffected, by the merger.
23. Will this affect my referrals to hospital? No – Any patient who is currently undergoing investigations
or treatment at a hospital will be unaffected.
24. Will this affect access to other services such as District nurses, midwives, community matrons etc…?
No – Any patient who is currently under the care of community based services at home or within the
practice will be unaffected