Welcome

On Monday 18 August, the telephones went down in the whole Health Centre.  We apologise to patients

who were trying to get through to our receptionists. 

The telephone engineers were working hard to correct the problem - we believe it was a network issue.

Problems with our telephones rumbled over to Tuesday 19 August when the wrong recorded message 

was put on by the engineers.  Again major apologies for this.

Thankfully, the telephone system is now running normally and this morning (Wednesday 20th August) we have 4 members of staff

answering 4 telephones.  

Our sincere apologies for this major blip - we have been working closely with the telephone company to

try and ensure that these issues do not reoccur.  

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AS YOU WILL HAVE HEARD WIDELY, GENERAL PRACTICE IS UNDER UNPRECEDENTED PRESSURE.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING or STAFF. 

THIS CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY OUR POLITICIANS.

WE CAN ONLY APOLOGISE THAT THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE FALLS SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS. 

BLAME THE POLITICIANS.......NOT THE GPs

EXAMPLES OF THE CHANGES WE HAVE HAD TO MAKE :-

ROUTINE TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES WILL STOP AT 4pm

EMERGENCY COVER WILL BE IN PLACE

CAPPING OF TRIAGE SLOTS EACH DAY

PRIORITISING WELL-BEING & SAFETY OF STAFF & PATIENTS

ROBUST FOLLOWING OF RULES AROUND PRESCRIPTIONS & PRESCRIPTION COLLECTIONS

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We use this site as a way of presenting all our patients with an up to date resource for all information relating to our practice. We will keep it current with any news, developments and details that are relevant to the practice and our patients. As well as a source of information about our practice, the staff and the services we provide, we hope you use the website as a useful resource with links to other reliable websites for health related information. If there is topical health information we will also add this to the website.

Have a look around our website. Let us know your thoughts on how to improve our online services and further develop the website to make it more useful for our patients.

At Greenway Practice, if you need to be seen face to face, you will be.

TRIAGE TELEPHONE CALLS at GREENWAY PRACTICE

When we triage your telephone calls, patient safety is our main priority.

Greenway telephone lines open at 8:30 - please telephone at this time to request a call-back from a GP.

These triage slots reach full capacity quickly.

If you missed getting a call-back, please telephone the following weekday at 8:30am. 

The receptionist will ask for details to assist the GPs in prioritising their calls.

For genuine medical emergencies there will be an emergency doctor on call every afternoon.

DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU HAVE COVID SYMPTOMS.

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR GPs

"Many of our patient will have experienced difficulties trying to book a triage slot.......

"We share those frustrations"

Currently the appointment system works by phoning at 8.30am to arrange a phone call with one of the GPs or our Pharmacist.

Unfortunately we have to ration the number of phone calls per day because even with the current system, a routine day for a GP involves

40 consultations, house calls, meetings and administration spread over 11 hours.

Many patients ask why they are asked to phone again rather than have their name put on a list for the following day.

The reason for this is that the list starts to extend over a number of days/weeks.

We ask you to remember that our receptionists do a very good job under a lot of pressure.

Verbal abuse, inappropriate comments or bad language will not be tolerated and may result

in a formal warning or removal from the patient register at Greenway.

Thank you for your patience over this busy, difficult time."

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We offer a telephone advice service with our in-house Pharmacy Team

who will answer your medication queries. 

Please ring the receptionist and ask for this service.

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Our Specialist Nursing Team look after patients who suffer from:

*     Diabetes

*   Coronary Heart Disease

*   Respiratory Diseases

*   Stroke

*   Hypertension

If you would like an appointment in one of our nurse-led clinics, please ask our receptionists.

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We also offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy appointments with our CBT Counsellors.  

These appointments need a GP referral. 

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TREATMENT ROOM PHLEBOTOMY APPOINTMENTS

*  Appointment System

*  Telephone our receptionists to make an appointment

(PLEASE DO NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITHOUT A GP REFERRAL or A NURSE REFERRAL FROM NURSE RUTH or NURSE JANICE)

Please bear with us at this very busy time, we appreciate your patience and understanding.

BANK HOLIDAYS FOR 2025 

August 25th

Christmas Day - 25th December

Boxing Day - 26th December

OTHER CLOSURES FOR 2025

September 2nd    Closed from 1pm - 2.30pm  for Practice Meeting 

We assure our patients that this meeting/training is vital to our Primary Care Service at Greenway Practice. 

Information for deaf patients

Please inform us if we can help you communicate with our team.

We can offer BSL interpreter or  ISL interpreter 

or an alterative way to converse with our reception team.  

Your up-to-date telephone number is essential for our records

PLEASE inform our receptionists of your most recent telephone number.

We will be using your mobile number to text you with future updates and information.

Z E R O    T O L E R A N C E    P O L I C Y

AT GREENWAY PRACTICE WE MUST PROTECT OUR WHOLE TEAM

BY ENSURING OUR ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IS ADHERED TO.

SWEARING, THREATS OR ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

ANYONE GIVING VERBAL ABUSE TO MEMBERS OF STAFF

MAY BE DE-REGISTERED FROM OUR PRACTICE LIST.

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Greenway Practice have a robust complaints procedure. 

If you have a complaint: 

please download a complaints form and post to  

Mrs Angela Hutchison at Greenway Practice 

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If you have any comments or complaints about Greenway Practice,

please write to the Practice Manager at the above address.

DO NOT use social media sites, Facebook or Twitter

Any comments on social media sites may be seen as a breach of our Zero Tolerance Policy

Your mental health is very important to you and to us.  You can speak to a GP about your mental health - see above.

Here are some self-help tips some patients have found very helpful to manage their own mental health at this time of uncertainty:

a)  Try to keep to a routine as much as you can - eat and sleep at normal times if possible. 

b)  Go for walks if you are able.  Take photos of nature.  Smile and say hello to passers-by.

c)  "I have found that being creative has helped me so much" - try drawing, baking or doing a jigsaw.

d)  Try making a collage of your nature pictures.

e)  Try to remember that nothing lasts forever.  You can get through this difficult time.

f)   Speak about how you feel, you will be surprised at who is willing to help you!

g)  Be kind to yourself.  Take it hour by hour - not even day by day.

h)  Minimise watching bad news on TV.

I)  It's okay to feel however you feel, people cope and react to things in different ways.

j)  Try not to put pressure on yourself. 

Remember if you need to speak to someone about your mental health, telephone as close to 8.30am as you can and leave a message for our triage doctor to ring you

back.

Blood Results

When you get a blood test in the Treatment Room, the results come to Greenway Practice.

If any of your results are abnormal, you will receive a telephone call from the receptionist or the GP.

If all your results are normal, we will not routinely contact you.

Nurse Ruth's blood requests

If your blood tests are requested by Practice Nurse Ruth,

please book a review with her within 2 weeks following your tests.

Pharmacy First Scheme

If you are suffering from some minor ailments you could visit YOUR LOCAL CHEMIST for advice and treatment. Pharmacies provide the Minor Ailments Scheme free of charge and consultations are confidential for patients under the age of 60. Here are some conditions which are covered: 

Cold sores
Mouth ulcers
Oral thrush
Vaginal thrush
Athlete’s foot
Diarrhoea
Ear wax
Head lice
Threadworms
Groin itch