eConsult
We now use eConsult to access services at the surgery
Getting help from Devon Road Surgery
Feel unwell, or have a request for the practice?
- If you phone the surgery, the Patient Navigator* will input the information in to eConuslt.
- If you eConsult yourself, you will input your own information.
A GP will then assess your needs and clinical priority. The practice will contact you with the right care plan in order of priority.
- Appointment
- Treatment plan
- Diagnostic tests
- Other
*The person who answers your call will be your Patient Navigator who will ask for information about your situation and will input the information in to the eConsult system. A doctor will assess the information and the practice will get back to you, same day where needed but within two working otherwise, with the right care plan for you.
Devon Road Surgery introduces eConsult
When you call your practice, the first challenge is getting through the on hold queue! Once you get through the receptionist will often ask for information about your needs and symptoms. This leads to a first come first served situation for appointments rather than a priority need based approach.
eConsult, is an online consultation tool which is available to you. This means you can make your request and directly input the information required, without having to telephone the surgery, thus avoiding the phone queue.
The information you provide online allows your practice to advise you which healthcare professional is best placed to suit your needs (the doctor, nurse of another health care professional), and how quickly you need their help.
You can do it yourself online. You do not need to phone the surgery to make your request.
The great thing about online consultations is that it provides your GP surgery with very detailed information about what symptoms you have and the effect they are having on you. They can then decide, base on the Clinician best placed to support you, your symptoms, and the needs of other patients, how best to help all of you.
But if you cannot use eConsult you can still phone the surgery, your call will be answered by your ‘Patient Navigator’, who will input the information into the online eConsult system, this enables the practice to assess and prioritise patients’ needs and make an appropriate response based on needs and not first come first served.
This service will be available from 8.00am to 11.00am, Monday to Friday. Get started with online consultations today.
What happens after an online consultation?
After you complete an online consultation, the practice will get back to you, same day where needed but within two working days otherwise, with the right care for you.
Is my information safe?
eConsult is a data processor and fully compliant with data protection legislation, It collects patient information and then passes it onto the practice in a format that makes it easy for the practice to read. Having passed it to the practice it deletes any identifiable patient information.
Please note: you can still call us [as before] to book practice nurse or health care assistant appointments.
Need urgent medical help?
Stop - stay calm, assess the situation
Think - What advice or treament do you need?
Choose - Choose where to get the right help quickly
Visit www.stopthinkchoose.co.uk
What to do when the Practice is closed
Please use NHS 111 if you need medical help
The NHS 111 team has trained advisers, nurses and doctors available at all times. They can help over the phone and advise you where to go if you need to see someone. Don’t waste time going to the wrong place – phone NHS 111 or go online: 111.nhs.uk
Unacceptable Abuse of NHS Staff
Kent & Medway Clinical Commissioning Group are saddened by the rising reports both from primary care and other local services about the rising levels of abuse teams are getting. It is not acceptable and we are exploring what can be done to address it.
A public message from the CCG has been published as the first part of planning a wider campaign to challenge unacceptable behaviour towards NHS teams. You can see this first message at: www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/nhs-staff-deserve-respect
There have been many instances of patients' interactions with staff being a cause for concern because of the manner towards the staff.
We felt it would be beneficial to update you on some of the changes in the way in we provide services to our patients which will hopefully explain some of the frustrations you have experienced.