We are facing very high demand at the moment and the current COVID-19 advice means that:
- We are limited to the number of patients we can have in the surgery at any one time
- Appointment times are taking longer due to the need for cleaning after each patient contact as well as the clinician changing their PPE.
- We have had to introduce a one way access to the surgery, with patients having to queue and ring the doorbell for the attention of a staff member. Please follow the directions outside the surgery.
As a result of these restrictions, more patients are having a consultation via the telephone or video call, and we are having less face to face appointments. When face to face appointments are arranged, they are therefore taking longer and reducing our capacity.
We want to ensure that everyone gets the help they need, provided by an appropriate person.
- Please remember that your local pharmacist can give advice about side effects or interactions with medications and advice on minor ailments.
- If you would like advice about issues concerning children, the Surrey health visitor advice line nhs.uk/services/advice-line 01883 340 922 is open 8-5 Monday to Friday.
- There is a doctor service called LIVI, which works alongside our surgery and have appointments LIVI offers pre-bookable appointments as well as same day appointments, 7 days a week until 10pm weekdays and 8pm weekends. The LIVI doctors are NHS doctors, free to use and consult via video link https://www.livi.co.uk.
- If you do need help from one of the team at the Moat House Surgery, from administrative queries to clinical problems, you can now submit your question online via our website at themoathousesurgery.nhs.uk. If you do not have internet access or are unable to complete the form please call the surgery and our patient services team will help you.
- Prescription requests must be made online as we can no longer handle paper requests. If you do not have access to this, please telephone our prescription team who can help.
- Although most contacts are via phone in the first instance, you can directly book into smear tests, immunisations and blood tests. We are also doing coils and implants again.
- When attending the surgery or a face to face appointment, please do arrive on time but not too early for your appointment as we can only have very restricted numbers of patients in the waiting room. Please ring the doorbell once on arrival, and a member of our staff will come to the door. You will need to wear a face covering. Please do not bring other family members/friends with you unless you are the parent or carer for the patient.
We know that Coronavirus has changed many things over a short period of time, and we will to continue to provide a high standard of care whilst keeping everyone safe. Thank you for the support that you have shown the practice, as we all adapt to our new ways of working.
