Important update from Dr Michael Magill regarding the new GP provision in Highley

Dear patients,  

Following the announcement that Bridgnorth Medical Practice has been successful in becoming the new provider of GP services in the parish of Highley, this update is to reassure you that there will be no direct or adverse impact to the current service in Bridgnorth.

As you may know, back in November 2022 Highley Medical Centre gave formal notification to end its GP contract. Since then, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has carried out a procurement exercise in which Bridgnorth Medical Practice was selected as the successful bidder.

With any kind of development like this, we understand that patients will be wondering how this might affect the level of care they currently receive.

I write to reassure you that there will be no impact felt to patients in Bridgnorth as the new Highley service will be run separately to that in Bridgnorth. This will mean that the current service provision will be maintained and that there will be no direct impact.  

We are fortunate to have a brilliant team to offer our patients and are confident that we will be able to provide the people of Bridgnorth, as well as Highley, with a new and improved service. We are also working to transition some healthcare professionals from Highley Medical Centre to the new service.

We will not become the new GP provider for Highley will until 1 July 2023, which means we have a good amount of time in which to ensure a smooth transition and to fully mobilise the new service in tandem with the Bridgnorth service.

The Practice will keep all patients informed with updates in due course.

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Michael Magill
Senior Partner at Bridgnorth Medical Practice

The way GP services are provided on evenings and weekends is changing.  

From 1 October 2022, appointments will be made available outside of normal practice hours, usually 8am to 6:30pm on weekdays and on Saturdays via an Enhanced Access Service.  

The change means that some patients will access appointments differently, such as how they book them and where they might go to be seen. 

Primary Care Networks will offer access to appointments on weekday evenings 6.30pm-8pm, and on Saturdays. These additional appointments will be a mix of appointments including pre-bookable, ‘on the day’ and NHS 111 can also book patients in.     

Practices within South East Shropshire Primary Care Network are offering appointments in the following locations, subject to availability.

Albrighton, Bridgnorth, Broseley, Brown Clee, Cleobury Mortimer, Highley and Ironbridge

Practices will be offering a different days and times, and appointments can be booked by telephoning your own usual GP practice.

So, what will change and what will stay the same:  

Things that won’t change are:  

• The overall number of hours that need to be provided for patients. 
• The locations for face-to-face appointments - These still need to be convenient to patients. 
• The type of appointment – a mixture of face-to-face and remote (telephone, video, online) appointment - will be available together with the ability to pre-book appointments and book on the same day. 
• Appointments will continue to be available with GPs and Practice Nurses in addition to other healthcare roles.  

Things that will be different are: 

• The hours of operation – the change does not include any requirement for services to be provided on a Saturday evening between 5pm–8pm or on Sundays and bank holidays. The provision will be Monday-Saturday only.  
• More focus on appointments that can be booked in advance. This means pre-bookable appointments are available for patients and can include 'planned care' appointments, (i.e., regular monitoring of long-term conditions, immunisations, or screenings). 
• PCNs now need to ensure that all practices and the PCN have the ability to book and cancel appointments, make referrals and request tests, and view and update patients' records. 

Phlebotomy Service

We are now offering a full phlebotomy service for patients of the Practice.

When arriving at the Practice for your blood test, there is no need to check-in at the Front Desk. Please turn left and observe the phlebotomy signs. 

Mental Health Practitioner

We are delighted to inform you that the Primary Care Network (PCN) have employed a Mental Health Practitioner, Julie May-Griffiths.

We will be offering appointments alternate Fridays, starting from August 5th 2022. 

Physiotherapy Service

We are delighted to inform you that the Primary Care Network (PCN) have employed a Physiotherapist.

Fola Raji will be offering telephone appointments from 8th August 2022.

Additionally,  we have employed Carissa Jones, who is the First Contact Physiotherapist from Primary Care Physio. She is providing face-to-face appointments at Bridgnorth every Thursday.

Please see advice for Ukrainian refugees entering the UK on how to access NHS services. These posters are in Ukrainian and Russian.