Practice news

Shakespeare Road Medical Practice FAQs

December 2022

Why is Southern Health taking on Shakespeare Road Medical Practice?
Following conversations with the Integrated Care Board (ICB), Southern Health, in partnership with our colleagues at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Solent NHS Trust have agreed to take over the running of Shakespeare Road.

We recognise the importance of the practice to the local community and want to ensure it can continue to support those people. Primary care (GP) services have struggled over the last few years with increased demand and a shortage of GPs. We believe by coming together we can guarantee long-term sustainability for the practice, help them deliver high-quality services to their patients and continued job security for their staff.

Is it unusual for practices to be taken on by NHS Trusts like this?
It is not common but Southern Health have taken on Primary Care service before. In 2018 they took over the running of the Willow Group in Gosport. The additional support Southern Health has provided has enabled the Willow Group to invest in services for the local community or address issues such as access. 

Increased demand for primary care services may mean that this model becomes more prevalent over the coming years.

Are staff affected?
Staff were given the opportunity to transfer over to Southern Health as part of this move. A large number of staff have taken up the offer and we look forward to working with them. Some staff were employed via agencies and may well continue to work with the practice but will not be directly employed by Southern Health.

What does this mean for me as a patient?
There should be a number of advantages for you as the patient. By pooling clinical and administrative resources, we will be able to respond more effectively to various issues, these include staffing shortages or investment in updated technology to support access.
You wont need to do anything and your records will remain safe. The majority of the work will be ‘behind the scenes’ but over time you might see some changes in the practice and, we hope, improvements and greater access to care.

I am having treatment – will the practice know about this?
Your medical records contain details of your previous and current treatment, and this will automatically transfer. This includes details of any specific referrals or appointments with hospital specialists.

Will any services changes?
We will not be reducing any services currently provided by the practice. We hope to be able to gradually increase both patient access and the services we can provide over time. This will be dependent on how successful we are with recruiting additional staff such as GPs. We believe this piece of work will also make us a more attractive employer for all staff – including GPs – at a time of major challenges around NHS recruitment and retention. Staff at the practice will work closely with colleagues from the Trusts involved giving them the opportunity to learn new skills and vice versa.

Will the practice name change?
No. We are keen to continue providing services under the Shakespeare Road Medical Practice banner and are not looking to change the name. Our involvement is to provide support following the withdrawal of the previous provider and to ensure the practice can continue to provide care to the local community.

What will this mean for the services that you provide us in future?
There are no plans to reduce any services. We hope that by taking on the practice we will be able to improve patient experience and, in the long term, improve the services offered at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice. Our aim is to make it a seamless transition - so that it will generally be ‘business as usual’ for most patients.

There have been rumours that the surgery may become a walk in centre, post transfer – is that true?There are no current discussions underway to propose Shakespeare Road changes from a GP surgery to a walk-in centre. We are aware that the system are discussing the possibility of an Urgent Treatment Centre being developed in the geographical area of Basingstoke, but not at the Shakespeare Road site. The contract in place is to provide a primary care service to the community and this is not currently changing.

Information for patients at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice, Basingstoke

Patients at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice in basingstoke recently recieved the following letter, updating them on the new owners of the practice. 

You have received this letter because you are currently a Shakespeare Road Medical Practice patient that attends the Shakespeare Road Health Centre in Popley.  We are delighted to let you know that Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT), Solent NHS Trust and North Hampshire Urgent Care (NHUC) will be taking over the Shakespeare Road Medical Practice. This development is an exciting opportunity. The collaborative approach being delivered at the practice will hopefully have a significant impact with each provider bring their expertise, resources and experience to the practice, ensuring patients get the highest the quality services. Southern Health and it’s partners will provide GP services with the site remaining a GP surgery.

We would like to assure you the Shakespeare Road Medical Practice will remain open and you will continue to be able access appointments and healthcare services at the Shakespeare Road site. 

Responsibility for your care will transfer automatically to Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice on 1 December 2022.  This will include the secure transfer of your electronic care records.

You do not need to do anything. We have taken this action to ensure continuity of care and your registration to the new provider will take place automatically. 

A list of frequently asked questions to answer any concerns you may have in relation to your medicines, access to results or upcoming appointments with a specialist services is provided on our website.

What happens next?

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust will hold the contract to provide primary care services at the Shakespeare Road Medical Practice from the 01 December 2022. Southern Health and its partners are planning on holding some open days at the Practice for patients to meet the new providers and their staff. Details will be shared with patients closer to the time.

As mentioned earlier, no further action is required on your part.

You do however have the right to register with any other practice whose boundary includes your home address. Details of practice boundaries are on most practice websites, in individual practice leaflets and on the NHS Choices website.

If you have a question or wish to share comments or concerns, you can contact Shakespeare Road Medical Practice on 01256 464 151 (preferably between 12pm and 4pm, Monday to Friday), or email on nhccg.bermudapractice-admin@nhs.net 

Yours sincerely,

Dr Robin Harlow

Clinical Director for Primary Care Development Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
GP Partner: Willow Group

Patient Access To Records

Update (01/11/22): Following announcements from a number of clinical IT systems, we are waiting for an update from NHS England to suggest a way forward. We will update you with further information when available.

Original story (18/10/22): The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster and also allows you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

From 1 November, if you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App, NHS website, Dr. iQ, or another online primary care service, you will now be able to see all future notes and health records from your doctor (GP). Some people can already access this feature and from 1 November all patients will have this access.

This means that you will be able to see notes from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your GP, not from hospitals or other specialists. You will only be able to see information entered from 1 November 2022. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won’t need to do anything.

Your GP may talk to you to discuss test results before you are able to see some of your information on the app. Your GP may also talk to you before your full records access is given to make sure that having access is of benefit to you. There might be some sensitive information on your record, so you should talk to your GP if you have any concerns.

These changes only apply to people with online accounts. If you do not want an online account, you can still access your health records by requesting this information through reception. The changes also only apply to personal information about you. If you are a carer and would like to see information about someone you care for, speak to reception staff.

The NHS App, website and other online services are all very secure, so no one is able to access your information except you. You’ll need to make sure you protect your login details. Don’t share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information. If someone is pressuring you for this information, contact your GP surgery immediately.

If you do not want to see your health record, or if you would like more information about these changes, please speak to your GP or reception staff.

Patient update: services at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice

17 October 2022

We are pleased to announce that from 1 December 2022, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust will take over the day-to-day running of the practice.

Patients currently registered at Shakespeare Road do not have to do anything – services will continue to be delivered from Shakespeare Road and the practice will continue to provide the same range of services. Current staff will continue to work at the practice under the new provider.

We will keep you updated as we move closer to the point when Southern Health takes over the running of your practice. Southern Health staff will also be in touch to introduce themselves to their new patients.

Q&A for patients

1. Why will there be a new provider?

Operose Health stepped into support providing services at Shakespeare Road Medical practice until 30 November 2022 when their contract arrangement comes to an end.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been working to secure a provider to take over the contract from 1 December 2022.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust will take over the day-to-day running of the practice from 1st December 2022 for an initial period of 2 years.

2. Who will be running the services?

Staff currently working at the practice will be offered the opportunity to continue working at the practice under Southern Health as their new employer therefore you can expect to continue to see some familiar faces in the practices.

3. Will services still be safe, and of a high quality?

We will continue to ensure that services provided are safe and of high quality.

4. I am a patient at Shakespeare Road – do I need to take any action?

Patients currently registered at the practice do not need to take any action.  Services will continue to be provided and the practice will still be required to provide the same range of services.

Your medical record will automatically transfer to Southern Health ready for the start date of 1st December.

5. Will the telephone number of the practice stay the same?

Yes, this will stay the same.

Message To Our Patients From Operose Health And The Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Integrated Care Board

27 September 2022

Update on your provider of primary care services at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice

From Dr. Anna Reed, Regional Medical Director, Operose Health

Dear patient

In August, we shared with you the news that our caretaking contract for Shakespeare Road Medical Practice would end on 30 November this year.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has now successfully secured new management of the practice from 1 December for 24 months, whilst the ICB continues to work on a permanent solution for the practice. We will of course be working with the ICB and the new management to make sure we have a seamless handover to support our patients and staff.

From 01 December, your practice will now be managed by Southern Health as the lead provider with support from other NHS partners. The change will have no effect on how you contact us or access services, so please continue to use our practice as normal.

We will continue to update you on progress.

Thank you.

Bank Holiday on Monday 19 September 2022

12 September 2022

Dear Patients,

The government has confirmed that, following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Monday 19th September will be a Bank Holiday.

In line with NHS guidance, your GP surgery will be closed on Monday 19th September, but local out-of-hours and urgent care services will be open as normal.

If you have an urgent medical problem please call 111 and for any life threatening issues please call 999.

Otherwise, we would kindly ask you to contact us on Tuesday 20th September.

Thank You

Her Majesty the Queen

9 September 2022

It is with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen yesterday. Our thoughts are of course with the Royal Family at this sad time and, like millions of people at home and abroad, our team will remember and reflect on the Queen’s dedication to public service throughout her lifetime.

Message to our patients from Operose Health and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board

12 August 2022

Update on your provider of primary care services at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice

From Dr. Anna Reed, Regional Medical Director, Operose Health

Dear patients,

Operose Health has been providing your primary care services here since December 2021, on a short-term care-taking contract.  This care-taking contract ends on 30 November this year. This is the agreed termination date of our contract which will have run for nine months plus a further three-month extension as requested by the local commissioner, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.

It has been a pleasure and privilege to have had this opportunity to support the practice and local community and we will of course work closely with the commissioner and the next provider to make sure there is a smooth handover during the autumn. Please do not worry as your care and services will continue as normal during this time.

I am pleased that we have improved patient care and access over the last year and I would like to thank each and every one of the team at the practice for their hard work providing high quality care for our patients.

Thank you.

Anna

From Leanne Parmenter, Associate Director of Primary Care for North and Mid Hampshire for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) has begun the process to find a long-term provider to come in and take over the running of the practice from 1 December 2022.

We are grateful for the hard work Operose has done over the last year to stabilise the situation at the practice and we are actively pursuing options to secure, and continuously improve the services provided at Shakespeare Road Medical Practice.

We would also like to reassure patients that access to the service will not be affected while this transition process is underway. Patients currently registered at the practice do not need to take any action. Services will continue to run as usual.

We will of course keep you updated as the situation progresses, and we apologise for any uncertainty this situation may cause.

Thank you.

Staying healthy in hot weather

13 July 2022

When the outside temperature becomes too hot for too long, it can cause a number of health risks. The NHS has provided some useful suggestions to help yourself and others stay safe and hydrated during a heatwave. Top tips include:

• Staying cool indoors.

• Drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding excess alcohol.

• Looking out for those who may struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated.

• Not leaving anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals.

• Staying out of the sun between 11am to 3pm.

• Walking in the shade, applying sunscreen regularly and wearing a wide brimmed hat outside.

Please click here for more recommendations and advise from the NHS.

GP Staff Receive Covid Star In Recognition Of Pandemic Effort

28 March 2022

Our GP practice teams have been presented with a specially designed Covid Star badge to wear to recognise their role in supporting the NHS to care for local communities during the pandemic. The Covid Stars will arrive on the second anniversary of the initial full lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on 23 March 2020.

Operose Health, which runs 66 GP practices in England, will present over 1,600 staff with the Covid Stars to say thank you for their hard work and dedication to their patients over the past two years.

Operose Health CEO Liz Perry said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has placed the NHS under more pressure than ever, and over the last two years our teams have all adapted rapidly to new ways of working. To mark their outstanding commitment to patient care during the pandemic, I am delighted that every member of staff who has been part of our team over the past two years will be receiving the Operose Health Covid Star. I hope they wear it with pride.

”The Covid Star People’s Medal is the work of renowned British public artist Harry Gray (MEDAL INTRODUCTION | harrygray), to honour NHS staff and care workers in the UK for their service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In January 2022, Operose Health became an accredited Living Wage Employer with the announcement of the Operose Health Living Wage, a permanent commitment to pay all staff at least 10 pence above the current National or London Living Wage.