We have listened to your feedback regarding call waiting times and are committed to providing a faster more convenient way to book appointments and request prescriptions - anytime, without waiting in a call queue!

How Does it Work?

Using the 24hr automated phone service is simple:

• Call Bridge Cottage Surgery on 01438 715044 and select option 1 or dial 01483 339249
• For appointments, enter your Date of Birth and phone number for secure verification.
• To request prescriptions, you will need a personal PIN. For your first use, please contact our admin team to receive your unique PIN.

What can I do via the automated service?

• Cancel appointments
• Book appointments for minor illness (pharmacy first service)
• Book appointments with musculoskeletal specialist (Chartered Physiotherapist)
• Book some nurse appointments
• Request fit notes
• Order prescriptions
• Please note that GP appointments are not currently available through the automated service.

Benefits for Patients:

• No queue
• No waiting
• Available 24/7 – Anytime, day or night.

There is still time to attend for your annual influenza vaccination.

Attend the surgery at your convenience, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm - check in at reception and one of our nurses will see you as soon as they can to facilitate your vaccination.

Alternatively, you can attend a local community pharmacy.

This vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is a common virus that can make babies and older aduts seriously ill. The vaccine is recommended during pregnancy and for adults aged 75 to 79.

Clinics have now been added most Wednesday's plus some other slots scattered throughout the week.

All eligible patients will be contacted by SMS or email (where possible) - otherwise you can call & book via reception but please avoid calling between 8-9am and 12-1pm where the lines need to be kept free for those needing same day appointments.

In the meantime, further information about the RSV vaccine can be found here.

What is a Musculoskeletal Specialist Practitioner?
Musculoskeletal Specialist Practitioners are Senior Chartered Physiotherapists working in your GP Surgery to see you alongside the GP team to provide an assessment service. They are trained to a high level and specialise in any conditions involving muscle, bone, tendon, ligament, nerve and many other conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia etc.

What should I expect?
A thorough assessment just as you would have with your GP and then where appropriate you will be given
➢ The chance to discuss your condition and receive advice
and exercises
➢ Medication to help with your pain. Always try over the counter medication first under the guidance of a pharmacist
➢ A referral for further investigation such as X-ray or Ultrasound Scan
➢ A referral to Physiotherapy
➢ A referral to orthopaedics/spinal team or other services such as Podiatry or Rheumatology

You will be under the care of the Musculoskeletal Specialist Practitioner who will ensure you are on the best pathway for a speedy recovery. If at any point you need to see a GP or nurse this can be arranged directly from this appointment

Ask at Reception to Book an Appointment

It is very important to make sure that your child has had two doses of the MMR vaccine – this will protect them against three serious illnesses – measles, mumps and rubella. If your child is aged one or over and hasn’t had their vaccinations, please contact us at the practice as soon as you can to arrange an appointment.

Measles spreads very easily between people who aren’t vaccinated. You can catch it just by spending time in the same room as someone. And it can cause children and people with a weakened immune system to be very unwell.

You may have heard on the news about measles cases in some parts of the country. To stop measles spreading further, the NHS is encouraging all parents to make sure that their children have been vaccinated. We usually offer the first dose of MMR vaccine when your child turns one, then the second dose before they start school as part of the ‘pre-school booster’. Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth. If you think your child might have measles, check symptoms on the NHS website. Keep your child at home and call us for advice.

Find out more on the NHS website.

Blood test appointments, requested by GPs, MUST be booked online for the following hospitals:

• Hertford County Hospital

• Lister Hospital

• New QEII Hospital

This is to help maximise the number of appointments they can offer to patients, minimise queues and continue to maintain social distancing in waiting areas.   You can only walk-in for a blood test if it is marked as Urgent.

How do I book my appointment?

Booking an appointment is easy and can be made here.  You will need to sign up to Swiftqueue, once you have selected your appointment date and time, in order to book at one of the local hospitals.  Alternatively, you could book an appointment for a blood test at Bridge Cottage Surgery, although the wait may be longer.

What information do I need to book my appointment?

You will need your:

✓ NHS number

✓ Name

✓ Postcode

✓ Date of birth

What if I cannot book online?

Please call the Surgery on 01438 715044 and we can book the appointment for you at the local hospital if you are unable to access the online booking system.

Please see our latest Newsletter which is produced with the assistance of our PPG (Patient Participation Group)

Bridge Cottage Newsletter Dec 2023

Bridge Cottage Newsletter June 2023

The NHS and Department of Health and Social Care have recently published their delivery plan for recovering access to Primary Care. This builds on work we are already doing but further sets out how the NHS will make it easier and more convenient for patients to get the help they need from primary care services. Primary Care is more than just General Practice, so we are working with other local health organisations on this.

It will take time to safely make all the changes in the plan and we ask you to support as we continue on our journey of improvement.

As always, we are committed to providing the very best care that we can within our given resources. Unfortunately, the demand on our services frequently exceeds the available capacity we have in our practice. Supporting us to do this is helpful, such as using online services where you can. Also, it is important to note that if you contact us via the phone you will be triaged by our practice front line reception team in order for you to be seen by the most appropriate profession within the GP practice.

For further information on the national plan visit the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB website, they are the organisation responsible for commissioning local health services. https://hertsandwestessex.icb.nhs.uk/news/article/82/primary-care-access-recovery-plan-what-it-means-for-you

To ensure that we hold accurate and up to date information about our patients, we may be asking you to complete some health questionnaires. These may be sent out via SMS (text) message, email or in the post. These questionnaires are also available on the SystmOnline portal using your log in. If you do not have access to SystmOnline, this can be set up at reception for you.

We appreciate your cooperation with these matters.

Dear Patients,

There has been a lot of talk in the media lately regarding data sharing by GP Practice’s we would like to reassure you that we would never sell your data or release it to parties outside of the NHS without your consent.

Please find the below links which will give you information on how the NHS stores and uses your data.

https://youtu.be/YLi9gh7RyLA

National data opt-out - NHS Digital

If after watching the video and reading the information, you would still like to opt out of the data sharing please use the below link to complete your information or the telephone number for NHS Digital Contact Centre

You can make or change a choice for:

• Yourself
• Children under the age of 13
• Someone you can legally make decision for

Make your choice about sharing data from your health records - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

NHS Digital Contact Centre phone number 0300 303 5678

Your choice will be entered into your records by NHS Digital and they will inform us of the choice, there is no need for you to contact your practice regarding this.

Type 1 Opt Out

In addition to the National Data Opt-Out, the existing ‘Type 1’ opt-outs will continue to be respected until Department of Health and Social Care conducts a consultation with the National Data Guardian on their removal. Therefore, until further notice, if you inform the practice, or  have previously informed the practice that you dissent from the sharing your confidential data for purposes beyond your direct care (Type 1), your data will not be shared outside of the practice without your expressed permission, unless these is an overriding legal obligation to do so.

Data being used or shared for purposes beyond individual care does not include your data being shared with insurance companies or used for marketing purposes and data would only be used in this way with your explicit consent.

Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using the Tier 1 or the National Data Opt-out

If you would like to opt out please complete the form below (which will open as a word document) and return to the Surgery and we will update your record. 

Type 1 Opt-Out Form