Working towards pride in practice
Asking about wider determinants of health
Change in communication methods
Greener Practice
Vaccine update Autumn 2024
We are veteran-friendly
Improving William Place
Online Record Access for patients
We have for some years offered online access to records via the NHS App / NHS login. We hope that this enhances your care. From June 1st 2024 more will be visible to you on your NHS App, if you have already activated this. We have made exceptions to this roll-out where there might be a risk of harm. Beware that there may be medical terminology or abbreviations which do not make sense. We are obliged to redact any consultations with references to third parties . It is on offer to patients age 16 and over. Read on to find out more. For under 11s, it is possible for parents or guardians to get “proxy access” . Between age 11 and 16 it is more complicated, and an ethical approach is needed. We need to respect the confidentiality of the young person, whilst often they would wish their parents/ guardians to be involved in their care. Any questions, please ask reception/ admin staff.
Change to pharmacy requests
For many years, pharmacies have been able to request prescriptions from practices. We want to improve safety and reduce wastage in this process. Local practices in Bow (Bow Health Network) and local pharmacies have agreed a new standard approach
What can my pharmacy request for me?
- Repeat medication
- Repeat dispensing medication (batches of repeat medication)
- Dosette medication
What can’t my pharmacy request for me?
The following items need to be requested directly by yourself
- Any acute medication (intended to be one-off, eg course of antibiotics)
- Past medication (not listed as current)
- Any medication we haven’t prescribed for you before
- Variable use medication, such as creams, ointments
- Painkillers – opiates including tramadol, co-codamol, codeine, dihydrocodeine, morphine/oxycodone
- Hypnotics (sleeping tablets) – including benzodiazepines and melatonin
- Salbutamol inhalers – it is important for your safety we keep track of your reliever inhaler use. Your preventer inhaler can be requested by the pharmacy.
- Rescue packs – antibiotics and prednisolone for COPD exacerbations – this is to help us keep track of usage to ensure your safety.
- Laxatives
What if, by mistake, my pharmacy asks for medication in these categories?
The practice will inform the pharmacy and the patient, that the request needs to come from the patient. With time, the pharmacy should be able to recognise these items and let you know to ask us for them directly. The pharmacy or reception should also be able to help you with NHS app requests