Tuesday, 3 June 2025
Thursday, 30 January 2025
Farewell to Gill and Mary
The Aspen PPG would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Gill Brookes and Mary Haines as they step down from their roles. Their dedication, commitment, and invaluable contributions have made a real difference to the group and the wider Aspen patient community.
Gill and Mary have played an integral part in shaping the work of the PPG, always bringing thoughtful insights, enthusiasm, and a passion for improving patient experiences. Their support, kindness, and hard work will be greatly missed.
We wish them both all the very best for the future and sincerely appreciate everything they have done.
Friday, 24 January 2025
Patients' Rights to Healthcare
Patients have legal and ethical rights that
ensure equitable access to healthcare and a patient-centred approach. These
rights often include:
Access to Care: The right to receive healthcare services regardless of race, gender, religion, status, or disability. Equal treatment in emergencies and urgent care settings.
· Informed
Consent: The right to receive clear, accurate
information about diagnosis, treatment options, risks, and benefits. Patients can decide whether to accept or
refuse care.
· Privacy and
Confidentiality: The right to have personal health information
protected (e.g., under laws like GDPR in the UK).
· Dignity and
Respect: The right to be treated with compassion,
respect, and dignity throughout their care journey.
· Participation
in Decision-Making: Patients have the right to participate in
creating their care plan, including the ability to seek second opinions or
alternative treatments.
· Right to
Complain: The right to voice concerns, complaints, or
grievances without fear of discrimination or reprisal.
· Timely and
Appropriate Care: The right to receive care within reasonable
timeframes, particularly for conditions requiring urgent attention.
· Access to
Records: The right to view, obtain, or request
corrections to their medical records.
The Role Patients Play in Healthcare
Patients are no longer passive recipients of care but active participants in maintaining and improving their health. Their role includes:
Engaging in Self-Care: Adopting healthy behaviours such as proper diet, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking.
· Providing
Accurate Information: Sharing complete and truthful medical
histories, including current symptoms, medications, and any complementary
therapies they use.
· Participating
in Decision-Making: Engaging in discussions about treatment
options and voicing their preferences or concerns.
· Following
Agreed Treatment Plans: Adhering to prescribed medications,
therapies, or lifestyle changes and attending follow-up appointments.
· Using
Healthcare Resources Responsibly: Avoiding
unnecessary use of emergency services for non-urgent conditions and scheduling
routine appointments.
· Advocating
for Themselves: Asking questions when unsure, requesting
clarification, and seeking second opinions if needed.
· Providing
Feedback: Offering constructive feedback to improve
healthcare services or processes, such as through patient surveys or
complaints.
· Participating
in Preventive Health Programs: Taking
part in screenings, vaccinations, or educational programs designed to detect or
prevent diseases early.
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Patient Feedback - Improving your experience at Aspen Medical Practice
Feedback from our patients and carers
Thank you for your feedback which you have provided throughout 2024 through one or more of the following routes:
Response to a Patient Survey (2024) undertaken by the Practice with the Patient Participation Group focussing the matter of access to appointments & related experiences.
- The Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board Participation Team also helped in this process.
- A telephone text Survey was sent to patients following an appointment.
- General feedback to our Patient Participation Group members from patients/carers
- Through different patient support organisations e.g. Carers Hub
- Concerns that you raise with staff directly.
- Response to the Annual National GP Patient Survey
We review the feedback and take actions wherever we can.
What you
told us and what we are doing……
You told us that the following was good!
- Staff are friendly, kind and helpful.
- Staff are professional.
- Prompt service when attending appointments.
- People take time to listen.
- Econsult – good response time.
What we
did! We
let our staff know. It is very much appreciated by them and It
is what we expect from all our staff.
What
needs to improve? You have told us we need to focus and continuing to improve access to
appointments. Your feedback helped us in our focus.
What the practice is doing…….
Getting through to the Practice: There are different ways you can get in contact with the practice for appointments, advice of administrative requests.
The Call back system is now well
established. If the practice is receiving a high level of calls you can opt for a call
back. As soon as you are at the front of the queue you will receive a callback
from the reception team
Many patients are telling us this is working
well and making a real difference.
Econsult - Contact the practice by eConsult through the website. The eConsult service is now available for submissions between 07:00 and 18:30hrs
- If you submit your eConsult before 13:00hrs the practice aims to respond to you on the same working day.
- If you submit your eConsult after 13:00hrs, the practice aims to respond to you before the end of the following working day. (Although in many cases the practice should still be able to respond to you on the same working day).
There has been positive feedback on the
response time and advice and help through the eConsult route.
How we you get in touch with me?
You may be contacted and seen by the following routes:
* Face to face at the practice or a branch site.
*
by phone
* On a video call
* By text or email
Why don’t I always see a doctor
at an appointment?
The General Practice team includes different medical and non-medical staff, who can give you the most appropriate care. In addition to GPs, Practice Nurses, and Health Care Assistants, the practice have other trained and highly skilled clinicians working in within the team.
When patients book an appointment, the reception team will ask you a number of questions to help the practice make the appointment with the most appropriate person. They are trained & supervised to do this and there is always doctors available to help receptionist with making the right decision.
Where possible, the practice will try to give you continuity with the same member of the team for the same health problem - please ask during your first appointment.
You should be told who you will be seeing at the appointment – Nurse, Doctor Health Care Assistant etc
Helping you to get the best out of Your Practice
With the help of our patient representatives in our Patient Participation Group we have supported the practice with the following:
Website: Improved our website to help you get in touch with us and find the help and information you need. Aspen Medical Practice – NHS GP Surgery in Gloucestershire
Patient information booklet: This has been developed to help you get the best out of our services. It includes information on how to renew prescriptions, get test results, access to your health records through the NHS App and much more.
If you can’t see a copy around the Practice, please ask at reception for copy.
How you can help the Practice?
Cancel your appointment if you can’t make it or no longer need it. This gives us another appointment to give to someone else, and helps decrease the time patients are waiting for an appointment
Tell us if you need help with communication: For example, if you need an interpreter (verbal or sign language) or any other communication method or an approach that will help you
Providing feedback:
Please continue to give your feedback so we can know when things go well and not so well. This helps us to give feedback to our staff and make improvements wherever possible. You can feedback to the practice:
*Through our website
*In person
* In writing
* By responding to requests for feedback through a simple text request for feedback sent following an appointment.
Patient surveys sent from the practice or the annual National GP Patient Survey or through the complaints process (The policy is available on the practice website)
Thank you for your help!
Friday, 13 December 2024
Join the Aspen Patient Participation Group!
Are you passionate about improving healthcare services for the Aspen community?
Do you want to help shape the way the Aspen Medical Practice supports its patients?
We are
looking for enthusiastic patients to join our Patient Participation Group
(PPG)!
What is the PPG?
The PPG is a group of patients who work alongside the members of the practice team to:
- Provide
feedback and suggestions to improve services.
- Represent
the views of patients and the wider community.
- Help
ensure the practice meets the needs of its patients.
Why Join?
- Be the
voice of the patients in shaping the future of Aspen Medical Practice.
- Collaborate
with a team dedicated to improving patient experiences.
Who Can Join?
We welcome patients from all walks of life! Whether you’re young or old, working or retired, a long-time patient or newly registered, your input matters.
How to Get Involved:
For more information or to express interest, please complete this registration form and a member of the PPG will be in touch, or speak to a member of the reception team during your next visit. You can also contact us via Email: aspenppg@gmail.com
Together, we can make a positive impact on healthcare in our community!
Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Friday, 26 January 2024
NHS App News
Waiting list information in the NHS App
From 30 January 2024, the NHS App will show patients in England an estimated waiting time for their hospital treatment at the NHS acute trust they’ve been referred to.
Digital prescriptions in the NHS App
From 30 January 2024, patients in England can use the NHS App to view all their prescription details, order repeat prescriptions and generate a bar-code that can be shown to a pharmacy for collection without a paper prescription from their GP.
You can use
our promotional
materials to encourage your patients to use this new NHS App feature,
along with the current order
a repeat prescription service.
Thursday, 25 January 2024
Thursday, 28 December 2023
HM Armed Forces Veterans Update
Aspen Medical Practice has made good progress with veterans coding and need to ensure the opportunity is available for all veterans who are registered patients at the Medical Practice.
Why are veterans treated
as a special group?
•
Service in the
Armed Forces is different from other occupations.
•
They Relinquish
some of their own civil liberties and put themselves in harm’s way to protect
others during operational and peace keeping tours.
• Risk of serious injury (for example loss of limbs,
eyes, or other body parts) is substantially increased.
•
Other differences
in military lifestyle
•
Mobile lifestyle
from posting to posting along with lack of stability and roots.
•
Living abroad and
far from family support
•
Separation from
loved ones due to unaccompanied tours.
•
Broken links with
extended family.
•
More likely to
smoke or have smoked.
•
More than half
(52%) of veterans have a long-term illness, disability, or infirmity, which is
higher than general adult population (35%).
•
Rates of PTSD in
those who have seen conflict are significantly higher than in the general
population and symptoms may not emerge for many years.
•
On leaving the
forces veterans often miss structure, support and friendship that being in the
forces provides.
•
Reliance on both
formal and informal military structures and systems – could be a major barrier
in the transition to civilian life.
•
Transition to
life outside the military likely to be stressful and in some cases experience
marriage break up and homelessness through eviction or financial pressures.
If you are a veteran, ask reception to record you as a Veteran on your clinical record. This will help identify you if you are admitted into the Acute or Community Services within Gloucestershire. If you want more details please contact the PPG Chair who is a veteran and one of the leads in the county for Armed Forces Veterans.
Veterans Widows/Widower/Civil Partner Benefits
Widows/widowers or partners whose husband/wife or civil partner
served and would have been entitled to a preserved pension, but was under 60
when they passed away, they should apply to Veterans UK as they may be entitled
to a gratuity, though it is not a pension.
Tuesday, 2 May 2023
Aspen 'WalkTalkWalk'
Would you welcome the chance for a gentle walk and the opportunity to meet and chat with other walkers in the groups? Come and join the Aspen ‘WalkTalkWalk’ Group, run by former members of the Aspen Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Details of walks can be found here For more information please e-mail aspenppg@gmail.com
-
The PPG wishes to show its gratitude to Dr Nicky Wilson who has been the PPG Clinical Lead. Nicky has been the senior partner supporting th...
-
Please find attached March What's On which is also now live on the website to view visit: What's On March 2023 - Gloucestershire...