Practice Newsletter: April 2026

 

New Referral Process (from 1 April 2026) 

The NHS has introduced a new system called Advice & Guidance (A&G) as part of the 2026 GP contract. This means your GP may now seek specialist advice digitally before referring you to hospital—and in some cases, a referral may not be needed. 

What is A&G? 

A&G allows your GP to securely contact a hospital specialist for advice by sharing symptoms, test results, and asking for guidance on next steps. The aim is to get you the right care faster and avoid unnecessary 
hospital visits. 

Why this change? 

The system helps to: 

  • Reduce waiting times 
  • Provide quicker specialist input 
  • Support more care in the community 
  • Improve communication between GPs and hospitals 

What this means for you 

  • Your GP may request specialist advice instead of referring you straight away 
  • This is not a refusal of care 
  • It often leads to faster answers than waiting for an appointment 

After review, the specialist may: 

  • Advise your GP on treatment or next steps 
  • Request further tests or information 
  • Recommend a hospital referral 

All advice is recorded in your GP record. 

Are urgent referrals affected? 

No.  Urgent cases, including suspected cancer referrals, will continue as normal. We are here to support you.  You will continue to receive safe, timely care. You will be kept informed, and you are always welcome to ask questions or raise concerns. 

 

Triage Forms for Appointments

To help us provide safe, fair, and timely care, our GP surgery uses a triage system. This means we review each request before booking an appointment, so you are directed to the right care as quickly as possible.

Triage helps us to:

  • Prioritise patients who need urgent care
  • Make sure appointments are shared fairly
  • Direct you to the right clinician or service first time
  • Use our team’s time in the best way

It also helps keep our staff safe. By using forms instead of managing large numbers of calls under pressure, our team can carefully review each request and respond more safely.

Without triage, some patients who need urgent care could face delays, while others may be booked into appointments that could be handled more quickly in a different way.

Please complete a short triage form when requesting an appointment, rather than calling the surgery. This helps us assess your needs properly and keeps our phone lines free for patients with urgent problems, those returning calls, or other important enquiries.

Once you submit the form:

  • Our clinical team will review your request
  • We will decide the best next step
  • We will contact you as soon as possible with advice, an appointment, or next steps

We understand that not everyone can complete forms online. Patients who are vulnerable, aged 75 or over, or carers will be supported by our team if they need help filling in the form.

Please be reassured

  • Every request is reviewed by a trained team member
  • Urgent cases are prioritised
  • We will get back to you as quickly as possible

We know this is a different way of working, but it helps us care for all our patients more safely and fairly.

 

Continuity of Care: Why It Matters

We want your care to feel personal and well connected. One of the best ways to do this is by seeing the same GP or clinician whenever possible.

Why this helps

  • You don’t have to repeat your story
  • Your GP knows your health history
  • Your care is more consistent and tailored to you

What you can do

  • Ask for the same doctor when submitting an online form
  • Request your usual or preferred GP when booking
  • Book follow-up appointments with the same clinician

If you need help quickly and your usual GP is not available, another member of our team will take care of you.

 

Our Recall System: Helping You Stay Well

We invite you for regular health checks to help keep you well—especially if you have a long-term condition like diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure.

What it is

We’ll contact you (by text, phone, or letter) when it’s time for your check-up—usually once a year.

Why it matters

  • Keeps your health on track
  • Checks your medication is working
  • Helps spot problems early
  • Keeps your care up to date
  • Allows us to prescribe medication safely

What you need to do

Please book your appointment as soon as you’re invited. This helps avoid delays and ensures we can continue prescribing your medication safely.

Good to know

Some reviews happen in steps (e.g. a blood test, then a follow-up). We’ll tell you what to do.

Your health matters. Booking your review is a simple step to stay well.

 

Welcome to Our New Doctor

We’re pleased to welcome Dr Robert Smith, an FY2 doctor who has joined us for a rotation this month. He will be with us for the next 4 months.

 

Carers’ Coffee Morning

The next Carers’ Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 11 April at 11am, and we warmly encourage you to come along. This is an opportunity to share your experiences, connect with other carers, and receive helpful information in a friendly setting. The group is self-run.

 

Facts and figures

Here’s a quick look at what we achieved together in December:

Your calls

  • Incoming Calls: 2048
  • Answered: 1949 (95.2%)

Your requests

Total Requests: 4051

  • Via NHS App: 423
  • Care Navigators: 603
  • Online: 3025

Average: 311 per 1,000 patients (National average: 146 and Regional average: 175)

Appointments and services

  • Telephone Appointments: 698
  • GP Appointments Offered: 2828
  • Blood Tests: 506
  • Prescriptions Issued: 3278
  • Home Visits: 73

Your feedback

  • Friends & Family Test: 92.8% of patients rated services as Very Good or Good.
 

Practice Closure

  • Staff training: Wednesday 15 April from 12:30pm, reopening Thursday 16 April at 8am - For urgent medical help when closed, call SELDOC: 07483 155 397
  • Bank holidays:Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April For emergencies, call 111

Published: Apr 8, 2026