Welcome to Queens Medical Centre

We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help and give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format.  You can find a copy of our practice leaflet here: Queens Medical Centre Practice Leaflet .

You can use the website to book appointments and order repeat prescriptions. You will need a log on for this. Please contact reception for more details.

Further information about our Surgery is here.

Messaging for patients: Preparing for a surge in January of COVID-19 cases The NHS in Devon is expecting to be very busy in January due to a predicted surge in Omicron cases, peaking in mid-January.   Even with very high vaccination uptake in our patients and staff, the spread of COVID-19 is already having a significant impact on NHS staff absences and this is likely to become worse.  This will further impact on staffing and will cause more disruption to wider health and services.   Every additional person with COVID-19 impacts on the ability of the NHS to carry out other important work.  For example, for every inpatient in hospital with COVID-19, on average more than eight other operations are postponed.   To prepare for this surge in January and the impact on staffing, in North Devon our GP practices are: Reducing non-urgent work, for example routine check-ups, routine monitoring, minor surgery, sick notes Starting each consultation with a telephone call or online consultation first. We need to limit exposure for both patients and staff but anyone who needs to be seen face-to-face patient contact will be, where it’s safe to do Limiting the staff working in our buildings to reduce the risk of outbreaks, along with regular staff testing Strictly applying infection control precautions such as masks, ventilation, social distancing, and hand sanitiser By ensuring these measures are in place, we will keep general practice open and therefore support our local hospitals, ambulances and out of hours services.   If we find that despite these measures some individual GP practices cannot open for a short period of time, then neighbouring GP practices in our area will support each other to ensure we can still ensure patients have access to GPs when it’s urgent.   Our practice will review the suitability of these arrangements each week as we learn more about the impact of Omicron on NHS services in Devon.   How can you help? Please be patient and kind to our staff who are working under extreme pressure Get your COVID-19 booster vaccination as soon as possible if you haven’t already.  Many people in intensive care units in Devon are young and unvaccinated. You can either book by calling 119 or using the walk in clinics at Barnstaple Leisure Centre Continue to follow national guidance about wearing face coverings, social distancing and any other restrictions that are in place

As you know, Queens Medical Centre supported the Covid vaccination programme over the last 12 months by vaccinating a large number of our patients for 1st, 2nd and booster doses. We have been doing this alongside the NDHT vaccination clinics/outreach teams and Queens had completed the patient vaccinations it was set up to do.  However as part of the new national drive to complete more boosters we are stepping back up to take over the vaccinating from the NDHT outreach team to now go out and visit all our housebound patients to complete their boosters.

Please be aware that this means some of our staff will be out of the practice for the next 3 weeks doing the vaccines and this means that some of our other routine work will be delayed and all our staff are working hard to cover each other and all the urgent work.

Please be kind to all of our teams who are working under huge pressure to help everyone get the help they need this winter.

By us doing the vaccines for the housebound patients it enables more NDHT teams to be available to work in the leisure centre vaccination clinics which are expanding their hours and numbers of staff vaccinating each day.

We are contacting all of our housebound patients who have not yet had a booster directly.

For everyone else, if you have not yet had your booster please ring 119, book on line https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ OR check the NDHT website where there are dates and details of walk in clinics and these are regularly updated https://www.northdevonhealth.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccination-north-devon-leisure-centre/

General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDfPR)

Type 1 Opt Out

The data in patient's medical records at GP Practices is used every day to support health and care planning and research in England, helping to find better treatments and improve patient outcomes for everyone. NHS Digital has developed a new way to collect this data, called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research.  

Patient’s names and addresses will not be sent and any other identifiable data (e.g. date of birth) will be replaced with codes so that it cannot be traced back to individuals. The data will be used for a variety of research and analysis projects, including: 

- Researching the long term impact of COVID-19

- Analysing healthcare inequalities.

- Research and develop cures for serious illnesses

NHS digital will protect your data and will not sell it on to marketing or insurance companies. 

We know how important your data is to you and understand that you may not want your data to be used in this way.

You can stop your data being sent to NHS digital by completing the Type 1 Opt Out form and returning it to your GP practice. This stops patient information leaving the GP practice for any reason other than direct patient care. NHS Digital are not setting a specific starting date for the collection of data.

To download the Type 1 Opt Out form, click on the PDF file below. Please ensure you sign the form before returning it to us.

Type 1 Opt Out Form

The National Data Opt Out

You can also stop your confidential patient information (collected from any health organisation) being sent from NHS digital to another organisation for any reason other than your own care and treatment (for auditing, resource planning etc.). This is the National Data Opt Out. To do this - patients need to go to https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/manage-your-choice/ and opt out. This is something we cannot do for you in the surgery.

For more information on both data opt outs, please click here  

For a video explaining how the NHS uses patient data, click here

GP ACCESS

COVID-19 has changed the way we as a Practice provide services to you, and although we have remained seeing patients face to face on a medical need basis throughout the pandemic, the NHS has required us to provide more digital access.  We already provide eConsult and on-line access through the NHS App and SystmOne Online for the facility to make appointments, order repeat medication and view records.  We have embraced the technology of using SMS (text) services and email to communicate with patients and our GPs, Nurse Practitioners and Nurses are able to consult with you via video technology.

Our workload has increased hugely since this time last year and we are currently seeing an increase of approximately 19% in our workload. In order to try and meet this demand whilst we advertise for GPs and Nurse Practitioner we are utilising the services of Push Doctor. This is an innovative offering of an NHS Dr consulting with patients via video using Smartphone or Computer. Push Doctor are a renowned partner to the NHS providing services to over 5.7million NHS patients across the UK, and if you wish to know more about who they are and how they work please click on the link below.

If you agree to a GP contacting you this way we will send you a link to your mobile number from which you can log in to choose an appointment that suits you from 8am to 8pm, or you can access through their website.  And it's as easy as that!  Push Doctor, with your consent, have access to your records ensuring that they can see your health history and the treatment you are currently receiving.  They are also able to raise prescriptions, make referrals and provide sick notes.

https://www.pushdoctor.co.uk/surgery/queens-medical-centre

Advice on patients wearing face coverings in practices

The surgery has a legal responsibility to protect staff and patients from risks associated with COVID-19.  We have conducted our own risk assessment to determine necessary controls, and we ask that patients please apply a face covering before entering the surgery.  

Wearing a face covering is an added precaution that may have some benefit in reducing the likelihood that a person with the infection passes it on. Evidence shows a face covering can help in reducing the spread of droplets; it stops them from leaving the mouth and nose area and reduces the size of area in which they spread.

A medical grade clinical mask is not necessary. These need to be prioritised to clinical staff working in high risk areas. Instead, for patients who are visiting healthcare sites, a face covering is sufficient and there is guidance for people to make these at home with items they may already own.

Contaminated droplets can also be picked up from surfaces by touch and subsequently from touching the face. It is important people refrain from touching their face covering when wearing it, where possible, to avoid hand to mask transmission of the virus. Face coverings are not a replacement for social distancing. Regular hand washing remains an important action.

Quick eConsult links: 

For more information about eConsult, view this video:

For information on booking appointments online, download this leaflet and application form to complete and bring to Reception with the relevant i.d.:

• Patient Online Access

Barnstaple Alliance

The Barnstaple Alliance is a voluntary association of the four General Practitioner surgeries: Brannam, Fremington, Litchdon and Queens.
Whilst retaining our independent surgeries, we are working together on collaborative projects to improve and develop our healthcare services and care given to patients.  To find out more please visit our website: www.barnstaplealliance.co.uk/

Comments from Patients

"Last Thursday I was told by Sister Clare that I am type 2 diabetic. I was a little 'taken aback' at this and very shocked and tearful.
I am writing to say that she was, at once comforting and explained what would happen next and what I had to change in my life style.
Sister Clare was so understanding, (had tissues at the ready) was not in the least bit critical of my of how I came to be in this position. I am so grateful for her kindness, understanding and good advice.
Thank you Sister Clare.....I'm 'on it', see you next month."

"Thank you for your help today,  especially the very helpful receptionist and GP who called me (sorry, can't remember the name). I'm very grateful for the assistance you gave me when I was away from home and unable to see my own GP."

“Thank you all for looking after me so well!”

“Thank you for your friendly, kind and encouraging approach – it was worth moving back to Barnstaple to have such good care and services again!!”

“I am eternally grateful for your support a few years ago, given professionally and with such warmth and care."

"I have been coming in since August for an ongoing problem and the treatment I have received At Queens Medical Centre has been excellent! The receptionists do a thankless job and I think they are all wonderful, not a lot of people appreciate what they do."