Ask My GP starting at Priors Field from Monday 12th May

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From Monday 12th May, we will be using an online system called ‘Ask My GP’ for patients to raise their health issues here at Priors Field.

This system will bring many advantages for our patients, including but not limited to:

  • Improved access to healthcare
    We expect the portal to be open throughout the day for patients to use from 08:00 – 16:00, continuously from Monday – Friday.
  • This in turn brings its own advantages
    It eliminates the “08:00 rush” to try to get an appointment first thing in the morning as there will be access across to the system throughout the day, meaning there will be no need to be hitting redial at 07:59 or having to wait outside the surgery for us to open the doors at 08:00.
  • Clinical triage
    All requests will be reviewed and actioned by a senior member of our clinical team.
  • Speed of use
    There is the ability to communicate via messaging where appropriate, meaning many issues can be dealt with promptly via a simple message, where previously a face to face or telephone appointment may have been required.
  • Send photographs to the clinician
    The ability to attach photographs to enable clinicians to immediately review conditions.

To dispel a myth about the system

Our patients will not be ‘forced’ to use the system. We completely understand that some patients may have concerns and worries about using technology. We will still be accepting phone calls and in person queries and these will be actioned in the same manner as Ask My GP queries. Whilst we will encourage the use of Ask My GP, as it is a patient friendly and time efficient system, no patients will be penalised for not using the portal.

Change to building and phone line opening hours

As Ask My GP will be online from 08:00 every morning, from 12th May the surgery front doors will open from 08:20.

The phone lines will open from 08:00 – 08:30 for emergency cases only and they will be open for 08:30 onwards for routine calls.

Next steps

We will be arranging patient education events, with the support of our PPG, to help patients wanting to use the system, but needing some time to see how it works.

As Ask My GP will be online from 08:00 every morning, from 12th May the surgery front doors will open from 08:20. The phone lines will open from 08:00 – 08:30 for emergency cases only.