Appointments

At the Tile House all patients have a named accountable GP, who is responsible for your overall care at the Practice, if you do not know who this is you should contact Reception who will be able to tell you, if you have a preference as to which GP this is we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate your request.

To maintain continuity of care we prefer you to see or speak to your own doctor for routine appointments whenever possible.

We have changed our appointment system due to Coronavrius, you should continue to ring the surgery to speak to your doctor, some calls will be scheduled for the same day and some may be for a future date.

You can also complete an E-Consult see the home page of this website to do so these are reviewed and you will be contacted within 24 hours of submission.                

The telephone lines can be very busy especially early in the morning. If possible, for non-urgent matters, please telephone after 10:00.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

Accidents and Emergencies

Minor injuries may be dealt with by the Nurses at the surgery (please ring for an appointment and advice), but for major problems patients should attend the nearest Accident and Emergency department, located at Basildon Hospital or Queens Hospital, Romford, or Orsett Minor Injury Service. (Always ring this service before attending to confirm that they can deal with your problem on 01268 592300.)

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you must ring us by before 10:00 on 01277 227711. All requests for home visits are triaged by our morning duty doctor to determine if you need a visit or not. Requests for non-urgent home visits can be made in advance.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Acute Home Visiting Service - this is a new service in Brentwood funded by the CCG and run by BB Healthcare Solutions - when you request a visit you may receive one from this service and not by one of the Tile House Surgery doctors, this can either by a GP or an Advanced Nurse Practitioner whichever is deemed most appropriate. You will be advised if your visit is going to be undertaken by this service at the time that the Triage duty doctor speaks to you. These visits can take place anytime between 9am and 6pm.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

To request a sick certificate you can complete an E-Consult, see the link on our Home page.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

If you have registered to use our on-line services, you can complete required details for a fit note through the questionnaires section of our on-line services rather than phoning through to the surgery.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).

Annual Flu vaccination programme 2020

This vaccination programme is in place to help protect patients against influenza.

Download the NHS Leaflet on who needs the vaccination?

NHS Flu Vaccination leaflet - who needs it

 Please read carefully below, because of booking constraints only the over 65s can book on-line the 18-64 year olds should ring the surgery to book their appointment.

 Attendance at any Clinic is by prior appointment only.

 Clinics are running on Saturdays from 3^rd October 2020

 IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU MUST READ BEFORE ATTENDING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT:-

 Privacy – Please be aware that vaccinations will be administered in the waiting room at 5 separate stations, you should wear suitable clothing so that the top of your arm can be accessed by a clinician easily, either wear short sleeves or no sleeves or have long sleeves which are loose and can be rolled up high.

 Before you arrive:

Do not attend if you feel unwell, have a temperature, cough or cold – you will not be vaccinated.

To maintain social distancing do not arrive early for your appointment as you will not be seen before your appointment time.

The car park will be closed to vehicle access.

Do not bring additional bags or shopping into the surgery.

Do ensure that you are dressed appropriately for the weather as you will need to wait outside.

Only the person being vaccinated will be allowed entry to the surgery unless the patient needs to be accompanied by their carer.

No toilet facilities will be available on site.

 On Arrival:

You should queue to the right of the main surgery door, there will be strict control of the number of patients entering the building at any one time.

There will be staff on site who will direct you, please do as they ask, it is for your safety and theirs.

you must wear a face covering on entering the building.

your temperature will be taken before entering the building, if your temperature is above 37.5 you will not be able to enter the building or be vaccinated,

you will then be asked your name and given a card with your details on, you will need to hand this to the clinician administering your vaccination

you will be advised where to stand in reception

you should remove your coat and have your upper arm ready for vaccinating

you will be directed to a vaccination station in the waiting room, when one is free

the clinician will take your card, ask you relevant health questions and then vaccinate you if they feel it is appropriate.

you will then exit the building as directed through the treatment room and out of the Old front door.

PPE 

Appropriate PPE will be worn by our clinicians & non-clinical staff in accordance with the latest Public Health England guidance, gloves will not be worn however between each patient clinical staff will be using hand sanitising gel and after every 5^th patient they will wash their hands with soap and water, ( this is best practice as advised by Public Health England)

Click HERE to book your appointmentShould you have any questions regarding this vaccination then you are welcome to discuss this matter with a member of our nursing staff. 

TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

If you are an adult 65 years and over

You are able to book your Flu vaccinations as follows:

Our preferred option is for you to book on-line -  

          Book appointment

 or via the NHSApp,

or via SystmOnline App

or via myGP App

or contact the surgery on 01277 227711 choosing option 1 after 10am.

If you are in an at risk group aged 18-64 years

 You are able to book your Flu vaccinations as follows:

 You can only book into certain clinics and you should ring the surgery on 01277 227711 choosing option 1 after 10am to book your appointment, unfortunately you are not able to book on-line.

 HOUSEBOUND PATIENTS: If you are a known housebound patient, we will contact you to arrange for the District Nurses to come to your home to administer your vaccination.

 However, if you are housebound and have not received a call from us please contact the surgery.

 The District Nurses will only attend if you are unable to leave the house, if there is evidence that in the recent past you have attended the surgery for your appointments, the District Nurses will be unable to administer your vaccination. If you are out when they call they will not be able to call back. The District Nurses are unable to give exact time/date when they will visit.

 You must advise us before Monday 19^th October if you require the District Nurse to administer your FLU vaccination..

 DECLINE FLU VACS: If you do not wish to have the vaccination this year, please Email your name and DOB to tilehouse.flu@nhs.net and put the word DECLINE in the subject heading.