Dear patients,
I wanted to write to you directly to provide an update on your practice. As a GP working here, I know the team is doing everything possible to look after you. I thought it might be helpful to share some of recent progress and upcoming improvements with you.
I am pleased that over the past few months we have boosted staff numbers. We also have new telephone technology coming in to make it easier for you to get help and support.
This investment, which responds directly to feedback from you, has taken place while meeting the challenges of the pandemic and much higher numbers of calls.
Improvements at Balderton include:
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More local recruitment to boost the team including three new receptionists to arrange appointments and help the practice run smoothly.
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A new phone system will go live in early October, replacing the out-dated system and making it easier for you to get through to the practice
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More GPs on site and;
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A new healthcare assistant will be joining in October.
A mobile app called Dr. iQ app will also be available at the practice soon. Dr. iQ will allow our patients to access our NHS GP services with an added level of convenience, helping patients to register, order medication and have online consultations.
I also need to speak about abuse of our staff. Demand is high and we know you can get frustrated waiting to book appointments. However, any abuse, either in person or online, is unacceptable and we will take action to protect our staff. I know this is only a minority of patients, but it must stop. There is a real risk we will lose staff if this continues.
I hope you have found this update helpful. We will continue to develop the practice, and your feedback is really helpful in letting us know what is working well, and how we can improve.
Thank you
Dr Oke