Patient Participation Group Newsletter

Building Extension

The surgery is currently expanding the building by adding 6 consultation rooms and one admin room. The purpose of this is to create more space for the current team to work safely and sustainably. Stovell House is a training practice for Junior Doctors specialising in General Practice so sometimes every room is filled with no room for movement! The extension should be ready by end of April.

NHS App

Log in to view your health information and manage your healthcare online

Currently 50% of the practice population is registered to use the NHS app. The NHS app is our preferred way for patients to contact us to book an appointment; view medical records including test results and request repeat prescriptions. It is currently only possible to book GP appointments on the app, as there are too many variables with other clinician appointments in terms of length of appointment. It is better to download it on a smartphone, but you can also access it on our website.

Hospital and Secondary Services

Most hospitals have an online service. You will be given information about this and how to register by the clinical team involved in your care.

Online Consultations and Accurx System

To contact the surgery click on ‘online consultation’ on the home page which uses the Accurx system and is in text format. This opens a new window, where you can select options relating to your query including both clinical and administration queries. On the next screen you can draft and send your message. We use this system as it saves all communications into the patient record.

It is available 24/7 and we will respond to you within 2 working days. Accurx enables NHS based GP practices to offer online consultations to their patients. This allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests to their own GP electronically and offers around the clock NHS self help information, signposting to services and a symptom checker. Should we need to have an electronic conversation with you the practice will send you a link to use. Please also use this system to send documents, photos etc.

Appointment system

Appointments can be booked online, in person or by phone. Our appointment book availability is 6 months in advance. For same day appointments we ask that you call at 8am or 3pm. We will ask what the appointment is for so we can triage you to the most appropriate clinician as you may not need to see a GP.

Pharmacy First

You can also consult the Pharmacist for some minor conditions as follows:

• Sore Throat: Ages 5+
• Earache (Acute Otitis Media): Ages 1-17 years
• Sinusitis (Acute): Ages 12+
• Shingles: Ages 18+
• Impetigo: Ages 1+
• Infected Insect Bite: Ages 1+
• Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Women aged 16-64 years

Patient participation Group (PPG)

We would welcome more patients to join the PPG . Being on the PPG gives you opportunities as follows:

• Have a say in how the GP practice works
• Help improve patient services
• Stay informed about changes and updates
• Support community health activities
• Share experiences with other patients

If you would like to join please complete our online form

GP Hubs

If you need to see a GP urgently and cannot get an appointment at Stovell House, if you contact 111 they can book you an appointment at one of the local GP Hubs below.

Purley

Purley War Memorial Hospital,
856 Brighton Road, CR8 2YL

Parkway

Parkway Health Centre,
Parkway, New Addington, CR0 0JA

Primary Care Networks (PCNs)

All practices are in PCNs.

Stovell House is part of GPNET5 which comprises of:

• Stovell House Surgery
• Birdhurst Medical Practice
• Violet lane Medical Practice 0208 688 0333
• Haling Park Medical Practice
• Friends Road Medical Practice.

Between us we have 38K patients (Stovell House has 8333) and we currently provide an Extended Access Service through the PCN. As part of the PCN Extended Access Service Stovell House provides GP appointments until 8pm on Mondays and Fridays and we have First Contact Physios and Nurse appointments at Violet Lane on Saturdays, GP appointments until 8pm on a Monday and a Friday and we have extra First Contact Physio and Nurse appointments at Violet Lane Medical Practice on a Saturday.

PCN Clinicians

Each PCN can employ various staff to help with patient demand. Stovell House has the following clinicians:

Clinical Pharmacist – Yemi

You can book an appointment with her to review your medication.

First Contact Physio

First Contact Physio can book appointments on a Monday and Friday; no need for GP appt first.

GP Assistant – Bayo

Supports GPs with their administration. You may receive a text from him asking you to book an appointment for your annual review. He also takes bloods.

Care Coordinator – Temi

Looks after vaccination and early cancer recalls. You may get a call from him reminding you about your mammogram or for your child to have their pre school booster.

Social Prescriber – Aarti

Helps with all your non clinical needs. You can book appointments on a Tuesday and she can help you find fitness classes, food banks etc.

New Team member

Dr Yasmin Oniyangi

We would like to welcome Dr Yasmin Oniyangi who has just qualified as a GP, who trained under Dr Sivadhas and is now providing our Extended Access Service for us. We now have 7 GPs that you can see, supported by 5 members of the Nursing Team.

Cancer Screening

All Invitations are based on GP registration, so ensuring contact details are up to date is important. Eligible patients get reminders from their GP. GPs may follow up with patients to encourage participation who do not attend or decline their appointment. If patients don’t attend screening appts cancer may only be detected later when symptoms develop, which can reduce treatment options and survival rates. You should make contact with the screening service or the surgery if you have not received an invitation by the eligible age or you wish to self refer if you are over the normal age for screening.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Helpline: 0800 707 6060

Who is eligible

Anyone aged 50 to 74 are invited for bowel cancer screening every 2 years. Eligible patients are automatically sent a home test kit (FIT kit) in the post.

What the screening involves

Patients use a simple faecal immunochemical test (FIT) at home to collect a small poo sample and return it by post in prepaid packaging. The sample is checked for tiny traces of blood.

Why patients should attend

Screening helps find bowel cancer early, often before symptoms appear. Early detection makes treatment more effective. Screening can also find polyps, which can be removed before they turn into cancer. Evidence shows people taking part in screening are less likely to die from bowel cancer.

Breast Cancer Screening

Local Breast Screening Service: 0203 758 2024

Who is eligible

All women aged 50 to 71 are invited for Breast screening every 3 years. First invitation is usually sent between ages 50 and 53.

What the screening involves

Screening involves attending a local Breast screening unit for a Mammogram. This is an imaging test carried out by trained female staff.

Why patients should attend

Around 1 in 7 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and early detection greatly improves treatment success. Screening helps detect small, early stage cancers when they are easier to treat and the chances of recovery are higher.

Cervical Cancer Screening:

Helpline: 0808 802 0019

Who is eligible

Everyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 are invited for Cervical screening every 5 years, including those who are trans or non binary. You may be invited more regularly if you have HPV. If you are older than 65 you will only be invited if a recent test was abnormal.

What the screening involves

It checks a sample of cells from your cervix for high risk types of human papilloma virus ( HPV ) which can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix. If HPV are found the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. The test is carried out at the GP surgery or you can go to a sexual health clinic.

Why patients should attend

Most people will get some type of HPV during their lives. Some high risk types of HPV can cause cervical cancer. You can get HPV from any kind of skin to skin contact of the genital area, not just from penetrative sex. In most cases your body will get rid of HPV without it causing any problems, but it can sometimes stay in your body for a long time. If high risk types of HPV stay in your body, they can cause changes to the cells in your cervix. These changes may become cervical cancer if not treated.