How do I chase a referral?

Once a referral has been made by the GP or ANP we are not advised when your appointment will be made.  This is the responsibility of the health care provider to whom you have been referred.

For referrals to hospital you should call CRS (Central Referral Service) on 0300 123 0771 who can advise you of the current status of your referral.

For ophthalmology (eyes), or to rearrange an appointment please call the Broomfield Appointments line 01245 513900

Radiology which includes MRI and CT scans as well as x-rays and some ultrasound scans please call Broomfield Hospital Radiology Department on 01245 514301

Community Ultrasounds are provided by Essex Ultrasound on 01268 947000

Endoscopy is provided by InHealth and their referral centre number is  0333 212 3187

Below you will find some useful information which will help you understand more clearly the process your referral goes through when it leaves the surgery.

In the first instance, your referral is forwarded to the Central Referral Service (CRS).  Please note your referral is not sent directly to Broomfield Hospital so please do not call them.

Once the team at the CRS have reiewed your referral to ensure it is forwarded to the most appropriate service, you will be sent paperwork inviting you to book your appointment through the “Choose and Book” referral system.  In most cases this will be Broomfield Hospital unless you discussed an alternative preferred hospital with your GP at your appointment.  You will be invited to book your appointment through the number given on your paperwork when it arrives but in order to do this you will need the password also sent to you in the paperwork – generally printed on the back page.  Please keep this safe, but if by any chance you mislay your password, you can call CRS on 0300 123 0771 between 2-6pm who will be able to assist.

Please do not call the surgery as we do not have access to this information. 

Please also CLICK HERE to see an information leaflet which details what you can expect when referred by your GP to a hospital specialist.

The link below gives additional information about what to expect when you are referred to a specialist.

https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Documents/What-happens-when-you-are-referred.pdf

TYPE 2 DIABETIC? Join 'Type 2 Together', a free peer support & information service that Diabetes UK have available in this area.  Click the link below for more information.

www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/local_support_groups/type-2-together

Child Surveillance

We offer this service to children who are registered at the practice. Your child is offered development checks at regular intervals before school age. The health visitor may carry out some of these checks, often at home. This will enable you to discuss any problems and ask any questions concerning your child's immunisations, development and behaviour.

Contraceptive Services

We offer full contraceptive services and advice, and some of our nurses are also family planning trained. We also provide emergency contraception and contraceptive services to non-patients.

Antenatal Clinic

The midwife holds her routine antenatal clinic on a Tuesday afternoon. Your first ante-natal appointment is for one hour and these appointments are held on a Wednesday afternoon.  Please call reception to book an appointment.  Please note that you do not need to book an appointment with the GP to confirm your pregnancy.

Cervical Smear Screening

In line with health authority policy, we recommend a smear every three years until the age of 50 and then every 5 years until the age of 65, unless greater frequency is advised. To ensure maximum accuracy, it is advisable to have a smear taken between 10 and 14 days from the first day of bleeding.

Minor Surgery

All partners perform some surgical procedures, albeit you may be referred to another partner for a particular operation in which they have special experience.

Medical Examination

Medical examinations for special purposes, for example pre-employment, fitness to travel and insurance medical, may be arranged by special appointment. A fee will be payable.  For details of fees please go to the Non-NHS Services tab.

Anticoagulant Clinic

An 'in-house' anticoagulant clinic is held twice weekly at Baddow Village Surgery, providing a convenient and comprehensive service.

Chaperone

If you feel you would like a chaperone present at a consultation during a procedure please let the GP or nurse know.

District Nurses/Community Matrons

Provide a range of nursing services and help with long term conditions for housebound patients.

IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies)

Provide a cognitive behavioural therapy service based at the surgery.  More details are available in the 'Further Information' section on the right hand side of the page.

Health Promotion

We offer advice and practical help to those patients who want to improve or maintain their health.

Our nurses have specific training in areas such as asthma, diabetes, smoking, alcohol and heart disease prevention. Please ask the nurse for details.

We encourage all our patients to share responsibility for their health, both in preventing disease and in treating existing diseases. Most of the more serious diseases can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle and without the need for drugs. Please feel free to discuss general health and your lifestyle and ask for advice.

Fees for Private/Non-NHS Services 

We are happy to undertake, by appointment, medical examinations, reports for insurance companies, employers and solicitors.

This work is not part of our contract with the NHS and a fee will be charged.  We also charge a fee for private certificates and letters.

A 50% payment in advance is required for all medical examinations with the balance payable prior to the consultation, failure to cancel an appointment with a minimum of 24 hours' notice will result in you losing your deposit.

If you would like a GP letter please put your request in writing.  We also require a non-refundable deposit of £30. 

Please click the link below for the list of fees for Non-NHS work.

Non-NHS Fees updated 22 November 2019

Please do not book a GP appointment for a letter, report or medical examination. 

• Bring or send into the surgery the details that are required/form that needs to be completed. 
• This information will be passed onto the secretarial team who will arrange an appointment where necessary, for the appropriate length of time, and advise you of the fee for this service.

Please be aware that if you request a form to be completed for exemption purposes (such as a bus pass) where you do not meet the criteria the amount paid will NOT be refunded due to time taken for the doctor to check your record.  Please ensure you do meet the criteria before submitting your form and payment.

Housing or Benefits Claims Letter Requests

Please note that we no longer provide letters for housing or benefits claims. Please print the letter available on the following link LMC letter and pass to the requesting authority.

Sports Medicals

We are not able to complete sports medicals however there are companies that offer this service which can be found by searching sports medical certificates on your web browser.

Cessation of Private Travel Vaccination Service 

Due to an increase in costs for indemnity and pressure on General Practice we have ceased the private travel clinic service.  We will now only be able to provide the NHS vaccinations recommended for travel.

You will need to seek travel advice from another service, often available at pharmacies. You will need to submit a Subject Access Request to access your vaccination history and take a copy of this with you to the travel service.

Beauchamp House Surgery offer a private travel service and you will not need to request a copy of your vaccination history if you give your consent for their nurse to access your record.

If you require any NHS vaccinations please provide the Practice with a list of these vaccinations and a completed risk assessment from your chosen travel service.  We will then book you into the next available appointment with a Practice Nurse.

If the next available appointment is not soon enough for your travel needs then you will need to pay for the injections at the travel service.

The following vaccinations are available free on the NHS:

polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab)
typhoid
hepatitis A
cholera

You might find visiting the NHS website (www.nhs.uk) helpful.

The two sites below also offer useful advice:

www.nathnac.org

www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Childhood Immunisations

We strongly recommend that all children receive their childhood immunisations. Please call to book your appointment with a practice nurse.

• If anyone other than the authorised parent brings a child for immunisation, written consent must be provided by the parent.

Please check the following points before bringing your child to the surgery:

• Is your child suffering from a feverish illness?
• Is your child taking steroid treatment?
• Does your child suffer from a severe reaction to eggs?
• Has your child suffered from a reaction to previous immunisation injections?
• Has your child got a high temperature?

If the answer to any of the questions above is 'yes', then tell the nurse prior to immunisation.

For a list of baby clinic locations and days available please CLICK HERE

NHS Health Checks for 40 to 74 year old patients

If you are between 40 and 74 you are eligible for a health check unless any of the following apply to you:

• Are taking Blood Pressure or Cholesterol tablets
• Have Diabetes
• Have suffered a Stroke  
• Have suffered a Heart Attack
• Are diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease or Heart Failure
• Are diagnosed with Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Are diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease
• Are diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation
• Have had a NHS Health Check in the last 5 years

Please book with Reception

Patients between 75 and 84 years of age are entitled to a health check

This service is NOT available for patients who have a current diagnosis of the following:

• CHD (Chronic Heart Disease)
• Stroke/TIA
• Diabetes
• Heart Failure
• Chronic Kidney Disease (stages 3-5)
• Palliative Care
• Peripheral Vascular Disease/PAD
• Familial Hyperlipidaemia
• Patients who have had a NHS Health Check within the last 5 years
• Patients who have had a Senior Health Check in the last 2 years

Please book with Reception

Ear Irrigation/Syringing - Cessation of Service

The surgery has ceased to offer this service.   This decision was made due to the amount of nurse time was being used and the increasing pressures on primary care. 

Please read the Ear Wax Patient Guide for information on how to care for your ears.

Ear irrigation is a non-funded service.  Mid Essex CCG commission services for Primary Care and can be contacted on 01245 459 459

Flu Vaccinations 

Flu vaccinations are available from mid-September until approximately end March.

GROUPS CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE ADULT FLU VACCINATION ARE:

• Patients aged 65 years and over
• Patients with heart, kidney, liver, spleen or neurological disease
• Patients with diabetes
• Patients with asthma (on inhaled steroids)
• Patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Immunocompromised patients
• Pregnant women
• Patients in long-stay residential homes
• Patients who are morbidly obese
• Carers

GROUPS CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE CHILD FLU VACCINATION ARE:

• All those aged two and three years old
• Patients aged 6 months - 17 years with heart, kidney, liver, spleen or neurological disease
• Patients aged  6 months - 17 years  with asthma (on inhaled steroids)
• Patients aged 6 months - 17 years with diabetes
• Patients aged 6 months - 17 years with COPD
• Immunocompromised patients aged 6 months - 17 years

PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP

Patient Reference Group Report 2015

Below is the 2015 Patient Reference Group Report detailing the PRG's 2014/15 activities:

PRG REPORT 2015

2014 PRG report:

PRG REPORT 2014

2013 Patient Survey results:

RESULTS AND ACTION PLAN

PRG REPORT 2013

Ninth PRG newsletter published March 2015, click HERE to read it.

Eighth PRG newsletter published September 2014, click HERE to read it.

Seventh PRG newsletter published May 2014, click HERE to read it.

Sixth PRG newsletter published February 2014, click HERE to read it.

Fifth PRG newsletter published October 2013, click HERE to read it.

Fourth PRG newsletter published May 2013, click HERE to read it.

Third PRG newsletter published February 2013, click HERE to read it.

Second PRG newsletter published October 2012, click HERE to read it.

The group have produced a newsletter to introduce themselves and to inform patients about their activities to date. Click here to read it

In October 2011 the 'Baddow Village Surgery Patient Reference Group' was formed. The group consists of ten patients who act as representatives for the rest of the patient population. The group meet regularly to discuss surgery matters and to provide surgery representatives with patient led feedback. The group is working with the surgery to design and improve services.

To initially gauge patient opinion the group designed a patient survey and will look to the results for ways to improve patient experience. The survey was available for two weeks, both online and in the surgery. 252 patients completed the survey and overall the results were pleasing, although of course there are some areas for improvement. Please see the Patient Reference Group report and Action Plan below for full details. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.

PRG Report 2012

Action Plan 2012

We need your feedback!

In addition to the Patient Participation Group, the surgery has created a 'Virtual Patient Group'. This is a group of patients who have provided their email addresses for the purpose of providing feedback / opinions on specific subjects raised by the Patient Reference Group. If you would like to be involved in this way then please click here and complete the short form to provide us with your details.

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