Clinics and Services

Clinics, service provision/information

Here at Dove Valley Practice, we offer clinics with GPs, PAs, Nurses and Healthcare Assistants who offer many different services.

Please note that if you need a blood test you will be asked to attend Barnsley Hospital rather than attending the surgery.

Appointments

We accept appointment bookings online or via the telephone. Please phone after 10am for non-emergency appointments.

Clinicians’ appointment slots are generally 10 minutes each, if patients take longer or are late then it tends to make the surgeries run late for the other patients waiting to be seen. Therefore if you arrive more than 5 minutes late for an appointment you will be asked to re-book the appointment or wait until the end of surgery (if this is possible).

Prescriptions

You can either request prescriptions via our online Patient Access portal, or in the surgery itself. Please note we do not accept prescription requests via the telephone normally and we are asking the patients use the online service where ever possible during the covid pandemic.

Test Results

If ‘phoning for test results, please note that they may only be requested from reception AFTER 2.00pm when ‘phone lines are less busy, ensuring that lines are kept free for requests for emergency appointments and home visits at busier times. Thank you

Out of Hours cover

For non-emergency healthcare outside of surgery hours, please call the surgery line and you will be diverted to our out of hours service.

In case of emergency, please call 999

Home visits

Home visits are not contractual, they are carried out if the GP feels they are appropriate and the patient is housebound and there may be cases where the patient is asked to attend surgery. Please ensure that if you request a home visit, you let the receptionist have your current contact details in case the GP needs to contact you. Please try and let us know that you need a home visit by 9.30am, thank you

Our Reception staff have been asked to obtain information about your problems if you request a home visit or emergency appointment, this helps the GP to triage/assess the problem before seeing you. Please be assured that all staff are bound by confidentiality regulations and your information is only accessed on a ‘need to know’ basis.

Telephone appointments

Our GPs are allocated timeslots throughout the week for these telephone appointments. Please speak with reception if you require an appointment with a specific doctor.

Disabled access

Our premises are fully accessible to the disabled. If you require any additional assistance, please ask at reception.

Appointment reminder service

The practice will remind you of any appointments via text message. For more information please speak with reception.

Smoking cessation

For free support and advice please contact the surgery

Travel advice and immunisations

Please book an appointment for any immunisations required for travel.

Dove Valley Practice must be given at least 6 weeks’ notice if you need an appointment for holiday vaccinations/advice. If you are travelling within 6 weeks you will be advised to attend a private travel clinic. 

WE ARE A YELLOW FEVER CENTRE

Research

We would like to advise patients of the Dove Valley Practice, that we participate in clinical research. This will not impact on patients directly but may mean that you are contacted regarding certain medical conditions.

Please be assured that no personal or medical information will be released without your consent.

E-triage service

Please note that the Doctorlink e-consultation service will be decommissioned on 1st September 2022

We have now gone live with our new online consultation service-Patient Triage. This is a great way for you to contact our practice for non-urgent medical or admin requests. It is very simple to fill out so please do give it a go if you need to contact us. Although the character count is limited on the form, please try to give as much specific and concise information as possible. We really think it is easier for most people than waiting on hold to speak to a receptionist but would love to hear your feedback. If you do not have access to the internet or find it difficult to use a computer or smartphone you can call reception instead.

You can access the new form at      https://florey.accurx.com/p/C85007

DNA Policy

Please note that if you do not attend (DNA) for 3 booked appointments within a 12 month period you will be sent a letter advising you of this. If you DNA again afterwards you may be removed from the Practice list. Please also note that if you arrive more than 5 minutes late for your appointment you will be asked to re-book. Thank you.

NHS Accessible Information Standard

We support the NHS Accessible Information Standard, and endeavour to identify, share and meet any of our patients’ special communication requirements.

The accessible information standard aims to ensure that patients (or their carers) who have a disability or sensory loss, receive information they can access and understand, for example in large print, braille or via email, and professional communication support if they need it, for example from a British Sign Language interpreter.

Individuals most likely to be affected by the Standard include people who are blind or deaf, who have some hearing and/or visual loss, and people with a learning disability. However, this list is not exhaustive.

If you feel that this applies to you or someone in your care, please collect a form from surgery, we will then do our best to meet these needs.

iHEART Barnsley 365

iHEART Barnsley 365 is an NHS service available to anyone registered with a GP in Barnsley. The service is open for appointment booking between 6.30pm-10.30pm Monday to Friday and 10am-1pm Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Appointments can be booked via telephone between 4pm-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday, 8am-9.30am Sunday and bank holidays.The telephone number to call is 01226 242419 www.iheartbarnsley.org.uk

Please ask the reception staff for details, pre-arranged appointments only.
Repeat prescriptions will not be available during this time.

Training

As an approved training practice your appointment maybe with:

• registrars
  fully qualified doctors who spend six months per year with us prior to qualifying as a GP
• foundation doctors
  doctors who have just completed their hospital training and spend up to six months while they receive GP training from our doctors. You will be informed of this prior to your appointment.

Use of personal health information

The practice manages the confidentiality of your medical records in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Our Primary Care Trust may require some of this data for auditing and research purposes. You may request that your data is excluded from these audits and research at any time. Please speak with reception for more information.

Feedback

Our priority is to ensure that all of our patients receive the best service that is possible. We provide comment & suggestion forms in reception, please feel free to request one at any time. Just complete the form and return to reception.

Compliment-Comments form

For any complaints please request a complaint form from reception and email to [email protected]

Complaints form

We support services for military veterans