Welcome to Freshwell Health Centre

Welcome to the Freshford Practice. We are a six doctor dispensing practice providing medical services to 7,415 patients living in the mainly rural area surrounded by the conurbations of Braintree, Great Dunmow and Haverhill.

We are based in the Freshwell Health Centre situated in the village of Finchingfield and have had a longstanding close relationship with our local community. We are lucky to be supported by the community through the C.R.E.A.M.E.R. Fund. This medical practice endeavours to provide the best services to our patients as close to the community as possible.

The Freshwell Health Centre confidentially records telephone calls for Medico-Legal and Quality Purposes.

HAVE YOU TRIED eCONSULT? 

If you would like to watch a YouTube video showing how our eConsult works, click here

CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION UPDATE 08.04.2021

FOR INFORMATION ON THE ASTRA ZENECA/ BLOOD CLOTS LINK, CLICK HERE

NHS advice for anyone at clinical risk or aged over 50 is to continue with the course of vaccinations which you have started on -either Pfizer or AstraZeneca

FIRST DOSE

If you have not had your first dose and are eligible for it, please call the NHS on 119 to arrange an appointment

SECOND DOSE

We are now inviting in all those patients we have previously vaccinated for their second doses from the start of April 2021. If you have given your surgery your mobile phone number then you will be called in by SMS text invite. If you do not have a mobile phone, we will contact you in the order in which you had your first dose.

Please bring your vaccination card with you to your second appointment

Visit our PCN website for up to date information about the vaccination campaign Colne Valley PCN website

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs.  As before the NHS will contact those currently eligible and invite them to attend an appointment – please don’t contact your GP in advance of this.

Our Colne Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) consists of Hedingham Medical Centre, Freshwell Health Centre, Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery, Pump House Surgery, Coggeshall Surgery and Kelvedon and Feering Health Centre.

We will be carrying out vaccinations at our designated site at the Pump House Surgery, Nonancourt Way, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2SW

For the whole programme the key messages are as follows:

• This is a phased vaccination programme.
• The NHS will be in contact with people when it is their turn to have the vaccine. WAIT TO BE CONTACTED. WE WILL INVITE YOU WHEN WE HAVE VACCINES.
• When someone is called for an appointment, please can they make sure they attend; and
• In the meantime, continue to abide by all the social distancing, mask wearing and hand hygiene guidance.

The latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme is online on the NHS WEBSITE. For further information on the local vaccination programme in Essex, please visit the area’s local COVID-19 vaccine page. That page will be updated as the programme expands and more information becomes available:

https://eput.nhs.uk/news-events/coronavirus/coronavirus-vaccine/

We advise that you check there first if you have questions about the safety or effectiveness of COVID vaccines, or your priority to receive vaccination.

Please visit our website https://freshwell.co.uk/ for updated information

There is a good guide to the vaccine for adults here Guide for adults
 

Domestic Abuse

If you are worried that a friend, neighbour or loved one is a victim of domestic abuse then you can call the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and further information is on the helpline's dedicated website.

 If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, you should always call 999.

The Government has a detailed webpage Domestic abuse: get help during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak where you can find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse. In particular, the government pages have translated guidance, welfare benefits and housing advice as well as advice on how to get legal help.

The pages also give details on the domestic abuse code-word scheme. If someone is experiencing domestic abuse and needs immediate help, they can ask for ‘ANI’ in a participating pharmacy. ‘ANI’ stands for Action Needed Immediately but also phonetically sounds like the name Annie. If a pharmacy has the ‘Ask for ANI’ logo on display, it means they’re ready to help. They will offer the person a private space, provide a phone and ask if they need support from the police or other domestic abuse support services.

THE WAITING ROOM IS OPEN

The waiting room is now open to patients attending for face to face booked appointments. The reception area is open on a one way system. You can access it by the FRONT DOOR as you did before COVID19. Please note that the dispensary queue is still outside leading to the serving window for the time being. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY FOR APPOINTMENTS - we are trying to maintain social distance in the waiting room.

HOSPITAL WAITING TIMES

Broomfield Hospital have long waiting lists of between 36-60 weeks. If you are referred to them for non-urgent treatment then you will have this sort of wait. We are not able to write letters to expedite these referrals as our colleagues in hospitals are now trying to catch up on the backlog caused by the Covid 19 situation.

BLOOD TESTS

Patients can book blood tests online at Broomfield or Braintree by visiting: www.swiftqueue.co.uk/midessex.php 

CORONAVIRUS

FACE MASK

We ask that all patients attending the Surgery wear a face mask when inside the building.

FACE MASK EXEMPTIONS

We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks/coverings in various public settings.

GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask/covering.

The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this.

Read more here: 15th July 2020 Mask Advice

LATEST UPDATE 13 August 2020 Click here to read the latest NHS guidance

The surgery is not presently offering nurse appointments for travel vaccination advice. We are concentrating our nursing resources on more urgent vaccinations, cytology, wound care and phlebotomy.
The situation is under constant review and we will inform patients of any changes through our website www.freshwell.co.uk

OPEN TO HELP YOU

We are here for you and really appreciate the many offers of help we are getting from our patients. Online appointment booking is now available again - for telephone consultations only at present. Click here to book telephone appointments or to request medication online. If you require a face-face consultation, your GP will arrange this with you on the phone.

To find out more about testing for coronavirus click here

Testing for coronavirus

To protect patients and staff our doors are now closed to limit entry to the building.

If you have an appointment, please knock when you get here and we will come to let you in.

The DISPENSARY is open FOR MEDICATION COLLECTIONS from 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm If you need to order a prescription, please leave a request in the milk jug in the lobby, post to the surgery, request using SystmOnline or email freshwell.dispensary@nhs.net

If you need to collect a prescription, please queue at the dispensary window outside the front door where we will assist you.

For all other enquiries please go home and phone 01371 810 328 or use our eConsult service www.freshwell.co.uk

PLEASE ALLOW 5 DAYS FOR DISPENSARY TO PREPARE YOUR PRESCRIPTION. THIS IS DUE TO HEAVY DEMAND.

If you are coming to the surgery to pick up a prescription, can you pick them up for other people at the same time to reduce numbers of people coming through the doors?

If you are isolating at home and need someone to help you or if you are an NHS responder volunteer, click here for more information:

https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal  

If you have had Covid-19 and wish to help Clinical Research to fight against it, click here to read more about the PRINCIPLE trial.

NHS Information Sharing- Survey

The University of Cambridge CLIMB team are interested in peoples' views on consent and information sharing between NHS services. If you are interested in taking part in their anonymous survey then please follow the link below. The survey is voluntary and takes 15-20 mins but you can take a break. When asked where did you hear about this survey don’t forget to tick ‘from a GP’ and put Freshwell Health Centre, Finchingfield for our surgery.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Supporting your recovery after COVID-19

As you find yourself recovering from COVID-19 you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus has had on both your body and mind.

These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help.

Click here for more information

Recovering at home after Coronavirus: Taking care of your mental health.
FIND OUT MORE HERE

Are you experiencing increased anxiety or low mood due to COVID-19 or were already experiencing these symptoms and would like to be part of research? If so please visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/research/moodbuster

If you are caring for somebody who is living with dementia or who are affected by dementia click here to read about how you can get help from Dementia Support Workers

For coronavirus advice visit https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

Isolation Note available for patients 

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

BECOME MORE RESILIENT

Interact are offering a course of four 2½ hour workshops which will help you develop resilience - equipping you with the ability to face life’s
challenges and demands from a position of strength. Helping you to become a stronger person, with the ability to “bounce back” from life’s setbacks. You can read more about the virtual classes here and about the face to face sessions here

REGISTER WITH US

 if you wish to register with us could you download the forms below and post them or email us them with photopcopies of ID and proof of address to freshwell.administration@nhs.net Please also read the information on Proof of Address and the ID we require: New Patient ID Check

GMS1 Form

New Patient Questionnaire (Adults)

To find out more about your Summary Care Record, click here

New Patient Questionnaire (under 16s)

Communications and Consent Form

If you would like online access use this form: Online Access Request Form

To find out more about your Summary Care Record, click here

Please also read this information on Proof of Address and the ID we require:  New Patient ID Check

We would prefer you not to come in for the time being to register as it will expose you and us to the risk of contracting coronavirus.

If you use the NHS APP you will be able to access  NHS Advice as well as view your record and order prescriptions. Find out more here:

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-app

Mid Essex residents who need to see a GP or nurse on a weekday evening, Saturday or Sunday can now book an appointment by calling 01245 398055. Appointments are available as follows:

• Monday to Friday, 6.30pm to 8pm
• Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 8pm

and consultations will usually take place via telephone or video call. If a face-to-face appointment is required, it will be at North Chelmsford Health Centre, Sainsbury's, 2 White Hart Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 5EF.

Action For Family Carers are offering online help and outdoor walks for carers. Read more HERE

If you are 70 or older or have pre-existing health conditions that mean you are eligible for flu jabs then you could be at a 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 the 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 

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Over recent weeks Essex County Council have been working with colleagues from across Greater Essex to put together a series of resources that can be used to support people in our communities who are bereaved. It is important that family, friends and communities seeking support at this time are able to talk to somebody they trust, who will listen, empathise and point them to professional advice where necessary.  Click here for more details:

https://www.essex.gov.uk/coronavirus-and-faith/bereavement-support

Our practice is now part of My Care Record - supporting the delivery of joined-up care. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, additional measures are being put in place to help health and care providers to deliver effective care. This includes how the information from your care records is used. My Care Record is an approach to improving care by joining up health and care information. Wherever possible, health and care professionals will be able to access care records from other services if it is needed to deliver care for individuals with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms. For example, we are working to make sure doctors, nurses and co-ordination staff at places you may receive advice or treatment can see important information from your GP record. This will include health and care professionals at neighbouring GP practices, NHS 111 and regional centres for the treatment of critically ill patients including the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London. This will make it easier and faster for them to deliver effective care for you if it is needed. Please see the My Care Record website for more information including the Privacy Notice to support this work.

LOW CARB DIET

We are very excited to announce the launch of the Freshwell Low Carb Project, which has been set up to help our patients eat well & lose weight. Please see   www.lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk for further details. Read more by clicking on the link to our Low Carb Leaflet

For appointments and repeat prescriptions please click the SYSTMONLINE word below.  Please note that appointments for Orthopaedic Specialist are not available on line - please phone reception to book. 

You can now pre book appointments to see a GP or Practice Nurse when we our surgery is closed.  For more information on the NHSE Extended Access Scheme please click here  http://www.freshwell.co.uk/opening-times.aspx