Important Patient Information

As of 17^th November 2020, collection of prescriptions/letters etc can be made via the reception desk. Please report to reception and follow the guidance given. Please wear a mask whilst in the building and use the hand sanitiser provided.

NB: collection of prescriptions/letters etc can only be made after 11am Monday-Friday.

Please be aware that the Government's announcement of a new lockdown which starts on 5th November will NOT affect our service.  We remain open.  We will only close if we are unable to provide a service due to staff sickness.  We are currently experiencing a huge number of telephone calls into the surgery.  If you are seeking medical help, please remain on the line until your call is answered.

November 2020 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝟭𝟵 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

Face masks/coverings became mandatory in England on Friday 24^th July 2020. We are not able to write exemption letters for patients regarding the wearing of face masks/face coverings.

When attending the surgery, we kindly ask that you wear your own face covering/mask at all times unless requested to remove it by your GP or nurse. The exceptions to this are children under the age of 11, those with disabilities, those with breathing difficulties or those who are travelling with someone who relies on lip reading.  You are also advised to use your own toilet and wash your hands before coming to the surgery to reduce contact within the building.  Thank you.

Some transport providers are providing evidence of exemptions themselves, see for example this information from First Bus and Arriva.

In England, you must by law wear a face covering on public transport and in shops and supermarkets as of 24 July 2020. The Government guidance suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption. It should be sufficient for someone to declare that they are eligible for an exemption direct with the person questioning them (eg bus driver).

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Dear Patients, thank you for your support during the Coronavirus pandemic. We are still very much here for you via telephone or video link. If you have any persistent or potentially serious symptoms (Covid-19 or anything else) please do not delay in seeking help and if we need to see you, we can arrange to do so. Stay safe. Poundbury Doctors Surgery.

Do not attend the surgery or Dispensary if you or someone in your household has a cough or fever. Self-isolate. Full details on self-isolation are here: https://www.gov.uk/…/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-w…

Please do not attend the surgery without phoning and speaking to one of the team first to ensure that this is necessary. You may be putting at risk yourself, family and other vulnerable patients, who may be in the surgery.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? The surgery does not have any way of testing.  Do not attend the surgery thinking that we might perform the test, we are unable to.

Please use when we are closed  https://111.nhs.uk/

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀? The full document which is easy to read includes details on vulnerable people, pets, children, as well as advice on breastfeeding and many other aspects. Read it from the beginning here: https://www.gov.uk/…/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-w…

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲

• If you need to leave a prescription slip please use the postbox on the outside wall of the surgery. You do not need to come into the building.

• If you are asked to attend the surgery, bring a maximum of one person with you. Ideally, come alone if possible.

• If you need employment advice, please speak to your employer or read the guidance. Do not call the surgery for employment advice.

• Do not call the surgery for travel advice. If you need travel advice, please go to https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/primary-care/travel-advice-patients/ about travel insurance, go to https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-qa/
• A large proportion of our enquiries tend to be about hospital issues which we have no control over. If you are having issues with Hospital services, please contact the Hospital Patient Advice Liaison Services (PALS) directly. Please do try and limit your calls to the hospital to essential ones only though.

The Surgery and the Dispensary remain open but are operating according to the advice from Public Health England.

If you are struggling during the winter lockdown Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 or go to https://giveusashout.org This is a free 24/7 mental health service. 

Help the Fight Against Covid-19

Patient Recruitment Notice

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Dr Koppenhol, Coronavirus COVID 19 GP Lead

Local Help Available During Coronavirus

If you are unable to leave the house to get medicine or other vital goods there are groups working in your community.  These groups are also relevant to contact if you are one of our patients that use our Dispensary for medication.  Please click onto the links below:

Charminster, Charlton Down, Forston

Dorchester Community Support Group

Local Support Groups:

Dorset Community Response group  - 01305 221022

They have centralised access to all the volunteers locally who can help with food deliveries, meds deliveries and loneliness/isolation support.

• Dorchester Community Support Group Dorchester Area 07562 389 519
• Dorchester Family Church Dorchester Area 01305 265775
• Charlton Down, Forston and Charminster Coronavirus (Covid-19) Support Group Charminster Area 07947 622326
• Bradford Peverell Parish Council Bradford Peverell Area 01305 751735
• Puddletown Parish Covid-19 Support Group Dorchester Area 07881678126
• Cerne Abbas Coronavirus Support Cerne Abbas Area 0300 102 1031
• Sydling Support Network Sydling St Nicholas Area 01300 341593
• Buckland Newton Community Connections Buckland Newton Area 07733 849264
• Cheselbourne Coronavirus Support Group Cheselbourne Area 01258 837011
• Crossways Residents Coronavirus Volunteer Help Service Crossways Area 07920 017203
• Broadmayne Coronavirus Community Response Team Broadmayne Area 01305 854869
• Briantspuddle Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle Parish Council Covid19 Support Group Briantspuddle Area 07745 796 118
• Poundbury Community Coronavirus Help Group (Facebook page)
• Thorncombe Coronavirus Support (Facebook page)
• Carers Helpline - Coronavirus Covid-19 The Leonardo Trust; 01202 698 325
• Carers Helpline
• Shopping Services Age UK Dorchester; 0800 678 1602
• The Dorset Larder - Dorset Food and Drink Dorset Food and Drink - Covid-19 Response - Home Food Delivery Providers

The Volunteer Centre  are contacting all pharmacies to offer a volunteer delivery service for those confined to their homes who would normally collect.

If you who would like to volunteer during this time you can sign up via the Dorset for You website or https://www.volunteeringdorset.org.uk/

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Coronavirus Fit Note Coronavirus Fit Note

Holiday Insurance Cancellation Letters

We regret that in these exceptional circumstances the practice is currently unable to write any letters for patients who are making a holiday refund insurance claim.

This service is non contractual and as such we are under no obligation to offer this. We hope you will understand that the GPs need to focus upon the clinical needs of their patients at this difficult time.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) now advises British people against all non-essential travel worldwide.

As such, insurance claims can be requested on this basis. Full details can be read at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

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Welcome to Poundbury Doctors Surgery (we were The Cornwall Road Medical Practice Renamed as of 1.5.2016)

We are a dispensing family doctor practice on the western side of Dorchester located on the edge of Poundbury, Dorset.  We are located within Frederick Treves House, a purpose-built medical centre.  We are on the left-hand-side as you enter the building.  Our receptionists will offer you a warm welcome. 

We cover a semi-rural and rural area that includes Dorchester and a surrounding area of approximately 5 miles radius.

We welcome new patients to join our practice.  Click on the New Patients tab above to find out more.Access

 The practice has a parking area that includes spaces allocated for those with disability next to the front entrance.  The building is  designed to assist those with disability and there is a patient lift for those patients who are unable to use the stairs.  All patient areas, including the toilets, are wheelchair accessible. We also have a ‘hearing aid loop’ facility. If you require any  assistance with this please ask at reception.

With patient needs at the heart of everything we do, our website has been designed to make it easy for you to gain instant access to the information you need. As well as specific practice details such as our opening hours and how to register, you’ll find a wealth of useful pages covering a wide range of health issues along with links to other relevant medical organisations.

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  Kind Words from a Member of the Public

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 When We are Closed

If you need to seek urgent medical advice when the surgery is closed please phone 111. 

You may be asked to attend the treatment centre which is situated in Dorset County Hospital.  All phone conversations with NHS 111 are recorded as a matter of routine. 

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Calls free from landlines and mobile phones (although pay-as-you-go mobiles must have at least 1p credit).

Out-of-hours services are busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.

Running out of Medication?

Please do not go to A&E or Out of Hours if you run out of medication over a weekend or bank holiday.  They will not be able to supply you with your medication.  Please go to your usual pharmacy - they may give you sufficient supplies to see you through.  However, there may be a charge for this. 

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New Non-Emergency Patient Transport

Effective 1st July 2019

Please click onto the link below for details:

New Number for Non Emergency Transport

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New Electronic Prescribing Service (EPS)

We are upgrading to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which will mean that almost all our prescriptions will be processed electronically from 28^th January 2020.

The NHS advise that the most efficient way of patients receiving their repeat prescriptions is to have a nominated pharmacy. 

Electronic prescriptions help save the NHS money.

You will receive your prescriptions in the same way as you do now.

Read more about EPS on the NHS website.

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"My Journey with Type 2 Diabetes"

Please click onto the link below to read the article about the journey of one of our patients:

My Journey With Type 2 Diabetes

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CQC INSPECTION

We had our CQC inspection on

11th January 2017. 

  Here is their final report .

CQC Report

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We have been a Dementia Friendly GP Surgery since 2015 in recognition of the changes we implemented to improve support for the care of people with dementia and their carers. 

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We are working to improve access to appointments for our patients, in particular at evenings and weekends. If you would like to be offered one of these appointments, please ask. These appointments are at a different site e.g.  DCH.

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Our website address is: 

www.poundburydoctors.co.uk