09/01/2023 from Senior Partner Dr Ogunsanya
I understand that patients are still coming to queue outside the practice at 7:00 am for an appointment, despite letting patients know other way of booking appointments. Today 23 appointments were opened at 7:30 for on-line booking and only 9 were utilised.
We will continue to encourage patients to use the other ways of appointment enumerated by the Practice Manager as opposed to coming to queuing outside the surgery.
For the avoidance of doubt, we might altogether stop this method of booking appointments in the future.
Appointment Booking
Ways of booking an appointment.
Over this winter period, there have been rising pressures within the whole health and care system and at Robert Frew surgery we are doing everything we can to manage these pressures and prioritise patient care. We have noticed an increase in more and more patients attending the surgery early in the morning in order to make an appointment, we would like to provide reassurance that we are increasing the number of available appointments and adding more resource to reception to respond to more phone calls.
Please be assured we are doing everything we can and working with our partners to ease appointment booking and we have multiple ways to do this at our surgery, we have appointments available and we encourage you only attend in person if you are unable to use the following options.
TELEPHONE – we appreciate the phone lines are extremely busy but we do try to process these calls as quickly as possible.
AUTOMATED SYSTEM – Contact the surgery on 01268 209229 and choose option 2. You will be asked to enter you date of birth and telephone number. You can book an appointment with a GP or Healthcare Assistant both on the day and pre-bookable up to 3-4 weeks in advance.
ONLINE – We have both on the day appointments and now an increased number of pre-bookable appointments you can book through the online system, if you wish to apply for online access, it is a quick and simple process. We do appreciate some patients may not have online access or be confident in using this service, our automated telephone system is an easy to follow alternative. PLEASE STATE WHEN BOOKING IF THE APPOINTMENT IS FOR A FACE TO FACE OR A TELEPHONE CONSULTATION.
IN PERSON – You can come to the surgery to book your appointment but during the winter months we would prefer you to stay in the comfort of your home and book your appointment through one of the methods detailed above.
Thank you for your patience.
Important message from The Partners
Whilst we understand patients are frustrated with parts of our system, we will not tolerate any verbal or physical abuse towards any of our staff. This has been increasing in recent months and is becoming intolerable for some staff, please remember we ARE trying our best to offer you the highest standard of care possible.
Patients may be asked to register elsewhere if such behaviour continues.
SHOTGATE BRANCH SURGERY
We feel we have an obligation to inform you of the future of the service provision from Shotgate Surgery.
At the moment we are having difficulties with entering into a lease with the landlord and we have brought this to the attention of NHS England.
Whilst it is the intention of the partners to provide services from Shotgate, it is contingent on agreement by the landlord. We will keep you updated to the success or not of our negotiation.
Thank you
Robert Frew Medical Partners
Robert Frew Medical Partners
Thank You
The partners and staff would like to say a huge thank you to the team at The Wick Community Centre for all their help and support with our Flu campaign this year, it is much appreciated by us all.
Covid Vaccination
New Essex COVID-19 vaccine website
We are following strict national guidelines and will be vaccinating patients in the order set out by the Government, patients will be contacted accordingly.
Please do not contact the surgery regarding eligibility for the Covid Vaccination.
Please visit WWW.Gov for more information.
Thank You
The Partners
We require all patients attending the surgery to wear a face covering or mask, this is for the protection of both patients and staff.
Thank you for your co-operation. The Partners.
SWEX SR - Physionow
Important information regarding Appointments
Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus
ALL BOOKED APPOINTMENTS WITH A DOCTOR FROM MONDAY 16TH MARCH 2020 ONWARDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS
The GP cannot guarantee a time for the call but will endeavour to be as close to your original appointment time as possible. If the GP feels you need to be seen then an appointment will be made for you.
Please DO NOT attend the surgery unless a GP has told you to do so.
We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience during this very difficult time.
The Partners
Coronavirus
If you are aged 70 or older or have pre-existing health conditions that mean you are eligible for flu jabs then you could be at higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus. You should follow Government advice and stay at home. Please arrange for family, neighbours and friends or local community groups to deliver food and medicines you need. If you do not have this support available please register with the Essex Welfare Service at
www.essexwelfareservice.org.uk/support-request or call 0300 303 9988
Support for all from the Essex Wellbeing Service
Poster 1
Poster 2
Poster 3
Useful Links Coronavirus Advice
COVID-19 Advice for Parents When Child Unwell or Injured
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19
Coronavirus
In the interests of patients and staff the partners have decided to triage, via phone calls, all patients with respiratory symptoms requesting appointments. This is an unprecedented situation and the practice is trying to manage the situation with restricted resources. Please do not come to the surgery if you have coughs, colds, flu like symptoms. Please call the surgery advising us of your symptoms and you will be allocated a telephone appointment. We cannot guarantee a precise time for a call back but will endeavour to call you sometime during the morning surgery. We ask for your cooperation in this very difficult time.
Thank you
The Partners
Welcome to The Robert Frew Medical Centre
Automated Phone System (Patient Partner)
Our new closing time
The practice was established in 1919 by Dr Robert Frew with consulting rooms at his home 'Ladybrow' in Wickford High Street, the site of what is now the Ladygate Centre. His two sons later joined Dr Frew in partnership. In 1970 the practice moved to premises in Franklins Way. We moved to our new building in 1998, offering more space for our team of medical professionals.
We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help and give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format. It has been designed with the patient’s needs at the forefront of everything, from checking surgery times to letting us know what you think of us.
There is now an out of hours GP service operating from Wickford Practice run by BB Healthcare Solutions.
Patient Notice - Out of Hours Service
Patient Notice - Out Of Hours Service
An out of hours service is now being provided by BB Healthcare Solutions. This offers patients access to medical services outside of core hours and over the weekend.
These appointments will be at a practice in Wickford or Billericay.
You will be informed of the location of your appointment on booking.
Appointments are made in the usual way by phoning the surgery, these appointments are only bookable 48 hours in advance. You will be told where your appointment is. There are GP and Nurse appointments available. The NHS 111 service is still available.
Care Quality Commission
CQC Report October 2017
Serving You
Our dedicated team are here to treat those minor ailments that occur as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions and clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues. The technology also means you can now do a lot of things from the comfort of your home such as order a repeat prescription or cancel an appointment.
Partners in Care
Once registered, patients and healthcare professionals work together to ensure the most appropriate care is provided. This partnership philosophy extends even further and our active patient group exists to make sure that patient needs and the practice offering are always heading in the same direction.
Access
The surgery is provided with safe and easy access to wheelchair users and those with walking difficulties. A disabled patients' WC is accessed from the main corridor.
(Site updated 26/04/2021)