On 6th November 2025, we had a clinical meeting to discuss how we can meet capacity with demand following the imposition of the new contract changes that mean we have to keep our appointment system open from 8am till 6:30pm and all calls have to be triaged before the end of the day (midnight).
This is having a big impact on the practice with very high demand, limited capacity, the need for us to do many other things that patients (and the wider system) do not see and what solutions we can have that provide us with hope that things can and will get better.
Here are the slides from the event.
Our mission statement
There for you all your life, your good health with our support, empowering you to live well
“Did you know ?” is a video from 2008 updated in 2018 which explains the advent of the internet and how there has been an explosion of information that people have access to which has also led to big changes including the creation of new jobs and new ways of working that have happened within a few years, not even a generation. This has big opportunities but also risks as people find it hard to keep up with what is going on. People always had questions but now with google and CHATGPT etc, it is even easier now than ever to ask questions and get answers than it has ever been.
But there are problems with this approach as not everything on the internet is trustworthy and not everyody has the time or the attitude to want to learn. The quality is variable and potentially dangerous. Changing behaviours is not easy and why we as a practice can still have a role to help people.
The practice website www.htmc.co.uk is a trusted source of information that we can signpost patients to so that they may learn how to get the best from the practice. Here are some of the resources I shared and if patients are directed to these resources then they help themselves and in turn reduce pressure on the practice. Empowered patients use less resources, better quality, safety, patient experience and get better outcomes – the holy grail that we are trying to reach.
Inviting patients to access their GP electronic health records enables them to see exactly what we have agreed and what should happen, see the results of their tests and plan care for the future. Encouraging patients to download the NHS app and complete the records access and understanding safety check list questionnaire is a pre-requisite for this.
How to get the best from the practice
Here are the top 10 things people can do for themselves without needing to contact the surgery as well as the top 50 things too – common problems you can solve
Informing patients about how to order prescriptions, the use of the pill dispenser and pilltime
There is only spo much we can do to change at work and hence why it is very important to look after our own health and that of our families as well. Wacth this video which describes the benefits of walking
Come and join us on Sunday 16th November for a walk organised by West Pennine Local Medical Committee for staff and families. We are meeting in Saddleworth at 10:30am. Send an email to westpennine.lmc@nhs.net if you would like to attend
Ideas for us to streamline what we can do collectively or in surgery
- Update the AccurX templates so that there is no fixed time when they will be seen by for amber and green calls
- Ensure prescription requests are done within 2 days
- Enable HCAs to sign off patients with well-controlled CKD / AF without needing to book them in with a nurse
- Encourage patients to use NHS app where possible to save time and improve quality and safety
- Use EMIS X as our messaging system to inform staff
- Use accurX templates that link back to the practice website to help inform patients
- Use Ardens templates for chronic diseases
- Identify a lead GP for our very complex patients
- Enable clinicians to follow up patients they see rather than waiting for patient to message back
- Invite patients to join the Patient Participation Group to help us improve what we do
- Encourage all staff to come on a walk next Sunday