Due to increased waiting times for outpatient appointments, we have seen a rise in patient requests to “expedite” their appointments. Patients are often requested by the Hospital to obtain a letter from the GP so their appointment can be expedited.

If you are experiencing worsening of your symptoms, we advise you to complete an on-line consultation on our website home page or by clicking on this link: https://patchs.ai/practice/oaksplacesurgery.  Please provide a brief description of change in symptoms since your original referral was made.

Please note that waiting a longer time for an appointment does not deem your request urgent. According to figures from NHS England, a total of 5.8 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of September 2021, the highest since records began in August 2007. As a result, we are unable to write letters to expedite your appointment for this reason.

We would advise all our patients awaiting hospital appointments to be patient and wait to be contacted.

We are not notified of any waiting times for clinics nor provided with hospital hotline numbers.  If your appointment has been delayed, please contact the hospital appointment line for any updates.

You can check hospital waiting times using the link below:

My Planned Care NHS

We are extremely busy at the moment please consider all health options that are available in the community if you think you need to see a health professional: 

• Your local pharmacist can help with any advice and medicines for minor illnesses and injuries and most have a room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.  Pharmacists  are also trained to tell you when your symptoms mean you need to see someone at your GP Practice 

• Go online at www.111.nhs.uk  if you urgently need medical help or advice and it’s not a life threatening situation.  With NHS111 online you can:  

• find out how to get the right healthcare in their area, including whether you need to see a GP or seek urgent care 
• get advice on self-care 
• get a call back from a nurse, doctor or other trained health professional if you need it 

• Your local urgent treatment centres are open 365 days a year and can treat non-life-threatening illness and injury and has x-ray facilities.  The two nearest to Warrington are Widnes and Runcorn 

• Please keep A&E free for those who really need it and only attend A&E or call 999 for a life-threatening illness such as choking, chest pain, blood loss or open fractures.  If you attend A&E and your condition not deemed to be life threatening, you will be advised of other local services that are more suitable for you 

• Also remember self-care.  The majority of people feel comfortable managing everyday minor ailments like coughs and colds themselves, particularly when they feel confident in recognising the symptoms and have successfully used over-the-counter medicine before.  More information about how to treat many common conditions at home can be found on the national NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions 

The service, delivered by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is the first of its kind nationally, offering a consistent health and care approach to all communities across Cheshire and Merseyside.

The Living Well bus promotes a broad range of physical health checks, COVID-19 vaccination boosters alongside referrals to improving access to psychological therapies.

All activity is recorded and shared with your GP, ensuring ongoing understanding and support for your health is in place.

Dates and locations of the Roving Bus Clinics can be found on the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website here.

ICON is all about helping people who care for babies to cope with crying.
“Babies Cry, You Can Cope – never, ever shake or hurt a baby” is the message from ‘ICON’ – a national programme of interventions and awareness that aims to help parents and carers to cope with a crying baby.

ICON is an evidence based programme, consisting of a series of brief ‘touchpoint’ interventions that reinforce the simple message making
up the ICON acronym. The programme, which was founded by Dr Suzanne Smith PhD, was conceived following years of study and research into prevention of Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Each ‘touch point’ is brief but reinforces the simple evidence based four point message which makes up the ICON acronym:

I – Infant crying is normal and it will stop.
C – Comfort methods can sometimes soothe the baby and the crying will stop.
O – It’s Ok to walk away if you have checked the baby is safe and the crying is getting to you.
N – Never, ever shake or hurt a baby.

ICON is well embedded with health services across Cheshire and is
going from strength to strength.

You can read more here (opens ICON Website)

From Monday 29^th November 2021, patients aged 16 and over attending adult phlebotomy clinics run by St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trusts at the HCRC in Widnes, will now need to book an appointment in advance.

Those in need of blood tests can book an appointment at their chosen phlebotomy clinic online at www.sthk.nhs.uk or via telephone on 0808 196 4500 between 12pm and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

We have recently added an in-house Clinical Pharmacist to our practice team and would like to welcome Julia Halim.

Clinical pharmacists work as part of the general practice team to improve value and outcomes from medicines and consult with and treat patients directly, e.g. providing extra help to manage long-term conditions, advice for those on multiple medicines and better access to health checks. Julia’s role is pivotal to improving quality of care and ensuring patient safety at the practice.

Having clinical pharmacists in GP practices means that GPs can focus their skills where they are most needed, for example on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions.

To read more about clinical pharmacists in practice, please visit the NHS England website here

Age UK now conducting benefit checks over the phone for the elderly in Halton.  These will include:

• Attendance allowance claims
• Warm home discounts
• Housing Benefits
• Council tax reduction claims
• Pension credit

They will also take on any enquiries from patients as normal, issues like heating problems and grants for cavity wall insulation etc.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, they are unable to carry out face to face consultations and will deliver these over the phone.

The winter months are always are difficult time for the elderly, Age UK aim to target the vulnerable over 66 year olds in Halton with a view to reducing fuel poverty and to minimise the risk of cold temperature related illnesses.

Call Age UK on 01928 575400

Patients will be used to see the e-consult banner which has been advertised on our website since 2016. This is a form of online consultation.

Please read the leaflet below to learn more about online consultations.