We respect your choice to access care privately. To help you understand how this works alongside your NHS care at our practice, please read the following:

1.      Prescriptions

• Any new medication recommended by a private consultant must be issued privately in the first instance.
• The practice can only consider ongoing prescribing if:

Ø  The medicine is listed on the Bucks Formulary, and

Ø  An NHS secondary care provider (hospital specialist) initiates a formal shared care agreement.

• We cannot accept shared care arrangements from private consultants, in line with BMA guidance.
• If these conditions are not met, prescriptions must continue to be obtained privately.

2. Investigations and Referrals

·         Any tests, scans, or referrals requested by your private consultant should be arranged privately.

·         The NHS practice will only arrange investigations or onward referrals if they are clinically indicated and fit within NHS referral pathways.

3. Follow-up and Monitoring

·         Ongoing monitoring, blood tests, and follow-up remain the responsibility of the private consultant, unless care is formally transferred into the NHS through appropriate channels.

·         If a consultant wishes to transfer care back into the NHS, they must make the referral directly to the relevant NHS service. This cannot be arranged via primary care.

4. NHS vs. Private Care Pathways

• Choosing to see a private consultant does not create an automatic link back into NHS services.
• NHS care remains available to you, but only within established NHS pathways, policies, and formularies.

If you have questions about prescriptions or treatment plans, please raise these directly with your private consultant.

👩‍⚕️ Annual Health Checks
If you have a learning disability and are aged 14 or over, you are entitled to a free annual health check at your GP surgery. This is an important step in staying well.

💻 Learning Disability (LD) Digital Flag
We use a digital flag to help staff know about your needs and to make reasonable adjustments so your care is right for you.

🤝 Carers – Please Register
If you care for someone with a learning disability, let us know and register as a carer. This helps us link you to the person you support.

📖 Easy Read Information
You can ask for health information in easy read formats, which make it clearer and easier to understand.

👉 Please speak to our team for more details. We’re here to help.

The UK government will be carrying out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7th September at 3pm.

Compatible mobile phones and tablets will receive an alert, make a loud siren-like sound and vibrate. Find out more at gov.uk/alerts

The Emergency Alerts system is used to warn if there’s a danger to life nearby, including extreme weather. Regular testing ensures the system is functioning correctly, should it need to be used in a life-threatening emergency.

Whilst these alerts aim to protect the public in emergencies, they could put victim-survivors of domestic abuse at risk - especially those who rely on hidden phones as part of their safety plan.

Where possible, please let survivors know they can opt out of this test. Find information on how to disable alerts for safety reasons at Opting out of emergency alerts

You can also learn about how to prepare for an emergency at gov.uk/prepare

The local NHS is urging patients to carry out simple tasks to help reduce medicines waste. These include checking how much prescription medication you have at home before ordering more and checking the expiry date on your medicines.

You can also get advice from a pharmacist around prescription medicines. From September, patients can join a Digital Café across Bucks, Oxon and Berks West for support and advice on using the NHS App to order your prescription medication – for details on times and locations of these Digital Cafés see here.

For further tips and advice visit the StayWellBOB website which includes five short videos on how to reduce medicines waste.

📌 What Are Reasonable Adjustments?

Reasonable adjustments might include:

- Providing information in large print or Braille

- Offering longer or quieter appointments

- Ensuring access to British Sign Language interpreters

- Making changes to the physical environment

- Using specific communication methods

These changes can make a real difference to your experience and wellbeing.

🧾 What Is the Reasonable Adjustment Flag?

The Reasonable Adjustment Flag is a national record held on the NHS Spine. It allows health and care professionals to:

- Record your needs and adjustments

- Share this information across NHS services

- Ensure your requirements are considered wherever you receive care

This helps reduce stress and ensures you receive the right support from the start.

📣 What You Need to Do

If you think you may benefit from reasonable adjustments:

- Please let us know by via https://forms.office.com/e/Bb3zZfjhc6?origin=lprLink

- We will work with you to record your needs and update your NHS record

- You can also update us at any time if your needs change

Your information will be shared securely and only for the purpose of providing direct care.

🤝 We’re Here to Help

Whether it’s a physical, sensory, mental health, or learning disability, we want to make sure your care works for you. By updating us, you help us deliver the best possible service.

For more information, visit the [NHS Reasonable Adjustment Flag service](https:// digital.nhs.uk/services/reasonable-adjustment-flag).

Meet the Activators! Your child’s new favourite fitness friends.

Joe Wicks is getting kids active this summer with 5-minute ‘Activate’ workouts alongside his new animated friends, the Activators. Green, Red, Pink, Blue, Yellow and Turquoise are making movement feel personal, playful and inclusive. 🤸🏃

Head to The Body Coach YouTube channel to work out to Activate for free.

Whether it’s urgent or routine, help is available:

✅ Urgent dental need? Call NHS 111
✅ Routine check-up? You may be eligible for the Flexible Commissioning Scheme – especially if you haven’t seen a dentist in 2+ years, are new to the area, pregnant, or have additional support needs.

📲 Find out more and check your eligibility at: bobicb.com/findadentist

Have your say on the future of respiratory health.

The HERON Project is working to identify key unmet needs in respiratory care and explore how innovative technology could better support patients, carers, vulnerable groups, and healthcare professionals.

We invite you to take part in a short survey (approximately 15 minutes) to share your views and experiences.

🔗 Click here for more information and to complete the survey

Your input could help shape the future of respiratory care. Thank you for your support.

If you are 16 or over, you can see new information added to your GP health record. This includes: 

• allergies 

• medicines 

• vaccinations 

• consultations and events 

• test results 

Download the NHS App or find the same services on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/nhs-app

You can order your repeat prescriptions at any time in the NHS App, without joining a telephone queue or waiting until your GP surgery opens. 

You can also easily choose where your prescriptions are sent by changing your nominated pharmacy to wherever suits you.  

Download the NHS App or find the same service on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/nhs-app 

In line with national requirements, Buckinghamshire Council monitors the oral health of children across the county every year to identify needs.

The council is asking for your support to encourage parents/guardians of children in Reception and Year 6 only to spend a few minutes completing the anonymous online survey. The closing date for responses is Thursday 31 July 2025.

Did you know you can view test results in the NHS App?

The NHS App is a simple way to see recent test results that have been added to your online GP health record, without having to phone the GP practice.

Download the NHS App or find the same services on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/nhs-app

Proxy access allows an individual other than the patient to access and manage the patient’s online health account.

This is commonly used by parents or carers acting on behalf of children or vulnerable adults.

If you wish to request proxy access, please visit the Practice in person to complete the necessary forms and bring appropriate identification.
For parents, proof of parental responsibility is required – such as a birth certificate showing the parent’s name or official adoption documents.

Please be aware that if you are calling or visiting in person for an appointment with a doctor, our receptionists will ask for the reason for your appointment. This information is crucial to ensure that we provide the right care at the right time.

Your cooperation helps us to prioritise and manage appointments effectively.

Thank you for your understanding.

Quick and Convenient Care

The Pharmacy First scheme, introduced by the UK Government and NHS England on 31 January 2024, provides patients with faster access to treatment while helping to reduce pressure on GP services.

Under this initiative, patients can receive treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy—without needing a GP appointment or prescription.

Conditions Treated Through Pharmacy First:

✔ Sinusitis
✔ Sore throat
✔ Earache
✔ Infected insect bite
✔ Impetigo
✔ Shingles
✔ Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women

Patients can access this service by visiting a participating pharmacy in person or booking online. GP practices, NHS 111, and urgent care providers may also direct patients to a pharmacy offering this service.

For further details, click here..

You may request a suitably trained chaperone for any procedure, test or examination.

Friends and family are not permitted to act as chaperones.

Please note: Both male and female clinical team members work within the practice, if you have a preference, please ensure you discuss this when you book appointment.

For more information, please speak to reception.

For parents/carers

Health Visiting telephone number: 01296 838000

Website: https://healthforunder5s.co.uk

Buckinghamshire Healthcare run webinars on introducing solids and starting toilet training, preparation for parenthood groups and regular breastfeeding support.

Information and booking details for all events can be found on the  Health for Under 5s website: https://healthforunder5s.co.uk/buckinghamshire/local-advice-and-events

All samples being sent to the Laboratory need to be brought to the Surgery before 11:00 am ready for collection.

Any samples brought after that time may need to be repeated.