We offer interpreting and translation services at the surgery to help you communicate with our team. These services can be provided over the phone, in person, or in writing. Please note that in-person or written services depend on the availability of an interpreter, but we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

NHS England has introduced a new, same-day, Community Pharmacist Consultation Service to help you receive quality care and support for minor health conditions more quickly by accessing care from your community pharmacist.

The service enables practice teams to channel patients with defined and appropriate minor health conditions directly to a community pharmacist for their first contact, where they will receive clinical assessment and treatment advice.

In Chalfont there are three pharmacies currently offering this service:

– Boots, Gerrards Cross

– Richard Adams, Chalfont St Peter

– Sparks, Chalfont St Giles

Watch a video at the top of the page that explains how this new service works.

When you contact us, either online or by phone, a GP will review your request and if you have symptoms of a minor health condition which can be appropriately managed by a pharmacist with medications that won’t require a prescription, one of our team will contact you to let you know that we can offer you the option of having a same-day appointment with your community pharmacist as part of this service.

This is for minor illnesses such as:

– Ankle, foot, knee, lower leg or arm swelling or pain

– Athlete’s foot

– Allergic reactions

– Bites or stings

– Coughs and colds

– Eye infections

– Headaches

– Lower back pain

– Mouth ulcers and blisters

– Rashes

– Sore throat

– Shoulder pain

Community pharmacists are highly qualified and experienced in providing clinical advice and care (including recommending over the counter treatments) for minor illnesses and conditions. They will offer you a same-day consultation via the phone, or in person, which can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you. They can also contact the GP surgery directly if they have any further queries about the patient they are assessing.

Your pharmacist will take your medical history, ask about your symptoms and any current medication you might be taking. Following the consultation, the pharmacist will offer you self-care advice and if appropriate, offer you an over-the-counter product. The pharmacist will make a record of the outcome of your consultation and send it to your GP.

If having given you advice/treatment, your pharmacist identifies you need further specialist help your pharmacist, will be able to refer you back to your GP, or onto another health service for support.

Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor condition, following a call to NHS 111 and through GPs around the country who have been piloting this service. Evidence from these pilots shows advice provided by community pharmacists results in the same outcome, as if the patient went to see their GP, or attended an emergency department.

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practices and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you either on the phone, in person or through a video consultation

If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP or other health professional, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.

This will help ensure as patients you receive the right care, in the right place, with the right person and at the right time.

Introducing this new service, frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

The Hall Practice contracts with the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board to provide general medical services as described below.

Please note, we do NOT provide treatment for dental conditions. Please contact your dentist or  click here for further information.

Core Services:

– General management of medical conditions

– Health promotion advice

– Emergency care if appropriate

– Referral for other services, if appropriate

– Urgently required care for temporary residents

– Chronic disease management such as diabetes, asthma, coronary heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive airways disease, epilepsy

Additional Services:

– Cervical screening

– Contraceptive services, including coil fitting

– Vaccinations and immunisations

– Child health surveillance

– Antenatal and postnatal maternity services

Enhanced Services:

– Suture removal after NHS procedures

– Smoking cessation

– NHS Health Checks

– Learning Disability Health Checks

– Near Patient Testing

– Care Home Monitoring

The NHS Health Check is a free health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It is designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. As we get older, the risk of developing these conditions increases.

The Health Check helps find ways to lower your risk and keep you healthy.

Patients who are eligible will receive a text message with a booking link. If you want to check your eligibility, please contact us online or call our Patient Services Team.

Further information can be found on the NHS website. The short video explains the Health Check.

The Faster Diagnosis Standard is a national NHS programme designed to help people who have symptoms or test results that might suggest cancer. It ensures you are seen by a specialist quickly, usually within 28 days of your referral, so any serious conditions can be diagnosed or ruled out as soon as possible.

Many symptoms that lead to an urgent referral are caused by common, non-cancer conditions, and most people referred under this scheme do not have cancer. However, the fast-track process helps you get the right tests and treatment quickly if needed.

Please visit the website below for details about this service at our local hospital trusts.

If you ask your GP to refer you to see a specialist privately, your GP will write a referral letter if they think it is appropriate. You will receive this letter by text or email (or you can collect it in person), so you can send it to your insurance company or the specialist you have chosen.

If your insurance requires a specific form to be completed, there may be an additional charge for this.

After that, you will need to contact the specialist’s team directly to arrange your appointment. Please note, the GP practice cannot book or manage private appointments for you, and short-notice referrals are not usually possible. You can use the ‘Referral query’ tab on our website to provide details of your chosen specialist.

Once you see the specialist, they will arrange any tests, procedures, or treatments you need. The specialist is responsible for explaining your results and managing your care. If you need new medication, the specialist will provide the first prescription. In some cases, we may be able to continue prescribing this medication on the NHS, but only if we receive detailed information from the specialist and the treatment meets NHS guidelines. This process can take 7-10 working days, so you may prefer to pay privately for your initial prescription to start treatment promptly.

If you want to return to NHS care after private treatment, the private specialist must arrange this transfer according to local NHS guidelines. This ensures your care continues smoothly and avoids delays. For any follow-up appointments, fit notes, or questions about your private care, please contact your specialist’s team directly rather than the GP practice.

For information on what you can expect to happen when your GP refers you to see a specialist or consultant, at a hospital or a community health centre, click the link below.

To view in British Sign Language, click the video below.

Buckinghamshire patients can now self-refer for physiotherapy assessment and treatment through the Bucks MSK Service if their primary care physician has recommended it.

Please note this applies to physiotherapy only. If a patient needs to see a specialist clinician—for example, an MSK GP or Advanced Practice Physiotherapist—for a specialist assessment or injection, a GP or clinician referral is still required. If a clinician is unsure about what a patient needs, they will refer to the MSK service as usual. Patients will then be triaged and booked into the appropriate clinic according to the current pathway.

For more information or to complete the self-referral form, please visit the website.

PALS is a free and confidential service that offers help and support when you need it. The PALS team works independently to listen to your concerns and works with staff, managers, and other organisations to find quick and effective solutions.

PALS can assist you with:

– Advice and information

– Comments and suggestions

– Compliments and thanks

– Informal complaints

– Guidance about making a formal complaint

– Following up on referrals and appointments

If the PALS team cannot answer your questions, they will connect you with someone who can help.

Contact PALS for Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire:

Phone: 0800 328 5640

Email: bobicb-bucks.palscomplaints@nhs.net

The NHS provides free health care for most people.
 
It is important to understand that not all the services we provide are covered by the NHS payments to the practice.
 
Please expect a fee for non-NHS services.  Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:
 
– Medicals for re-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)

– Insurance Claims Forms

– Vaccination Certificates

– Certain Travel Vaccinations E.g. Hepatitis B
 
The team at The Hall Practice will inform you of any charges before carrying out non-NHS work.
 
Please see below a list of fees for non-NHS work.
 
Kindly keep in mind that NHS-related work holds precedence over non-NHS work, and the payment of fees does not grant priority to the latter. Please anticipate a turnaround time of up to 10 working days.
 
Please note that the practice will not provide a fitness to travel note. Furthermore, the practice will not issue or complete any documentation confirming a patient’s suitability for participation in sports events.

The vaccines you need depend on where you are going, your health, and what activities you plan to do. Different vaccines need to be given at different times before you travel.

It’s important not to leave vaccinations until the last minute. Your body needs time to build protection, and getting vaccinated late may mean you are not fully protected when you travel. Also, if you have any side effects, these could happen while you are away.
We recommend booking a travel consultation at least 6 to 8 weeks before your trip.

Some vaccines need several weeks or months and multiple doses to work properly. Booking early also helps us offer enough time to assess the risks for you and any family members travelling with you.

If you want to check your travel vaccine status or have questions, please contact us online or call our Patient Services Team. Please note that some travel vaccines may incur a charge.

The Hall Practice does not prescribe sedatives for fear of flying or for use on flights.

Click the link below to view our document explaining the reasons for this.

The following websites will give you additional travel advice:

Travel Health for information about vaccinations available on NHS

Travel Health Pro find travel health advice for destinations worldwide and a wealth of useful resources for travellers 

UK Civil Aviation Authority – Health information for passengers including information about travelling with medicines, mobility and medical equipment or devices

MASTA for private vaccination clinics

Gov.uk for specific country travel advice

Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)

The NHS 111 phone line makes it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services in England.

You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

You can also contact NHS 111 online. Please visit the website for more information.

An Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is a local NHS service that provides urgent medical care for illnesses and injuries that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening emergencies. They are staffed by experienced clinicians who can diagnose and treat a wide range of common problems such as sprains, minor fractures, cuts, burns, infections, and high temperatures. They can carry out tests like X-rays, blood tests, and ECGs if needed.

UTCs help reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments by providing the right care in the right place, quickly and conveniently. If your condition is more serious or life-threatening, you should call 999 or go to A&E immediately. For advice on whether to visit a UTC, you can contact NHS 111 by phone or online.

Our nearest Urgent Treatment Centres are at Wycombe General Hospital and mount Vernon Hospital.

The Urgent Treatment Centre provides quick, expert care for a range of minor injuries and conditions that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening. The UTC can help you with:

– Cuts, grazes, and bruisesWounds that might need stitches

– Minor burns and scaldsTetanus vaccinations after an injury

– Removal of foreign objects from the eyes, nose, or ears

– Minor eye problems, including taking out contact lensesInsect bites and other animal bites

– Minor head injuries where there has been no loss of consciousness, no vomiting, and no ongoing symptoms like headache, nausea, dizziness, or vision problems

– Removal of rings, earrings, and studs

– Minor injuries to legs below the knee and arms below the shoulder, as long as you can put weight on your foot or move your fingers

– Minor nosebleeds

– Emergency contraception

Important Information

– Children who are seriously injured, very unwell, or have had any head injury should not go to the Urgent Treatment Centre. They must be taken to the nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

– The UTC cannot X-ray children under 4 years old; these children need to be seen at A&E.

– X-rays at the UTC are only available for injuries from the shoulder to the fingers and from the knee to the toes. Other X-rays must be done at A&E.

– Wounds older than 12 hours may not be suitable for stitches and might need to be referred to A&E.