Online consultations are changing!

We've listened to the feedback from patients who have used e consults and have decided to trail a different platform. From Monday 29th November, we will be using Accurx Triage to provide access to online consultations. With these changes comes a different way of using online consultations. They have been a victim on their own success and at times we have struggled to keep up with the demand they have placed on the practice. Before you submit an online consultation, we would like patients to consider the following about the problem they would like dealing with:

• Do you have a new joint pain or musculoskeletal pain? If so, please contact the surgery and ask to book in with the First Contact Physiotherapist as they are specialists in this area and are able to advise, treat and investigate your problem.
• Do you have an eye problem? The minor eye conditions service (MECS) has been set up to help patients with eye problems. They often have more experience and better equipment to be able to assess a minor eye conditions. This service is run by most opticians in the Harrogate area and you can contact them directly.
• Do you need help with your mental health and wellbeing? Please look at North Yorkshire IAPT (improving access to psychological therapies) for self help advice and how to self refer.
• Do you need support from the living well team? Coordinators work with individuals and their carers who are isolated, vulnerable, bereaved, lacking confidence, or perhaps on the borderline of needing health and social care services. Please call the surgery to book an appointment with our Social Prescriber. 
• Is this is minor ailment / illness that can safely be managed at home? You can use the NHS Health A - Z website for more information about specific conditions, or use 111 online symptom checker to see how your symptoms can be managed.
• Do I need to speak to a clinician about my problem? If you need to have a dialogue with the doctor or nurse about your problem / condition then please book a routine telephone call.
• If you need to book an appointment (blood test, nurse appointments etc) please either call the surgery or book an appointment online.
• To order repeat medications of request a medication, please use the system online (click on prescriptions on our home page), the NHS app or the Airmid app.

When submitting an online consultation, you will be asked to answer some questions about your condition and we will get back to you within 3 working days. We always try to respond to your online consultation digitally (either via text or e mail). Often if we try to call for more information without a pre-booked phone call following an online consultation, most patients are unable to answer the phone (largely due to the face we could call anytime within the 3 day window). Do not use online consultations if you need to speak to a clinician - please call the surgery to make a telephone appointment if you need a discussion about your condition (we are working extremely hard at the moment to increase our availability) 

Online consultations are really useful for:

• Requesting doctors letters, sick notes and updates on referrals
• Skin conditions as you can provide up to 5 photos per online consultation. This is really useful as we can often diagnose skin problems with a photo or it can help determine how urgently or non-urgently you may need a face to face appointment.
• Non urgent minor ailments that require advice. You may be asked to make an appointment to be examined if appropriate.
• Medications reviews, submitting blood pressure readings or getting small bits of information to the doctors or nurses.

To complete an online consultation, please click here. (Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm) 

Please do not use this online form for urgent or emergency requests. The submitted forms will only be read during office hours. The forms will not be read on the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) or on bank holidays. They will not be read Monday-Friday between the hours of 1800 - 0900. Please contact 111 during out of hours or 999 if this is an emergency.