News
PLEASE BE AWARE POTENTIAL TELEPHONE SCAM
Last week, a scammer telephoned a patient claiming to be from a local Kirklees GP practice. They asked the patient to confirm their identity using personal details like name, address, date-of-birth etc. Thankfully, the patient was vigilant and realised this was a scam as the telephone number shown was a London number and the call was made prior to the surgery being open. This methodology has also been reported in Scotland, where similar calls were made impersonating local pharmacies.
'Try the NHS App
If you’re a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.
You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.
If you already use [insert name of GP online service available at practice] you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.
For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp'
(You might also need to review existing website content to make sure it covers the different options patients have to connect with online services.)
Primary Care Networks
Since the NHS was created in 1948, the population has grown and people are living longer. Many people are living with long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, or suffer with mental health issues and may need to access their local health services more often.
To meet these needs, practices have begun working together in primary care networks alongside teams from mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas.
Your practice is part of the newly formed Dewsbury & Thornhill Primary Care Network. This is a partnership of 7 GP practices who are working together to improve patient care and create positive change in our communities. The network is run by our member practices: Savile Town Medical Centre, Thornhill Lees Surgery, The Paddock Surgery, The Albion Mount Medical Practice, The Sidings Healthcare Centre, Healds Road Surgery and Windsor Medical Centre. By combining our expertise we have a stronger voice to meet future demands and improve outcomes for all.
Progress updates will be provided in due course and in the meantime further information on Primary Care Networks can be found on the NHS England website:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/redesign/primary-care-networks/
Extended Hours
Evening and weekend appointments now available
Patients can now see a local GP for routine appointments on weekday evenings and at weekends.
Our practice has dedicated appointment slots for our patients to see a GP or Nurse at Dewsbury Health Centre on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings between 7pm and 9pm. Please inform our reception staff if you would like to book into an appointment.
Our practice is also part of a scheme that is funded by the 27 practices in North Kirklees where patients from all practices are able to book an appointment to see a GP at Dewsbury Health Centre 6.30pm-9.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm on Saturdays and 9am-1pm on Sundays. These appointments are pre-bookable on a first come first come first served basis. Please inform our reception staff if these appointment times would suit you better.
General Data Protection Regulation and what it will mean for our patients
Please see information located under the right hand tab 'Further information - General Data Protection.'
Please click the link below to open and print if required:
GDPR leaflet for patients
Text result reminders and alerts direct to your mobile
Did you know we can now send text reminders and alerts direct to your mobile phone?
In addition to confirming appointment times and dates and to alert you to any changes to the availability of the Doctors and nurses, we are using this facility to remind patients to contact the surgery to make an appointment . This could be to discuss your blood results or possibly to repeat them or it could be to discuss a clinic letter received from the hospital. The text message would advise whether the appointment would be with either the nurse or the GP.
To ensure you are able to receive this information we ask that you update your telephone contact details with the reception staff.
Please always make sure we have your current mobile number.
Patient Choice survey
If you have been referred for further treatment within the last 12 months, we would be grateful if you could please spare the time to complete the following brief questionnaire here about your experience of Patient Choice. The deadline for completion of the survey is Friday 1 September 2017. Thank you.
Dementia Friends - every action counts
Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer's Society initiative - it is the biggest ever campaign to challenge perceptions of dementia and change the way we think, act and talk about the condition.
Albion Mount fully supports the Dementia Friends campaign and is developing services to become more understanding of the needs of people with dementia and those that care for them.
To find out more about we're doing to support the Dementia Friends campaign, click here.
Systmonline app - now available for smartphones and tablets
You can log into the app with a username and password provided by the surgery - if you already have a current Systmonline username and password, these can be used to log into the app after download to your smartphone or tablet.
Patients can view their own personal information, order repeat prescriptions, book and cancel appointments, and send and receive messages. Other features are in development; including access to your records and test results. To find out more, click here
CQC inspection 2016 - see the full report on our homepage
As many of our patients are aware, Albion Mount was recently inspected by the CQC, the regulatory body for health and social care, to ensure our services continue to meet national standards of care, quality and safety.
We are delighted to announce that our services were rated as GOOD across all 5 core areas of inspection ie. services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Full details of CQC's findings can be found on the home page - just click on the 'See the report' button to open. We wish to extend a big thank you to all patients who contributed feedback during and before the inspection visit - your views help us to improve standards even further.
Detailed Coded Records Access
Albion Mount is ready to support patient access to their own medical records. Detailed Coded Records Access (DCRA) is available to request online - you'll need a username and password, so please enquire online or ask our reception team to advise you further. It will be necessary for you to complete a written DCRA request form and photographic identification is also required.
Speak to your pharmacist for advice on minor ailments
Did you know that your local NHS spends £1.3m on medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen, mild eczema creams and cough medicines, which are often more easily available from your local pharmacy or supermarket? Your pharmacist is able to provide advice on minor ailments and will always advise you to see a doctor if they think it important. Buying medicines for minor conditions helps save you and the NHS time and money - all of which can be better used to employ more nurses and to perform more vital operations. Find out how you can help by clicking this link: Over the counter guidance
Will you be an antibiotic guardian?
Why it is relevant to you: without effective antibiotics many routine treatments will become increasingly dangerous. Setting broken bones, basic operations, even chemotherapy and animal health all rely on access to antibiotics that work.
What we want you to do: To slow resistance we need to cut the unnecessary use of antibiotics. We invite the public, students and educators, farmers, the veterinary and medical communities and professional organisations, to become Antibiotic Guardians.
Call to action: Choose one simple pledge about how you’ll make better use of antibiotics and help save these vital medicines from becoming obsolete.
Find out more and make your pledge at https://antibioticguardian.com
Text reminders and alerts direct to your mobile
Did you know we can now send text reminders and alerts direct to your mobile phone? It's a great way to confirm appointment times and dates, and to alert you to any changes to the availability of the Doctors. The system is helping to cut down the number of missed appointments and helps to remind you to tell us if your appointment is no longer required. If you'd like be added to the service, please click here to find out more - if you are happy to proceed, simply complete the consent form. If you have any problems, you can always speak to our reception team. Please always make sure we have your current mobile number.
Home
Welcome to Albion Mount Medical Practice.
Our Practice email address is
wyicb-kirk.albion-mount@nhs.net
Your needs are at the heart of everything we do. Our website makes it easy for you to access the information you need, when you need it most. As well as practice details, such as opening hours and how to register, you’ll find a wealth of other useful pages covering a wide range of health information along with links to other useful medical organisations.
YOU AND YOUR PRACTICE
This guide tells you what to expect from your general practice (GP) and how you can help them, so you get the best from the National Health Service (NHS). More details can be found through the links below.
When and how can you contact your general practice?
Albion Street practice is open from 8.00am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday
Mountain Road branch practice is open 8.00am - 1.00 pm, Monday and Tuesday 8.00am-4.00pm Wednesday and 8.00am - 12.30pm Thursday and Friday
Throughout these hours you, or your carer on your behalf, can:
- Visit the practice
- Call them
- Go online using the practice’s website or the NHS App.
You can choose the way you contact your practice based on what is best for you. Some practices may have longer hours or may ask that you contact them via phone or in person for urgent queries.
What if the practice is closed?
If you need urgent help for your physical or mental health when the general practice is closed, and you cannot wait until they open, go online to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. They will tell you what to do next.
What if it’s an emergency?
If it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency, go straight to A&E (Accident and Emergency) or call 999.
What happens when you contact your practice to request an appointment?
Whether you make your request by phone, on-line or visiting your practice, you may be asked to give your practice some details so that they can assess what is best for you based on your clinical need. The practice team will consider your request for an appointment or medical advice and tell you within one working day what will happen next.
This could be:
- An appointment that day or a subsequent day
- A phone call that day or a subsequent day
- A text message responding to your query
- Advice to go to a pharmacy or another NHS service.
Your practice will decide what is best for you based on your clinical need.
Who might help you?
You might be offered a face-to-face appointment or a phone call with a GP or other member of the practice staff, like a nurse or pharmacist.
If you have a carer, they can speak for you with your consent.
You can ask to see a preferred healthcare professional, and the practice will try to meet your request, although you might have to wait longer for that person to be available.
It can be helpful to see the same healthcare professional, particularly if you have a long-term health condition.
From what age can you see a GP on your own?
If you are 16 or older, you can make and go to appointments by yourself.
If you are under 16, you can still ask to see a GP without your parent or guardian. The GP will decide if that’s appropriate for you.
What if you need extra help?
If you do not speak English, you can ask for interpretation services in your preferred language when you make an appointment.
If you need extra help like longer appointments, a quiet space, wheelchair access, or information in a different format, tell your practice and they will try to help.
How do you choose a general practice?
You can:
- Call or visit a local practice
- Use Find a GP online.
If you want to change to a new general practice you can do so at any point. Most people have a few choices nearby.
Do you need ID or proof of address?
No, you do not need ID, an NHS number or proof of address. It can help the practice if you do, but it is not needed to register or see a GP. You can also register with a practice if you are homeless.
Can a practice say no to registering you?
They must write to you within 14 days if they say no and explain why. A practice can only say no for a good reason, like if you live too far away or their patient list is closed. For example, they cannot say no for reasons such as immigration status, not having a permanent address, or for reasons connected with other characteristics protected under equalities legislation.
Can you choose which hospital or clinic you are referred to?
If your GP needs to refer you for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the right to choose the hospital or service you’d like to go to. You can get further information on your right to choose on the nhs.uk website.
If you are new to the UK
You can still register with a GP. It’s free to use and your immigration status does not affect your right to register with a GP.
If you are away from home but still in the UK
If you are away from home for more than 24 hours (but less than 3 months), you can register as a temporary patient near where you’re staying.
You can also change your nominated pharmacy so you can get your medicine nearby. You can do this by contacting your practice or via the NHS App.
Do general practices charge for anything?
NHS GP services are free. Sometimes, if you ask the GP to do private work (like writing a letter for insurance), they may charge a fee.
How should everyone be treated?
The practice should treat everyone fairly, kindly and respectfully. Likewise, you should also treat staff with respect. The practice can remove patients from their list if they are violent or abusive to staff.
To learn more about your rights, you can read the NHS Constitution.
How can you help your general practice?
- Be prepared: Before an appointment, think about writing down your symptoms, what you are worried about and what you want to talk about.
- Be on time: Being late for an appointment or being unavailable for a timed call-back can affect other patients.
- Cancel if needed: If you can’t go to your appointment, tell the practice as soon as you can, so that they can offer it to someone else.
- Use the NHS App or website: If you’re confident using smart phones or computers, you can book or cancel appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and see your test results online.
- Turn on notifications: If you use the NHS App, turn on notifications so the practice can contact you more easily. Please keep an eye out for messages.
- Order repeat medicines on time: Make sure you ask for repeat prescriptions on time, so you don’t run out, and only order what you need.
- Join the Patient Participation Group: You practice will have a group of patients who can offer feedback on the services it delivers. Your practice website should explain how you can join.
How can you give feedback or raise concerns?
If you want to give feedback, raise a concern or wish to make a formal complaint, ask to speak to the practice manager. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, contact your integrated care board (ICB) – the local NHS body that oversees GPs practices. You can find your local integrated care on the NHS England website.
You can also give feedback about your practice to your local Healthwatch. Their job is to make sure NHS leaders and other decision-makers hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care. Healthwatch is independent and impartial, and any information you share with them is confidential. To find your local Healthwatch visit the Healthwatch website.
Latest News...
It's worth keeping up to date with new services or events at Albion Mount, by checking out the scrolling news banner on the home page (see above), or by clicking into the latest news (in the right hand column)
NEW PATIENT REGISTRATIONS:
YOU CAN NOW REGISTER ONLINE USING THE FOLLOWING LINK Register with a GP (ht1.uk)Online Registration
PLEASE ACCESS THE LATEST NEWS ON COVID-19 BY CLICKING OF THE SECOND TAB ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE AT THE VERY TOP OF THE PAGE.
Friends and Family
Read more about the Friends and Family Test and take the survey: Click Here
Promoting Health and Wellbeing
We're not just here for when you feel unwell. Our team of healthcare professionals provide a number of clinics and services to promote good health and wellbeing whatever your medical condition.
Tell us how we are doing
Please enjoy having a look around the site and the online features we provide, such as ordering a repeat prescription. You can let us know your thoughts and ideas via our feedback form. We value your comments - they help us to continuously improve the services we provide.
Access & Parking
Both Albion Mount and Mountain Road surgeries are situated on one level with good facilities and easy access for disabled patients and wheelchair users. If you require any assistance at all please don’t hesitate to ask. There is ample parking at both surgeries.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
You have the right to know how our services are rated by the CQC, the independent regulators of health and social care in England.
Opening Times
When We Are Closed
If you require urgent medical attention outside of normal surgery hours please call NHS 111. This service covers emergencies between 18:30 - 08:00 on weekdays and from 18:30 on Friday to 08:00 on Monday.
Walk-in Centres
You can see an experienced nurse for treatment of minor injury or illness at any NHS Walk-In-Centre, seven days a week from 07:00 to 22:00 without any appointment. The nearest one is situated within the grounds of Dewsbury District Hosptial.
Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.
Contact Details
Online Services
