Making an appointment
With our expanded team you do not need to ring the practice at 8 am to make an appointment. If you have an urgent problem as long as you ring the practice before 12 noon we should be able to accommodate your request. If you need a routine appointment for your long term conditions review or medication review please call the practice after 10 am. If you are requesting home visit please call before 11 am.
Advice for patients - Weaning opioids
We are contacting patients who have been taking painkillers for a long period of time, particularly a type of painkiller called an opioid; like co-codamol, co-dydramol, codeine, dihydrocodeine, and tramadol.
Recent medical evidence questions the benefit of opioids (which are in the morphine family) for long-term pain. Strange as it might sound – we don’t think that they are very good at killing pain at all when taken for more than a few months.
Please see the links below for more information and advice.
Weaning opioids - Information for patients
Weaning opioids - Advice for patients
Warning - Flu Vaccine Scam
Please note there is currently a flu vaccine scam being carried out in the local area in regards to asking for payment for the vaccine. The Beacon Health Group will not call you to tell you we cannot provide your flu vaccine unless you pay. Those eligible for the vaccine do not have to pay for it. If you are called by anyone please notify the police immediately. Do not give your bank details to anyone over the phone.
Walk-in Flu Clinics now available
At Danbury Medical Centre
- Monday 21st October 6.30pm - 7.45pm
At Mountbatten House Surgery
- Thursday 14th November 6.30pm - 7.45pm
All eligible Beacon Health Group patients are welcome to use these clinics
Our Saturday Flu Clinic is now available to book
At Danbury Medical Centre
- Saturday 19th October 8.00am - 10.00am
Please speak to reception to book or call 01245 221777
All eligible Beacon Health Group patients are welcome to use these clinics
Alternatively if you have an appointment booked you can ask for the flu vaccine to be administered during your existing appointment.
Walk-in Flu Clinics now available at Danbury Medical Centre
This clinic is being held at Danbury Medical Centre but all eligible Beacon Health Group patients are welcome
Push Doctor
The Beacon Health Group is thrilled to announce ‘Push Doctor’ a new service offering digital appointments with NHS-trained UK GPs over face to face video call.
If your concern is deemed suitable for this service we will send out an invitation which will ask you to register online or download the app. This will enable you to book ‘Push Doctor’ appointments and have your consultation digitally via video on your smart phone, tablet or computer. Push Doctor will be able to access your medical record for the duration of the consultation and just like in a traditional GP appointment, you will discuss your symptoms, medical history and any other details you want to make the doctor aware of. Push Doctor can issue, if needed, prescriptions, sick certificate, blood tests forms and make referrals. If the doctor feels a physical examination is necessary they will make you an appointment at the surgery during the consultation. This is all completely private and confidential, just as it would be within the surgery.
This new service enables The Beacon Health Group to keep up with appointment demand. Please note this service is in addition to our normal appointments.
Moulsham Lodge Surgery Update
Moulsham Lodge Surgery will now keep its doors open between 12.30 - 1.30 as of 1st October 2019. Please note the phone lines will still be closed during this time.
Extended Access Hub
The Beacon Health Group is now able to book GP-led appointments at a wider range of times in the ‘Extended Access Hub’, meaning patients who might not be able to get to the surgery during normal ‘working hours’ can now see nurse practitioners, GPs and healthcare assistants at other times.
You have a choice of evening and weekend appointments across mid Essex. These three hubs are open 7 days a week, 6.30pm-8pm on weekdays (9pm at Maldon) and 8am-2pm on weekends and bank holidays:
- Blackwater Medical Centre in Maldon
- Elizabeth Courtauld Surgery, Halstead
- North Chelmsford Health Centre in Springfield, Chelmsford
Three more hubs are available for weekend appointments between 8am and 2pm:
- Douglas Grove Surgery in Witham
- Greenwood Surgery in South Woodham Ferrers
- Mount Chambers Surgery in Braintree
People wanting an Extended Access appointment book it through The Beacon Health Group as they would any other appointment. Please note, these are not walk-in appointments – all appointments should be booked in advance. Appointments will be with the most appropriate clinician for the condition, which may be a nurse practitioner, GP or other healthcare professional.
If you no longer need an Extended Access appointment that you have booked, you should contact the surgery the appointment is booked with during working hours, or outside surgery hours, call 07384 579479 to cancel.
Dispensary Update
In order to reduce wastage, stock piling and improve overall patient safety The Beacon Health Group will no longer accept repeat prescription requests from any community or online pharmacies as of 1st October 2019. We would like patients to order their own medication directly from the surgery and would encourage patients to use online services or electronic repeat dispensing where possible.
For further information please speak to the dispensary team directly or visit your usual pharmacy for a letter about the changes.
Please note the dispensary will aim to have your prescription ready within 48 hours however please check with your individual pharmacy for a time frame on your items being dispensed.
Social Prescribing Clinic
We are pleased to welcome Frank a 'Social Prescriber' to help patients make changes to improve their social, physical and mental wellbeing by linking them with appropriate, non-medical support and guidance. Frank is available at Danbury Medical Centre on Wednesdays so please contact reception to book.
New Appointment System
Following recent feedback from our patients we are implementing a new appointment system as of 29th July 2019.
BOOKING A ROUTINE APPOINTMENT
If you require a routine GP appointment, please telephone the practice. Pre-bookable ROUTINE appointments will now be released no more than two days or one week ahead.
ON THE DAY EMERGENCY
All patients requiring an EMERGENCY appointment for the same day will be booked into our telephone triage list. This list will be overseen by our Emergency Care Team.
After receiving a call back to assess your EMERGENCY from one of our highly trained clinicians you will be booked into the next appropriate available appointment at any of our three sites. This may well be on the same day should your condition be deemed an emergency by our clinical team.
ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKING
A significant amount of appointments are now available to book online. Please ensure that you select an appointment at your preferred site before booking. Please note these appointments can only be accessed online.
Our Flu Clinics are now available to book
Danbury Medical Centre, Mountbatten House Surgery and Moulsham Lodge Surgery
- Saturday 14th September 2019 8.00-2.00
- Saturday 21st September 2019 8.00-12.00
Please speak to reception to book or call 01245 221777 / 01245 353182
Memory Assessment Clinic
We are pleased to announce that The Beacon Health Group is piloting a new service which will help to develop and improve the diagnosis and treatment of memory problems and dementia within primary care. If you or any family members would benefit from this service then please book an appointment at reception. Our health care assistants will carry out an initial memory assessment.
Patients and carers can also be seen by the Alzheimer's Society please contact reception to book.
Online Appointments
From the 1st July, 2019 we will be offering more pre bookable online appointments for Doctors and Nurses.
If you have not already signed up for this service then please ask the Receptionist for an online access form and you will need to provide photo ID
Dispensary News
Please note the dispensary phone lines are now available between 11am-1pm.
Prescription Price Change
As from the 1st April, 2019, the price per item on a prescription will be £9.00
Patient Notice - Extended Access
Part of the GP Forward View is a requirement for practices in all Clinical Commissioning Group areas to provide Extended Access to all of their residents. This is a service commissioned by Mid Essex CCG. Appointments under the Extended Access scheme would be available Monday to Friday 6.30pm-8.00pm as well as Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
The Beacon Health Group submitted a business case to the Mid Essex CCG to provide this service but this was unfortunately unsuccessful. The successful bidder, as chosen by the CCG, is a practice based in Colne Valley who will be providing the Extended Access to all practices within Mid Essex CCG.
We welcomed BBC Essex Radio to the Beacon Health Group in celebration of 70 years of the NHS
The Beacon Health Group were very excited to be invited to participate with the BBC Essex breakfast show based at Danbury Medical Centre all morning on the 5th July, discussing the diverse workforce within the NHS today and changes it has seen over the last 70 years. We are very proud to be part of something great!
What will GDPR mean for our patients?
GDPR Data Subject Access Request desktop aide
Data Subject Access Request
Privacy Notice
DATA-SHARING-FORM
Are you a carer? Do we know? If not, please notify us today & download our leaflet
Carer Leaflet
DID YOU KNOW?
Carers FIRST and other local organisations, organise groups and activities in the Mid Essex area which you may be interested in. Please click the link below:
https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/essex/whats-on-guides-essex
Self Help (Over the Counter)
As well as our practice, there are many other local NHS services you can contact for health advice, information or treatment. For more information,see the attached poster . . .
Go to your pharmacy first - Over The Counter