The Linden Medical Group
The doctors and staff at Linden Medical Group surgery in Nottingham are committed to providing high quality and safe primary healthcare to our practice population within a learning environment.
We run many clinics for the management of chronic diseases and offer a wide variety of other medical services including antenatal and postnatal care, childhood vaccinations and well-person check-ups.
COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINATION CLINICS
We will be holding Covid-19 Booster vaccination clinics on Thursday and Fridays commencing 25th November. These clinics will be operational up to and including Friday 17th December.
We are also holding a clinic on the morning of Saturday 27th November 2021
We will send out a patient invitation link to eligible patients who have registered a mobile number with us
When you receive your text message, PLEASE click the link, you will then be taken to an online booking page (SystmOnline) where you can see what dates and times we have and you may book an appointment which is convenient to you.
We would ask that if you receive a text message, containing a link, you book your appointment this way as it is quicker and helps to relieve the pressure on our already strained telephone lines.
For patients without a mobile number registered, if you are in one of the eligible groups (over 50's or clinically vulnerable) you may contact the surgery to make your appointment.
As the guidance for the delivery of the booster vaccine states that 6 months MUST have elapsed from the date of the patients 2nd vaccine, this vaccination programme will be staggered.
Thank you.
NEW WAY TO BOOK, SPECIFIC, APPOINTMENTS BEING TRIALLED.
We are trying a new way for patients, who have registered a mobile number with us, to book some appointments.
This new way involves patients being sent a text message invitation to book a specific appointment. The text message contains a link which is unique to the patient.
When the patient clicks the link, they are taken to an online booking page (SystmOnline) where they can see what availability we have and can book directly into a convenient slot.
This is far quicker for patients as there is no waiting in the call queue, it is more efficient for the practice and it also relieves pressure on our very strained telephone lines.
If you receive a text message inviting you to book an appointment and this message contains a link, if it possible, if your phone is compatible, please click the link to make your booking this way.
If you have a mobile number and have not registered it at the surgery you won't be able to take advantage of this new system. If you would like to advise us of a mobile number we can use, please advise the practice.
Currently, we are trialling this way of booking with Flu vaccination appointments, Covid-19 booster vaccination appointments, telephone Asthma review appointments & Hypertension review appointments.
If this goes well, it will be expanded to other chronic long term condition reviews.
FLU VACCINE UPDATE
We have received a further delivery of flu vaccines and are currently in the process of contacting all of the patients on our waiting list.
When we contact you, if you have a mobile number registered with us, we will send you a text message which contains a link.
When you click the link you will be taken to an online booking page (SystmOnline) where you can see what clinics we have, you will then be able to book a convenient appointment.
Where possible, we would prefer patients to use this link to make their booking as it is quicker and also helps to relieve the pressure on our already strained telephone lines.
Patients who do not have a mobile number registered with us will receive a call from reception to book.
TELEPHONE PRESSURES
We are aware of issues that patients have been having when trying to get through to the surgery by phone.
We are experiencing a vast amount of calls to the practice each day which is causing huge strain to our telephone lines and our staff.
Our reception team are trying to get to everyone in the call queue as quickly as they possibly can and are working harder than ever before to try and deal with the huge increase in demand.
To try and ease the pressure for everyone, we would ask that patients please follow the following guidance:
Please DO NOT telephone the practice between 8am - 10am to enquire about test results.
This is the busiest time with reception answering calls to patients trying to book same day triage appointments with the GP's.
Please DO NOT contact reception to ask if your prescription has been processed.
If 48 hours have elapsed since you put in your request you simply need to go and collect your medications from your nominated pharmacy or if you don't have a nominated pharmacy, you can pop to surgery to collect your green token.
If, when processing your prescription request, there is an issue, reception will contact you.
Please DO NOT telephone reception to request your medications!
We DO NOT take prescription requests over the telephone. You can request your prescription via NHSApp, SystmOnline (log in required) or by written request into the box at surgery.
Following the above guidance will help ease the pressure on our telephone lines which will, ultimately, make getting through to the practice to make appointments or with general enquiries, a little easier for everyone!
Thank you
ABUSE
We have noticed a sharp rise in the level of abuse directed at our staff in recent weeks.
THIS MUST STOP!
Our staff come to work to care for others and have the right to do so without being subjected to the tirades of abuse witnessed over recent weeks.
We would like to remind patients that the Practice & NHS as a whole take a ZERO tolerance stance on abuse of healthcare staff.
We would like to remind patients that reception staff, who take the most abuse, carry out their duties in accordance with the wishes and under the instructions of the GP Partners.
They are NOT allowed to book face to face appointments,at present, without the express permission of a GP.
When you call to book an appointment with a GP, reception will book a telephone triage appointment.
If, during this telephone call, the GP feels they need to see you, they will ask you to come surgery.
Putting pressure on reception staff and shouting at them because you want a face to face appointment when they have been asked not to book them at the present time, is NOT acceptable.
The GP's see patients face to face based on clinical need & patients who need a face to face appointment are ALWAYS offered one the same day or soon after.
We would ask that you treat the reception staff with the same level of kindness you would expect to receive from them.
Thank you.
Poem
As you will no doubt be aware; General Practice has come under intense criticism in the media over recent weeks.
A GP in Sheffield, Dr Ben Allen, has produced a poem which aims to offer a more accurate explanation of the current pressures and demands on General Practice at the present time.
To access the poem, please click the link below
FACE COVERINGS FROM MONDAY 19TH JULY 2021
Please be advised that the guidance concerning face coverings in the surgery WILL NOT be changing on Monday 19th July.
Patients will still be expected and required to wear face coverings when they come to the practice.
This is as per the new guidelines issued by NHS England - the guidance can be found HERE
NATIONAL DATA OPT-OUT
THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING YOUR OPT-OUT IS 1st SEPTEMBER 2021
If you don’t want your patient data to be shared for purposes except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out.
This collection will start from 30th September 2021 so if you do not want your data to be shared with NHS Digital please register your Type 1 Opt-out with the surgery by 1st September 2021.
The data held in your GP medical records are shared with other healthcare professionals for the purposes of your individual care. It is also shared with other organisations to support health and care planning and research.
If you do not want your personal patient data to be shared outside of your GP practice for purposes except your own care, you can register an opt-out with your GP practice. This is known as a Type 1 Opt-out.
To register a Type 1 Opt-out, for yourself or for a dependent (if you are the parent or legal guardian of the patient) you can download the form from the link HERE and then returning it to the surgery before the deadline of 1st September 2021.
For more information on the National Data Opt-out please click the link HERE.
You can also register your preference, online, using the NHS App. More information about the NHS App can be found HERE
Current Appointment Arrangements
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, all appointments are initially a telephone call, a GP will determine if you need to be seen face to face, if after a telephone consultation it is advised you need a face-to-face appointment, rest assured, you will be seen by a GP.
Please do not expect reception to book you a face-to-face appointment, the reception team are not being difficult, they are following instructions from the GP's.
If you are asked to come to surgery for a face to face appointment, please make sure you are wearing a face covering unless you are exempt for medical reasons. Thank you.
Our Patient Group
During the current pandemic, the Linden Patient Participation Group have been holding virtual meetings through the 'Zoom' online platform.
All Linden patients are very welcome to attend, we value all feedback and suggestions from patients - please join us to find out more about the group. Please ask reception if you would like further information on how to join the meeting.
Patient Participation
Practice Privacy Notice:
to download click on the link below
Data protection privacy notice for Patients
Online Suggestion Box
Please be aware that we now offer extended hours 'early bird' doctor and nurse appointments between 7 and 8am. Please ask at reception for further information.
Care Quality Commission - please follow the link below to view our CQC inspection report published November 2017
Named accountable GP
All patients registered at the practice have an allocated named GP. if you wish to know who your allocated GP is, please contact the surgery and the receptionist can inform you. Please note that although you may have an allocated named GP you may continue to see any of the doctors at the practice and are not restricted to seeing this GP only.
Online Services Registration
Please note that you would need to register first to be able to use the online services below. Please contact the surgery to obtain your access code.
You will need to come in person and bring ID with you. Once you have obtained your access code, you can click on the options below and access the online services.
You can also download the NHS App, more information HERE
GP Earnings
From March 2016 in order to meet contractual requirements we will be publishing GP earnings. The mean earnings for GPs at the Practice for the last financial year can be found here .
(Site updated 19/11/2021)