Follow the link below to read our Winter 2023 newsletter.

FVMC Newsletter Winter 2023.pdf

Frome Valley Medical Centre has been awarded with the Silver Award for their great support in helping carers and being a dementia friendly practice. 

Live Longer Better is a free online programme - please see the leaflet attached for more information and for details of how to join.

LLB-LWE-A5-Leaflet (2).pdf

As part of the Great Big Green Week Frome Valley Medical Centre invites you to take part in their plant eating challenge! The aim is to see how many ‘whole plant foods’ you eat and then increase it for a 5 day period for a host of health benefits. Whole plant foods are basically where the thing you’re buying & eating looks like it does when it came out of the ground (so fruit, veg, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes & pulses)! We’re having a competition within the surgery with a prize. Maybe you could do the same in your family/workplace? See the attached document for more info.

Eat more plants.docx

Please ensure all repeat medications requests are submitted 7 days prior to all Bank Holidays.

We are aware that patients have struggled to get through on the phone to request a clinical appointment and to improve the situation we have now introduced an online consultation service. Where you are able to, please make an online request via this website. On the Home page click on the top left hand blue box and follow the steps to make your request. By using this facility, it will free up the phone lines for those who are unable to do this.

Your request will be navigated to the most appropriate service. This may not necessarily be with a GP at the surgery, it may be to our local pharmacist, for example, who will be able to consult with you on your condition. You will receive a txt or phone call informing you of the next steps following your request.

If the most appropriate step is that you see one of our clinicians in the surgery, this may be a phone consultation or it may be a face to face appointment depending on the problem.

Please be aware that the Practice is working at maximum capacity because of our patient demand and therefore we are dealing with all requests based on clinical need.

We understand this may be frustrating for you but please do not take your frustrations out on our staff. This will be dealt with very seriously under our zero tolerance policy.

For more information, please read this document: ACCESS DOCUMENT APRL 2023.docx

Access to patient records using online access, such as NHS App.

The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster. It also lets you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

We’re now letting you see all the information within your health record automatically. If you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App, NHS website, or another online primary care service, you will now be able to see all future notes and health records from your doctor (GP). Some people can already access this feature, this won’t change for you.

This means that you will be able to see notes from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your doctor (GP), not from hospitals or other specialists. You will only be able to see information from 9th December 2022. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won’t need to do anything.

Your doctor (GP) may talk to you to discuss test results before you are able to see some of your information on the app. Your doctor (GP) may also talk to you before your full records access is given to make sure that having access is of benefit to you. There might be some sensitive information on your record, so you should talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

These changes only apply to people with online accounts. If you do not want an online account, you can still access your health records by requesting this information through reception. The changes also only apply to personal information about you. If you are a carer and would like to see information about someone you care for, speak to reception staff.

The NHS App, website and other online services are all very secure, so no one is able to access your information except you. You’ll need to make sure you protect your login details. Don’t share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information.

If you do not want to see your health record, or if you would like more information about these changes, please speak to your GP or reception staff.

What keeps you happy, healthy and well?

Our ability to stay happy, healthy and well depends on many things – from employment to housing, education and social connections. To make a real difference, health and care services need to consider all these factors to form a long-term strategy for the area and make a real difference.

Now is your chance to share what matters most to you. By sharing your views in a short survey, you can help shape the future of local health and care services for the next five, 10 and 20 years.

You’ll also be in with the chance of winning £125 worth of shopping vouchers, just by giving your opinion. Find out more and have your say.