Frequently Asked Questions

Please telephone us an explain you need to see a Doctor urgently – The receptionist will ask you for a brief description of the problem and will offer you a sameday appointment to see a Doctor. If you call after 11am, the Receptionist will pass on the nature of your problem to the Doctor, who will either request you come to the surgery or they will telephone you to discuss the problem.

Requesting a repeat prescription is easy. Please sign up to GP online services and you’ll be able to use a website or app to order repeat prescriptions online. The service is free and available to everyone who is registered with a GP.

Alternatively please visit out our  General and Admin Enquiries page and click Request Repeat Prescription button for a step by step guide.

You can book an appointment by using Online Services – please do not email or fax an appointment request. If you are unable to book online then call us on 0121 477 4300

Appointments can be booked 24 hours a day 7 days a week online or during surgery hours by telephone. To register for online appointments please fill out our online form or request access from the reception on your next visit.

If you have been referred for a Choose and Book Appointment recently, you will need to book your own hospital appointment. You will have been sent the paperwork to do this within 2 weeks. Please contact the appointment centre details on section 2 on the enclosed paperwork and give details of both your reference number and password. You should then be able to arrange an appointment at your convenience at your chosen hospital.

Should you contact the e-referral service and there are no appointments available to book at your selected hospital, you will be put on that hospital waiting list for an appointment to be sent to you. It is the hospital’s responsibility to ensure you receive an appointment. Please be assured that you are on the hospital waiting list and will be sent an appointment in due course.

If you have not heard from the hospital with an appointment, please contact the hospital directly quoting your reference number and password. Please see the direct telephone numbers for the hospitals as below as they manage their own waiting lists.

  • Birmingham Eye Hospital 0121 507 6712
  • Birmingham Treatment Centre – 0121 507 4151
  • Birmingham Women’s Hospital – 0121 627 2786
  • Children’s Hospital  – 0121 333 9700
  • Solihull/Heartlands – 0121 424 1234
  • Royal Orthopaedic Hospital – 0121 685 4186
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital – 0121 371 7066

To track your e-Referral you will need the following details to log into the e-Referral website:

  • Your date of birth
  • Reference number – this will be on the first page of your letter
  • Password – this will be on the last page of your letter
  • Please make sure to update your mobile number. 
DayBartley Green Medical Practice 
Monday08:00 to 18:30 
Tuesday08:00 to 18:30 
Wednesday08:00 to 18:30 
Thursday08:00 to 18:30 
Friday08:00 to 18:30 

Phones line open at 8am – 6:30pm

We also offer extended access appointments on Tuesdays, and through the extended access hub at Lordswood

CLARIFICATION AND EXAMPLES OF VISITING GUIDELINES IN ACTION
1. Situation where GP home visiting makes clinical sense and provides the best way to give a medical opinion:
a. The terminally ill
b. The truly bedbound patient in whom travel to premises by car would cause a deterioration in medical condition or unacceptable discomfort
2. Situations where visiting is not usually required
a. Common symptoms of childhood, fevers, cold, cough, earache, headache, diarrhoea/vomiting and most cases of abdominal pain. These patients are almost always well enough to travel by car. The old wives tale that it is unwise to take a child out with a fever is blatantly untrue. It may well be that these children are not indeed fit to travel by bus, or walk, but car transport is sensible and always available from friends, relatives or taxi firms. It is not a doctors’ job to arrange such transport.
b. Adults with common problems of cough, sore throat, “flu”, back pain, abdominal pain are also readily transportable by car to a doctors premises.
c. Common problems in the elderly, such as poor mobility, joint pain, general malaise would also be best treated by consultation at a doctors premises. The exception to this would be in the truly bed bound patient.

NHS Services

In addition to GP consultations the Practice offers a comprehensive range of healthcare services and specialist clinics:

Adult Immunisations – are your vaccinations up to date? If not, make an appointment to see one of our Practice Nurses to have your routine vaccinations. Adult Vaccines available on the NHS
Ante-natal Care – the Doctors work closely with the midwives to deliver your ante-natal care. Please arrange an appointment with your Doctor if you are pregnant.
Child Health Surveillance 6 – 8 week developmental review -Appointments for consultations will be sent from the practice. These are undertaken by the GP.
Childhood immunisations – Appointments for your child’s immunisations will be sent to you direct from the child health team. It is important that you attend for these appointments as the vaccinations need to be given at specific times in your child’s development (8, 12, and 16 weeks). If you are unable to attend please let us know so that we can re-arrange in a timely fashion. Childrens Vaccination Schedule
Contraception and Sexual Health – a full range of contraceptive services are available – this includes fitting coils as well as hormonal methods e.g. the pill, injections and implants. These services are also available to residents who are not registered with the Practice.
Chronic Disease Reviews – We have changed the way we invite our patients with chronic diseases, so that hopefully it will make it easier to know when you will be invited and reduce the number of times we ask you to attend. By chronic disease, we mean Diabetes, Asthma, COPD, Stroke monitoring and Heart Disease. Instead of asking you to see the nurse about separate conditions, we will invite you to attend for a nurse appointment each year in the month of your birth for a review of any of these conditions. So, if you suffer from 2 of these conditions, the nurse will review both conditions at the same appointment. You are welcome to book appointments if you have any concerns at any other time and the nurse will arrange any follow up you may need before your next routine review. We hope this will make your review appointment procedure simpler and more effective.
Holiday/ Routine Vaccinations – are your tetanus and polio vaccinations up to date? If not, make an appointment to see the Nurse to have a booster dose. Holiday vaccinations are just as important- ask for details at reception
Health Promotion – the Practice firmly believes that good health can be maintained by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Advice and encouragement are available for all our patient
Minor Surgery – these clinics are held on some Fridays by appointment. In these clinics minor lumps and bumps, skin tags, verrucas and warts may be removed. Please see your Doctor for further details.
Smoking Cessation – we have a comprehensive programme of help if you want to stop smoking. This involves initial support to set a quit date, prescription of medication to help you to stop smoking and follow up advice to help you keep well when not smoking. Please book an appointment with reception if you want help to quit.
Travel Vaccinations – if you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with one of our Practice Nurses at least two months before your planned travel. This allows time to plan and complete a course of any necessary injections and sign post you to other specialist clinics.

Please see our travel form
Click here

Non-NHS Services

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions such as prescription charges. The NHS does not employ GPs but has a contract with them to provide NHS general medical services for their patients. Sometimes, however, GPs are asked to provides additional services, which fall outside their contract with the NHS, and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them. It is up to the individual practice to decide how much to charge, although the BMA produces lists of suggested fees for the Doctors to use as a guideline.

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, the doctor needs to check the patient’s entire medical record to ensure that they are providing accurate information. GPs will not be able to complete forms overnight, so please ensure that you give them reasonable notice. Not all documents need a signature by a doctor. For example, you could ask another person in a position of trust, who may be willing to sign a passport application free of charge. (Teacher, Accountant, etc).

If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once and ask the receptionist if bringing them as a ‘job lot’ can reduce the price. You can also complete the form to the best of your ability in pencil, so the doctor just has to quickly verify your entries against the information held by the practice.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:

  • Certain travel vaccinations
  • Private medical insurance reports
  • Holiday cancellation claim forms
  • Referral for private care forms
  • Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

We aim to complete all reports within 2 weeks from the date of receipt. If the report does not form part of the NHS services a charge may apply. Where possible, we base our fees in line with the British Medical Associate (BMA) Guidance.

IMPORTANT: Contact reception about any requests you may have. Do not book an appointment with the Doctor to discuss a medical report or letter.

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.  

IMPORTANT: Do not book an appointment with the Doctor to discuss a medical report or letter.

Fees for Non-NHS Work

The services provided by Bartley Green Medical Practice and the applicable charges (including VAT)

Service

Fee

Private Sick Note/Prescription

£20

Private Consultation (per 10 minute appt) for patients who do not qualify for NHS treatment

£50.00

Accident or Sickness insurance ( to support claim for payment of benefit under accident or sickness insurance policy

£60.00

Holiday Cancellation Forms

£40.00

Fitness to Travel Certificate

£30.00

Simple letter TWIMC/Supporting Letter

£30.00

Claims Forms (simple form no examination)

£30.00

Occupational Health Report – employer

Occupational Health University Forms

£60.00

Copy Notes (patient request)

Online access free – paper copies chargeable for postage only.

Witness Power of Attorney

£35.00

CICA criminal injuries

£34.00

Holiday Vaccinations

Due to the variable nature of vaccination requirements for travelling abroad, costs to be advised by Nurse upon completion of a travel questionnaire, available at reception or downloadable online

Adoption/ fostering Medical and report

£110.00

Private Fit note

£30.00

Detailed letter ( enable 3rd party decision eg: compensation) ie student finance requiring just a signature

  • DSA Disability students allowance form

£30.00

 

Pre Employment ( taxi HGV LGV) Drivers Medical Exam

Report only

Examination and report

                     £100 inc of vat

£150.00 inc of vat

BHSF

£21.00 inc of vat

COP3 Assessment of Capacity

With Examination £125

+£50 if visit required

Without Examination £75

Earlier in the year NHS England and NHS Clinical Commissioners also published guidance on ‘Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care’ and subsequently the Birmingham and Solihull CCG policy was produced. Medicines included in the policy are:

  • Co-proxamol
  • Dosulepin
  • Glucosamine and chondroitin
  • Herbal treatments
  • Homeopathy
  • Immediate release fentanyl
  • Lidocaine plasters
  • Liothyronine
  • Lutein and antioxidants
  • Once daily Tadalafil
  • Omega-3 fatty acid compounds
  • Perindopril arginine
  • Prolonged release doxazosin
  • Rubifacients (excluding topical NSAIDs)
  • Targinact – Oxycodone and naloxone combination
  • Tramacet – paracetamol and tramadol combination
  • Trimipramine
  • Vaccines administered exclusively for the purposes of travel (see list in policy)

NHS England Guidance:https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines/conditions-for-which-over-the-counter-items-should-not-routinely-be-prescribed/ 

Birmingham and Solihull CCG policy: https://nhs.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fc496e37a02fff5979483df7e&id=50f4e99283&e=261acd4ccf

Chaperone Policy
It is the policy of this practice to respect the privacy, dignity, religious and cultural beliefs of our patients.

If you feel you would like a chaperone to be present during a physical examination by a doctor or any other health professional you may be consulting at the surgery (or if you prefer to be examined by a doctor or health professional of the same sex as yourself) please let us know and we will do our best to comply with your wishes.

Violence Policy
The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.

GP net earnings

All GP practices are required to declare mean earnings (i.e. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.

The average pay for GP’s working in the practice of Bartley Green Medical Practice in the last financial year was £33.364 before tax and National Insurance.

This is for 1 full time GP, 3 part time GPs and 1 locum GP who worked in the practice for more than 6 months.

BG Health takes the protection of our patient’s data and privacy very seriously. we have gone to great lengths to ensure we are fully compliant with GDPR legislation.

Is your feedback positive or negative?

Positive Feedback: We really work hard to provide you with good quality healthcare services and we are human too. If you are happy with our services then please do tell us and tell others too.

Negative Feedback: If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or any of the staff working in this practice, please let us know. We operate practice complaints procedure as part of a NHS system for dealing with complaints. Our complaints system meets national criteria.

How to complain

Complaints Procedure
Although we always try to offer our patients the best care, despite the increasingly heavy demands made of us, we accept that there may be times when you have comments or complaints to make.

If you are unhappy about any aspect of our service or have constructive suggestions for improvement then please contact our practice business manager. We would ask that you let us know of any problems as soon as possible. We hope that most problems can be sorted out easily and quickly, preferably at the time they occur. Information is obtainable from reception.

If you feel you cannot raise your complaint with us, you can contact PALS, Adams Hill Centre,190 Adams Hill,Bartley Green,Birmingham.B32 3PJ. If you remain unhappy after everything has been done to try to resolve your concern or complaint you have the right to approach the Ombudsman. Tel: 0345 015 4033 Email: phso.enquiries@ombudsman.org.uk Write: Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP.

NHS Complaints. members of the public, patients and their representatives can also contact NHS England. Customer contact centre, NHS England, PO Box 16738, Redditch B97 9PT telephone:0330 311 22 33 email: england.contactus@nhs.net. British Sign Language (BSL): if you use BSL, you can talk to NHS England via a video call to a BSL interpreter. Visit NHS England’s BSL Service NHS England opening hours are: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, except Wednesdays when they open at the later time of 9.30am.

Modern Slavery Statement

Section 54 of the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) requires commercial organisations operating in the UK with an annual turnover in excess of £36m to produce a ‘slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year of the organisation’.

Organisational Structure and Business

Our Health Partnership is one of the UK’s biggest GP partnerships. It brings together 52 surgeries in the Midlands and Shropshire. By using our shared expertise to tackle the challenges of GP practice today, we can keep local surgeries thriving and provide the excellent care that our patients need now and into the future.

Our approach to slavery and human trafficking

 We are committed to tackling modern slavery within every part of our business and its supply chains. Our Anti-slavery statement, in combination with the establishment of effective policies, demonstrates our commitment to the issue of modern slavery and ensures that appropriate and coordinated action is taken throughout the business.

Due diligence

We have taken action to understand and address the risks of modern slavery within our operations, including:

  • The development of robust processes around whistleblowing, grievance, disciplinary and bullying and harassment policies, to provide both staff and patients with assurance that modern slavery concerns will be raised and dealt with appropriately
  • Staff training and increasing awareness of modern slavery, on how to spot signs and raise complaints within the organisation, and monitoring the delivery of this training to staff
  • Putting in place Strict standards for conduct in the workplace, mirroring the NHS code of conduct, as referenced within our staff handbook and code of conduct policy
  • Ensuring inappropriate employment practices are avoided by adhering to our Illegal Working Prevention, DBS, and Recruitment policies, to ensure identity checks, DBS, qualifications and references are in place
  • Continued development of policies around safeguarding