Our Practice is now a member of The Grand Union Primary Care Network.

Bridgewater Surgeries, New Road Surgery, Garston Medical Centre and Baldwins Lane Surgery are working together as a group to improve patient care and offer a wider range of services to our community over the coming five years.

Our aims are: 

• To work together in order to deliver high quality health care to the patients registered with each of the practices,
• To provide the new ways of delivering healthcare recommended by NHS England,
• To develop a mixed workforce of suitably qualified staff to provide healthcare,
• To listen to the views of our patient population in order to provide the most appropriate access to our services,
• To work together to ensure we provide good care for patients while maintaining the independence and individuality of each practice.

We have started this journey by employing a Clinical Pharmacist to work across the practices.  Other healthcare professionals will follow as the services we offer expand. These may include paramedics, physiotherapists, physicians’ assistants, mental health workers, and social prescribing link workers.

The practices have a history of working together already and we currently provide:   

• Falls clinics and education sessions for frail patients,
• A sore throat assessment service in conjunction with local pharmacies,
• Wellbeing education sessions for those at greater risk of heart disease.

We look forward to even more services as The Grand Union develops. If you would like some more information about Primary Care Networks, please click here,

or watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W19DtEsc8Ys

DATA PROTECTION – GDPR

During the course of our work we may share your information with these Practices and health care organisations/professionals. We will only share this information where it relates to your direct healthcare needs. When we do this, we will always ensure that appropriate agreements are in place to protect your information and keep it safe and secure. This is also what the Law requires us to do. If you would like to see the information the PCN holds about you, please contact your Practice Data Protection Officer.

Any other queries about The Grand Union can be directed to your surgery’s Practice Manager.

HVCCG Patient Choice Policy Statement

Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is committed to ensuring patients can exercise choice of service provider in accordance with their rights set outlined in the NHS Constitution.

We will work with referrers, including GPs, to ensure they are aware of patients’ right to choose and that the appropriate information is available to inform this choice which will depend on local commissioning arrangements.

Services provided in the community rather than in hospital

We commission a number of services that deliver care for patients in the community rather than in a hospital, in keeping with our aim to provide care for people closer to home.  Examples of locally provided community services are:

• Musculoskeletal conditions (orthopaedic, rheumatology and pain management)
• Gynaecology
• Diabetes
• Ophthalmology
• Vasectomy
• Respiratory
• Ear Nose and Throat
• Dermatology (for patients living in Dacorum and Watford & Three Rivers)
• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Services currently delivered by Hertfordshire Community Trust such as adult bladder and bowel care, adult occupational therapy service, community cardiology, leg ulcer care, podiatry to name a few.

The above list is not exhaustive and could be amended and updated as other community services are developed.

Choice does not apply where a community service is available. You will be referred to a specific provider for the service in question and you will not generally be able to choose to access services from another provider, unless there are special arrangements in place to support this. If a hospital appointment is required then the community service will offer a choice of hospital providers

As set out in the NHS Constitution you have some other choices concerning your care and treatment as a patient, these include:

• The right to choose your GP practice, and to be accepted by that practice unless there are reasonable grounds to refuse, in which case you will be informed of these reasons;

• The right to express a preference for seeing a particular doctor or nurse within your GP practice, and for practice to make every effort to comply.

• If you need to go to a hospital to see a specialist, you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to.   This is a legal right for most patients so you can choose any hospital which offers suitable treatment and meets NHS standards and costs. Your GP will help with choose and you can take information away with you to decide.

• If you need to see a consultant you can ask to be referred to a different hospital if you have to wait more than 18 weeks before starting treatment or two weeks before seeing a specialist for suspected cancer. 

You can read more about your choices within the NHS here.

Further Links:

The NHS Choices website helps patients in this area by providing tools and information. The resources include:

• Health A-Z. Use the Health A-Z to see the common treatment options for particular conditions and find links to specialist charities and patient groups in each area.

• Medicines. NHS Choices information and guidance on medicines.

• Hospital locator. Tool which allows all NHS hospitals to be searched according to location, consultant, surgical procedures and department.

• NHS e-referral service. The online service that allows you to book your own hospital appointments.

• Easy Read leaflets:

• Digital slides for GP surgeries Choice materials:

• NHS Choices:  Patient choice: about the NHS
   

These are not the only choices you can make. There are choices in your lifestyle, decisions about your treatment, and even the way in which you interact with doctors and other health professionals that can all affect your health.

A free service connecting you to local services to improve your physical and mental well being

To discuss a referral to the Social Prescribing service, speak to the staff at your GP Practice Or contact HertsHelp on: 0300 123 4044.

Click here for more information about Social Prescribers

What is social prescribing?

The aim of social prescribing is to look at ‘what matters to the individual’ . In doing so it takes a holistic approach to both an individual’s health and wellbeing. It strives to give individuals more control over their lives and what things are affecting their wellbeing. It is not always the case that a prescription for ‘medication’ or what is viewed as traditional treatments will help to make an individual feel better in themselves but instead, social prescribing may be the answer.

What kind of things can social prescribing help with?

The Social Prescriber Link Worker can help to link you up with various community services, both statutory and voluntary who specialise in areas such as: > Isolation and befriending > Housing queries > Financial and benefit difficulties > Getting more active and helping to pursue physical activities in which you may like to join > Further education, training or skills development > Support with completion of forms > Support for mental wellbeing > Establish links to local community—based support

An excellent source of health information – especially the extensive list of information leaflets which are arranged alphabetically. Worth exploring. Click on this link: http://www.patient.co.uk/

For more information on stopping smoking click here

Register for Hertfordshire’s Stop Smoking Service

 at http://www.smokefreehertfordshire.nhs.uk/

• • Phone number: 0800 389 3998
  • Text “QUIT” to 07800 001 337 (and they will call you back)

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get on to a course? Depending on your choice of venue it could be anything from one day to a couple of weeks.

Will I have to quit straight away? No. Depending on your choice of treatment it will generally be a week or two before you quit, but you can decide when your quit date will be and it can be on the day you first see an adviser.

Do I need to prepare anything before my quit attempt? No. Some people find it useful to make some simple changes to their routine – like only smoking outside. Telling family and friends what you are planning to do is a good way of getting support and encouragement too.

Will I receive anything to help with my quit attempt? You will receive up to 12 weeks worth of Nicotine Replacement Therapy on prescription. If you decide to use one of the prescription only medicines, we will provide you with a letter for your GP to prescribe them for you. All of the support and advice that you will receive will be absolutely free.

How long do I need to attend for? Once a week for at least 5 weeks – but you can have telephone appointments instead of attending the clinic if that’s more convenient.

What’s the success rate? Our success rate is generally above 50%.

Can I go with a friend? Quitting together with friends or partners gives you that extra support and is a very good idea.

Is it like an AA meeting? No. The courses are informal, friendly and supportive.

If I had a slip up and had a cigarette, would that mean I wouldn’t be able to attend the course anymore? Of course not. Lots of people have several attempts before they successfully quit. We would say it’s completely normal, it’s happened but we shall draw a line under it and start a fresh.

What happens if I don’t quit after the course? We would advise you to come back and try again when you feel ready.

What happens after the course? Do I get anymore support? You can usually have an appointment after the course has finished, but you may want to call your adviser instead.

Will NRT affect any medication I am already on? Nicotine Replacement Therapy shouldn’t affect any other medications. Some medications are affected just by quitting smoking. Your adviser will be able to discuss this with you. Take along a list of your medications to your first appointment.

How long should I take NRT for? You should use Nicotine Replacement Therapy for up to 12 weeks. Occasionally people use it for longer – but this is unusual and you can buy it from any pharmacy.

What happens if I miss a session? Will I have to start again? No you won’t need to start again, just phone us to let us know if you can’t make it. You can come along to the next session. If you need any advice or another prescription just call us on 0800 389 3 998 and someone in the office will be able to help.

How much will it cost for me to join? Our service is completely free, the courses and all the advice and support are free. The only cost will be a prescription charge for the products that you choose. If you do not normally pay for your prescriptions then you won’t need to pay for any stop smoking treatments either.

What happens after the course? Do I get anymore support? Should you feel like you need extra support, you can book another appointment to see your stop smoking advisor, or you can call the helpline on 0800 389 3 998 with any questions you may have.

Your Data Matters to the NHS

Information about your health and care helps us to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments. The NHS is committed to keeping patient information safe and always being clear about how it is used.

How your data is used

Information about your individual care such as treatment and diagnoses is collected about you whenever you use health and care services. It is also used to help us and other organisations for research and planning such as research into new treatments, deciding where to put GP clinics and planning for the number of doctors and nurses in your local hospital.  It is only used in this way when there is a clear legal basis to use the information to help improve health and care for you, your family and future generations.

Wherever possible we try to use data that does not identify you, but sometimes it is necessary to use your confidential patient information.

You have a choice

You do not need to do anything if you are happy about how your information is used. If you do not want your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you can choose to opt out securely online or through a telephone service. You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

Will choosing this opt-out affect your care and treatment?

No, choosing to opt out will not affect how information is used to support your care and treatment. You will still be invited for screening services, such as screenings for bowel cancer.

What do you need to do?

If you are happy for your confidential patient information to be used for research and planning, you do not need to do anything.

To find out more about the benefits of data sharing, how data is protected, or to make/change your opt-out choice visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters

Download a copy of the patient leaflet

This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information about this see the General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19).

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25th May 2018. It focuses on the privacy and protection of personal data and legal grounds for processing data.

For further information please see

New Road Surgery Patient Privacy Notice

COVID-19 Supplementary Privacy Notice

New Road Surgery Childrens GDPR Notice

National Data Opt-out Service

The national data opt-out is a new service that allows people to opt out of their confidential patient information being used for research and planning.

You can find out more and set your opt-out choice at nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.

How the NHS and care services use your information

New Road Surgery is one of many organisations working in the health and care system to improve care for patients and the public. 

Whenever you use a health or care service, such as attending Accident & Emergency or using Community Care services, important information about you is collected in a patient record for that service. Collecting this information helps to ensure you get the best possible care and treatment.

The information collected about you when you use these services can also be used and provided to other organisations for purposes beyond your individual care, for instance to help with:

• improving the quality and standards of care provided
• research into the development of new treatments
• preventing illness and diseases
• monitoring safety
• planning services

This may only take place when there is a clear legal basis to use this information. All these uses help to provide better health and care for you, your family and future generations. Confidential patient information about your health and care is only used like this where allowed by law.

Most of the time, anonymised data is used for research and planning so that you cannot be identified in which case your confidential patient information isn’t needed.

You have a choice about whether you want your confidential patient information to be used in this way. If you are happy with this use of information you do not need to do anything. If you do choose to opt out your confidential patient information will still be used to support your individual care.

To find out more or to register your choice to opt out, please visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters.  On this web page you will:

• See what is meant by confidential patient information
• Find examples of when confidential patient information is used for individual care and examples of when it is used for purposes beyond individual care
• Find out more about the benefits of sharing data
• Understand more about who uses the data
• Find out how your data is protected
• Be able to access the system to view, set or change your opt-out setting
• Find the contact telephone number if you want to know any more or to set/change your opt-out by phone
• See the situations where the opt-out will not apply 

You can also find out more about how patient information is used at:

https://www.hra.nhs.uk/ (which covers health and care research); and

https://understandingpatientdata.org.uk/what-you-need-know (which covers how and why patient information is used, the safeguards and how decisions are made)

You can change your mind about your choice at any time.

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 specific agreement.

Health organisations have until 31st September 2021 to put systems and processes in place to ensure they can be compliant with the national data opt-out and apply your choice to any confidential patient information that they use or share beyond your individual care. New Road Surgery is working to ensure it will be compliant with the national data opt-out policy. 

For more information about this see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research.

Concerned about your information being shared?  What you need to know.

Patient data from GP medical records kept by GP practices in England is used respectfully, securely and safely every day to improve health, care and services through planning and research, helping to find better treatments and improve patient care.  Data collected by the NHS is only used for health and care purposes. It is never shared with marketing or insurance companies.

The NHS is planning to introduce an improved way for GP practices to share information about patients- called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection.  News of these plans has caused some concern to some of our patients, who have decided that they don’t want their data to be involved.

We have now been informed that no data will be shared in this new way until 1 September this year.  This delay is to enable the national organisation NHS digital to clearly explain their plans to the public and health professionals, as well as to thoroughly investigate any concerns that have been raised.

If you have already been in touch with the practice to ask to be ‘opted out’ of your identifiable information being shared outside of our practice for any purpose, your request will be honoured.  This will not affect your own care. However, nobody’s data will be shared in this new way before 1 September.  If you would like to find out more about why the NHS collects and uses data, please go to this website.

My Care Record

My Care Record allows health and care professionals working directly with you to access your medical and social care information.

Patient information and care records are usually made available through traditional methods such as secure post, fax or email. This can be slow and, at times, unreliable, and possibly prolong diagnosis and treatment.

My Care Record is accessed via secure but different health and care computer systems from different partner organisations. The information is requested from the original system and relayed to the health or care professional treating you.

By making your information available across the health and care system, your GP practice, hospital team or community nurse will be able to see the most up-to-date, accurate information about you.

This will lead to:

•       Better co-ordinated and seamless care
•          Quicker diagnosis and treatment
•           More time to spend on clinical care
•           Less paperwork and less repetition
•          Fewer unnecessary clinical tests
•          More accurate prescriptions
•          Safe and secure decision-making

My Care Record will only be used by professionals involved in your care. The Government or external organisations such as insurance companies will not have access to your information via My Care Record.

My Care Record has been reviewed in line with legislation, including General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Full details on how My Care Record manage your information is available on their website www.mycarerecord.org.uk

Please visit www.mycarerecord.org.uk for more information including details of where My Care Record is in operation, the organisations taking part and answers to frequently asked questions.

My Care Record enables health and care professionals to access information about you to improve your care.

Providing you with:

• Better co-ordinated and seamless care

• Quicker diagnosis and treatment

• Less paperwork and less repetition

• Fewer unnecessary clinical tests

•  More accurate prescriptions

• More time to spend on clinical care

• Better health and care planning

My Care Record is an approach to improving care by joining up health and care information in our region. Wherever possible, health and care professionals will be able to access your records from other services when it is needed for your care.

For example, a doctor treating you in hospital or a nurse working in the community could view the information they need from your GP record. Certain information – that doesn’t identify you – will also be used to help improve services and plan for the future.

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record. 

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website

What is an NHS Health Check?

NHS Health checks leaflet

The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40-74. It’s designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.

How do I get an NHS Health Check?

If you’re in the 40-74 age group without a pre-existing condition, you can expect to receive a letter from your GP or local authority inviting you for a free NHS Health Check every five years. In the meantime, there are other ways of getting your health checked, and you may want to try this online Heart Age test.

How can I improve my test results?

Once you’ve had your NHS Health Check, your healthcare professional will discuss your results with you. You’ll be given advice to help you lower your risk of a stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes or dementia, and maintain or improve your health. But you don’t have to wait until then to make healthy changes. Take the How Are You quiz and start now with these health apps and trackers. 

Getting the flu vaccine is an important part of staying well this winter. If we’ve invited you to a flu clinic, or to make an appointment for the flu jab, it’s because you will benefit from it. Please come along and get vaccinated.

We have taken extra steps this year to make sure that you can get the flu vaccine without risking catching Covid-19. We have a one-way system in place, and staff will be in masks and other forms of PPE. We ask that you take steps to keep yourself and others safe by wearing a mask if you can, using hand sanitiser and keeping distant from others waiting for the flu vaccine.

If you have or think you might have Covid, or have been told to isolate/quarantine please don’t come to the flu clinic. Let us know and we’ll find another time to give your flu vaccine. Symptoms of Covid-19 are a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a change in or loss of your sense of taste or smell.

We are working hard to ensure that you can get your flu vaccine safely – you have nothing to worry about by attending the practice or one of our flu clinics. We want you to know that you are as safe as possible while at one of our clinics or buildings. Come and get your flu vaccine, and help us to help you stay well this winter.

Childrens flu – for those at risk

We are starting our childrens flu programme for 2-3 year olds and under 18s at risk. These children will be getting text or letter invitations to book an appointment.

If your child is in Reception to Year 7 they are eligible for the schools flu vaccination programme and will receive their nasal flu via their school. If you have any queries or concerns about the schools vaccination programme, please talk to the schools flu team on 0333 800 5100.

Before attending your child’s nasal flu immunisation appointment you will need to complete a consent form. This must be done before you go into the clinical room.

Please read the information about the flu nasal spray Protecting your child against flu

Adults flu – for those at risk or 65 and over.

We are continuing to provide flu vaccinations to over 65s, under 65s with certain long-term medical conditions, pregnant women and young children. If you are in one of these eligible groups and have not yet had your flu vaccine please contact the practice as soon as possible to book an appointment.

To ensure patient and staff safety we are running our Saturday flu clinics differently this year. Instead of giving you an appointment with a named clinician we will be booking you into a queue slot. Please come to the surgery at your queue slot time and we will then ask you to wait in a socially distanced queue to check in before then moving into the surgery building for your vaccination. This will be a one way system and you will exit by a different door.

Please read all the signs that will direct you about where you should go and provide you with additional information.

Please wear loose clothing so that you can remove outer layers and/or roll up sleeves for your vaccination.

Please be advised that due to the need to allow for queueing in the car parks, parking will be extremely limited and only available for disabled patients.

Anyone with disabilities or extreme frailty, who may have problems queueing, should let us know as soon as you arrive so that we can fast track you.

we would kindly ask all patients to be considerate of the fact that we may fast track patients ahead of those in the queue. Not all disabilities are visible and so you may not know the reason why we have fast tracked someone.

Please do not attend if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.

Please wear a face covering.

Please only attend with one parent or carer if required.

Please use hand gel before entering the building.

This is a flu and pneumo vaccination appointment and the clinicians will not be able to discuss any other medical matters with you, but support staff will be on hand to help direct you and answer any queries you may have.

Adults flu – 50-64 year olds.

Following the government announcement that 50 to 64 year olds will be able receive a free flu vaccination from 1 December.

If you fall within this age group and have not yet had your flu vaccination contact the practice as soon as possible to book an appointment.

NHSE Briefing for patients on flu eligibility

NHSE flu eligibility poster

Accessible Information

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. 

This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required. 

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America & Antarctica
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible  – at least 6 weeks before you travel – as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations.  These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine.  Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge.  This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Increasingly the nursing team are seeing patients with a range of minor illnesses (although we know they’re not minor when you’re suffering from them) This frees the doctors to deal with patients’ more complex health problems. The clinics, run by Linda, Usha and Claire, who have all undergone special training, are designed to help you with:

• Colds and Coughs
• Throat/Ear infections
• Conjunctivitis/Rashes
• Wounds/Bites/Stings
• Cystitis
• Thrush
• Diarrhoea/Vomiting
• Head lice
• Morning-after pill

When you ring to make an appointment, the receptionist will recommend you see the nurse if your problem is one of these.

The nurses will always ask one of the doctors to see you if it turns out to be necessary.

Other Services

• adult vaccinations and and travel advice – see the practice nurse
• child health surveillance – mostly provided by the health visitor team
• maternity services – the midwife’s clinic is held weekly (see above)
• influenza immunisations – every autumn for those over 65 and at risk

In addition, patients aged 16 -75 who have not been seen for 3 years, and patients aged over 75 who have not been seen in the previous 12 months, may request a consultation. (If you are unable to attend the surgery for these checks because of your medical condition a home visit may be arranged.)

All individuals with access to your data have a professional and/or contractual duty of confidentiality.

Confidential patient data will be shared within the practice health care team and with other health care professionals to whom you are referred for care. Your data may also be used by those clinical teams providing your care for the essential purpose of clinical audit. Confidential patient data may also be required for the broader purposes of public health and audit, research, the provision of health care services, teaching and training. Data disclosed will be kept to the minimum required to serve the purpose and if possible will be anonymised before disclosure.

Confidential and identifiable patient information will not otherwise be disclosed without explicit consent unless:

1. it is a matter of life and death or serious harm to you or to another individual
2. it is overwhelmingly in the public interest to do so 
3. there is a legal obligation to do so.

In all of these circumstances the minimum identifiable information that is essential to serve the purpose may be revealed to someone with a legal entitlement to access the data for that purpose. If you are concerned about any of the ways in which your confidential data are managed, further information is available from the practice manager. You are entitled to register an objection and this will be respected if possible.

You have a right to expect a high standard of medical care from our practice and we will try at all times to provide the very best care possible within the resources available. In order to assist us in this we require that you take full responsibility for ensuring that you do not abuse the service. For example, it is your responsibility to ensure that you keep medical appointments. Very occasionally, if the practice/patient relationship should break down completely, a patient may choose to register with another surgery.

The practice also has the right to remove a patient from its list. This would generally only follow a warning that had failed to remedy the situation and we would normally give the patient a specific reason for the removal.

All GP Practices are required to declare mean earnings (i.e. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to
patients at each practice.

The average pay for GPs working in the practice of New Road Surgery in the last financial year was £40,332 before
tax and National Insurance.

This is for 1 full time GP, 8 part time GPs and 2 locum GPs who worked in the practice for more than six months

The NHS operates a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we are obliged to notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and circumstances leading to it. The PCT is then responsible for providing further medical care for such patients.

New Road Surgery is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times. All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation where they feel one is required. You just have to ask.