News

Wold Menopause Day 2024 - Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy
17th Oct

World Menopause Day - 18th October 2024

October 18th is World Menopause Day, which is held annually to raise awareness of menopause and to support options to improve health and well-being for women in midlife and beyond. The theme for World Menopause Day 2024 is "Menopause and Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT)".

The UK based International Menopause Society has created an information leaflet on “The 5 Ws of Menopause Hormone Therapy” – a practice guide to learn more about MHT (traditionally called Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT). Download a copy of the guide here>>

The Society has also developed a website for women to provide reliable information about menopause and mid life women’s health from the world’s leading experts.

Follow this link to visit their website>>

a car entering the drive through vaccination delivery area, details of the maximum height (2.1m)
3rd Oct

Drive-through Winter Vaccination Clinics for adults start this week!

The Cranborne Practice continues to support the health and well-being of the community with the commencement of this season’s Winter Flu Drive-thru vaccination clinics. More than 200 patients considered clinically at risk are expected at our first drive-through clinic on Thursday evening, 3rd October, to help reduce their seasonal flu risk. Our first flu vaccination clinic for patients aged 65 and over is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, October 5th, at which It is anticipated that over 800 people will receive their jabs. If you have not yet booked your Winter vaccinations, don't hesitate to contact us by phone at 01202 822825 or 01725 517272.
 
New for 2024 – a permanent built-in canopy for our drive-throughs
As pioneers in drive-through clinics, The Cranborne Practice has installed a covered canopy area for the safe and convenient administration of vaccines. Please note that the vehicle height restriction is 2.1 meters; any vehicle over that height cannot use the drive-through.
 
Our volunteer community Marshals will be on-site to assist with traffic management. For everyone’s safety, we kindly ask that all patients arrive at their allotted appointment times and follow the guidance of our on-site Marshalls.
 
We also ask for the cooperation of vehicle users and pedestrians in the Newtown Road and Lake Road areas to ensure a smooth traffic flow. Vehicle users and pedestrians using the Newtown Road and Lake Road areas are asked to be patient and courteous, enabling vehicles to exit the site of GP surgery.
 
Thank you for being so supportive. Together, let's prioritise the health and well-being of our community.
Information for patients on this year's Winter Flu Vaccination Programme
7th Sep

2024 Winter Flu Vaccination Appointments for Eligible Patients

We are pleased to advise that the Practice has scheduled our Adult flu clinics as drive-throughs at our Lake Road Surgery throughout October.  Clinic dates are:

For those considered clinically at risk* or other eligible patients aged 64 and younger:

Thursdays early evening on 3rd and 10th October

and Saturday morning the 19th of October

*  to establish if you are in an eligible at risk group, please download NHS Flu Risk Group information by following this link>>

For patients aged 65 and over:

Saturday mornings 5th and 12th October

and Thursday early evening of the 17th October.

To book online please use our Winter Flu Vaccination Request form here>>

Or call us on 01725 517272 or 01202 822825.

Separate arrangements are made for those who are housebound or living in a care home, and these patients will be contacted separately.

Further details on children’s nasal flu vaccination clinics will be published on this website and social media later in September.

UKHSA statement on mpox
16th Aug

UK Health Security Agency Statement on mpox

People in our community may have seen reports in the media about the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying mpox as an international public health concern. 

A statement from the UK Health Security Agency has advised that the risk to the UK population is currently considered low. Nevertheless, be assured that NHS plans are underway to prepare for any cases we might see in the UK. This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission.

Information and advice on mpox is available on the NHS website here>>

PPG
4th Aug

A message from our Patient Participation Group

Do you want to help implement real, positive change in our community?
 
Join our Patient Participation Group (PPG) and make your voice heard! 
As a member of the PPG, you’ll:
  • Provide valuable feedback to improve health and wellbeing services
  • Share your ideas and suggestions
  • Help shape the future of patient care
  • Connect with other patients in your community
Your experiences and opinions matter! Together, we can make a difference.
 
 
Let's work together for better healthcare!
Excerpt of the latest Practice newsletter
2nd Aug

Summer 2024 Practice Newsletter

Check out our Summer 2024 Patient newsletter, developed in conjunction with our Patient Participation Group.  In this issue: 

  • Our results in the national annual GP Patient Survey.
  • The latest information about vaccination services provided by the Practice
  • How patients can monitor and report blood pressure readings from home

.  .  .  and more!

Download and view a copy of the Summer newsletter here>>

a woman taking her blood pressure at home, the words Know Your Numbers and the NHS, practice and Viso logos
28th Jul

Know your Numbers - Check your Blood Pressure at Home with Viso

We believe every adult in the UK should know their blood pressure numbers in the same way they know their height and weight. When you #KnowYourNumbers, you can take steps to manage your blood pressure and lead a long and healthy life.
 
That's why The Cranborne Practice offers patients the opportunity to monitor their blood pressure at home and share their readings directly with us using the Viso app. High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases the risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.
 
In line with NHS England recommendations, NHS Dorset is partnering with Omron Healthcare to implement blood pressure (BP) monitoring at home using the Viso app.
 
UK Health Security Agency and NHS logos and the words The RSV vaccines is available from September 2024. Speak to your midwife, GP practice of health team
24th Jul

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccinations

The UK will become the first country in the world to roll out a national vaccination programme against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), protecting infants & older people from becoming seriously ill. RSV accounts for 39,000 hospitalisations each year.
From 1 Sept, vaccination to protect against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) will be offered to:
 
• Pregnant women (over 28 weeks) to help protect newborn babies
• Adults aged 75+
 
We plan to vaccinate as many people as possible during September and October 2024 before the expected RSV season. Eligible patients will be contacted with an offer of the RSV vaccine once clinic details are finalised.
 
19th Jul

Annual GP Patient Survey Results 2024

The Cranborne Practice, including Lake Road Surgery, is one of Dorset's highest scoring GP practices, achieving a 96% overall experience score in this year’s survey.

Our Patient Participation Group has helped us create this YouTube video to share our latest results>>

We care for over 12,900 patients, many with complex health needs. We are a Primary Care provider, not a commercial business. However, when the NHS is under immense pressure and patient demand is never higher, our satisfaction rate of 96% exceeds many private companies, such as banks and major retailers, who rely on customer service to maintain market share and make it one of their key selling points.

To our fantastic team, well done and thank you! And thanks to our Patient Participation Group members who help us shape our service to support, assist, treat, and care for the communities of Cranborne, Verwood, and the surrounding area.

 

The NHS logo and the words Young babies with whooping cough can become very unwell and may need hospital treatment.  If you are pregnant you can help your baby by getting vaccinated.
16th Jul

Whooping cough vaccinations are available for pregnant women

Whooping cough cases have been rising in England. We recommend getting the whooping cough vaccine to help protect you and your baby. It's safe and effective and will provide important protection for your newborn in its first months.
Please contact us to let us know if you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment.

a cartoon image of medications, the NHS Dorset logo and the words #HelpYourNHS   Prescriptions for 35 minor conditions are no longer available in Dorset.  Please visit your pharmacy instead.
12th Jul

Prescribing over the counter medicines - #HelpYourNHS

In line with NHS England recommendations, NHS Dorset has asked GP teams across the county to stop prescribing medicine and treatment for 35 minor conditions.  Medications for these conditions are readily available at your local pharmacy or supermarket. 

This will release thousands of hours of clinical time to enable us, as a GP Practice to focus on caring for people with more complex needs, increasing patient access.

Find out more about this by downloading and viewing the patient information leaflet here>>

Or visit the NHS Dorset website:   https://nhsdorset.nhs.uk/health/medicines/helpyournhs/

image depicts drive through vaccine clinic, the practice logo and the words news desk
9th Jul

The Cranborne Practice results of the 2023/24 vaccination season are in!  

Over 6,400 patients were eligible for a Winter flu vaccine and  1,800 for a Spring COVID booster.  NHS Dorset data shows that this season, seventy-nine per cent of our eligible patients took up the offer of a seasonal COVID booster.  That's 8% higher than the Dorset average.  Sixty-five per cent of eligible patients received a flu jab, 2% higher than the Dorset average.  

Thank you to those who received these important seasonal vaccinations,  helping to keep our community as safe as possible. 

Information on next season’s COVID Booster and Winter flu programmes will be published on our website and social media accounts in late summer 2024.

the Nhs logo and the words if you have been invited for an NHS health check by your GP, its important to book your appointment
21st Jun

NHS Health Checks - information for patients aged 40 to 74

If we've invited you for an NHS Health Check, it’s important to take up the offer and book your appointment.

Health Checks can reveal whether you're at risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke.
 
Many warning signs for these conditions, like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, do not have symptoms. So, even if you are feeling well right now, these checks are still essential to help protect your health in the future.
 
If we invite you for an NHS Health Check, it’s important to accept the offer and book your appointment, even if you feel well.

You may be eligible for a community NHS Health Check with LiveWell Dorset. Check your eligibility and find a location near you by following this link>>

Members of the Patient Participation Group with Managing Partner Jo Morris and GP Partner, Dr Andy Levinson.
9th May

New Consultation rooms boost the availability of face-to-face doctor appointments in Verwood

For over 40 years, The Cranborne Practice has provided primary healthcare services to people in Cranborne, Verwood and surrounding areas. 

In Dec 1984, the family-run Doctors practice moved to purpose-built accommodation in Cranborne, which grew and led to further opening of the Lake Road site in Dec 1988.  The Practice currently serves over 12,800 patients in the area. 

Always looking to improve, in 2011, the practice introduced online services and continued to innovate with programmes such as drive-through vaccination clinics and community engagement programmes. 

To meet the needs of a growing community, the Practice has invested in three new consultation rooms and recruited additional GPs. The additional facilities will significantly increase the capacity to provide face-to-face appointments and help reduce waiting times.

Putting the patient at the centre of operations helps the practice identify and respond to the community's needs. This approach is reflected in consistently high CQC inspection results and a 96.4% patient satisfaction score.

The new consultation rooms at the Lake Road surgery site are another milestone in The Cranborne Practice's constant development. To celebrate this, the practice invited members of the Patient Participation Group to open the rooms officially.

Commenting on the new rooms, Managing Partner Jo Morris said, “We constantly look at opportunities to improve patient care. We are pleased to invest in our community and create three new consultation rooms. These will provide more face-to-face GP appointments and enable us to provide a wider range of health care services for local people.”

Chair of the Practice’s Patient Participation Group,  Julie Saunders, says of the developments, “From a patient perspective, we are pleased to see The Cranborne Practice increasing their capacity to deliver healthcare and the benefits from the additional face-to-face GP appointments available.”

 

systmConnect on laptop and mobile phone screens
16th Apr

SystmConnect Online Consultation Services are now available

The Cranborne Practice is trialling a new online consultation system that enables patients to access some of our GP online services such as requesting a fit/sick note or asking about your test results.  Members of our Patient Participation Group helped us to test the system (called SystmConnect), and it was positively received.

Follow this link to find out more about SystmConnect>>

Please note that the SystmConnect service is NOT for booking appointments or ordering repeat medications, which can be done online using a SystmOnline Services Patient Access account.  However, we invite you to try the online consultation services we are trialling through SystmConnect and let us know what you think. 

 

The Doctors Notes newsletter
28th Mar

THE LATEST ISSUE OF OUR NEWSLETTER FOR PATIENTS IS OUT NOW! 

Inside the Spring 2024 edition of The Doctors Notes, you will find:

  • Staff updates – we say farewell to Dr Woollard and hello to a few new faces
  • A look back at the Practice’s performance and the feedback we’ve received from patients over the past year
  • News on the latest health awareness campaigns, and
  • More on our work to promote wellness in our community through our Community SWITCH programme.

Thank you to our amazing Patient Participation Group members for their input and support in creating this newsletter.  

Don’t forget you can let us know what you think of our patient communications using the Patient Communications Feedback form on our website here>>

 

Image depicting Only Order What You Need campaign
9th Feb

Making a Repeat Prescription Request? Please Only Order What You Need!

Did you know that approximately 1.6 million medicine items are wasted unnecessarily in Dorset every year?  We are asking our patients for help to reduce this.

We want people to have the right medicine and care while reducing the amount of medicine waste. If you have enough medicine at home, there’s no need to order more every time. You will still be able to request your medicine again in the future.  

The good news is that you can help make a tremendous difference by only ordering what you need. 

Thank you to the many people who are already doing this.

Follow this link to discover more>>

The Community SWITCH and Crane Valley PCN logos
6th Feb

Community SWITCH - a Path to Improved Health and Well-being

At The Cranborne Practice, we want to do all we can to help you with your well-being needs. 

What if together, we could do more for you?

Working with our colleagues in the Crane Valley Primary Care Network we offer a groundbreaking initiative designed to enhance local people's overall health and quality of life – Community SWITCH.

We understand that a patient's health and well-being extends beyond traditional medical care. Community SWITCH goes beyond the ordinary and empowering you with additional tools and opportunities to manage your health effectively.

Follow this link to discover more>>

The NHS logo and the words signs and symptoms of measles
19th Jan

Information on Measles Outbreak in the UK

As is being reported in the media, there has been an outbreak of measles in the West Midlands, which is likely to spread rapidly across more parts of the UK unless more people take up the MMR vaccine.

Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.

Visit our MMR web page about the signs and symptoms to look out for, and information on measles vaccination.  Follow this link>>

an archirtect working on building plans
20th Dec 2023

Additional Consulting Rooms at Lake Road

We are delighted to share some exciting news regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance and improve our patients’ healthcare experience.

Our proposal to develop three additional consulting rooms at our Lake Road Verwood surgery site has received approval. This expansion project will utilise the space previously occupied by the pharmacy, and work is set to commence on January 21st, 2024.

The decision to expand our facilities is a testament to our commitment to providing you with the best possible care. With these new consulting rooms, we aim to enhance our ability to accommodate patient appointments more efficiently, reducing wait times and ensuring you receive timely and personalised attention.

We understand the importance of a seamless and comfortable healthcare experience, and this expansion aligns with our dedication to continuously improve our services. Throughout the construction process, we will make every effort to minimise disruptions to your visits to our Lake Road branch.

Thank you for your ongoing support and trust in The Cranborne Practice as we embark on this programme to enhance our facilities.  We look forward to its positive impact on the quality of service we provide.

a man with a mobile phone, the practice logo and the words, Committed to Improving Patient Access to our Services
16th Nov 2023

Our New Telephony System

As part of our continuing commitment to improving patient access, we are pleased to advise that we are installing a new and improved telephony system at our Cranborne and Lake Road Surgeries.  This upgrade is designed to optimize patient access and streamline communication, enabling us to serve you better.  Find out more here>>

a person holding a smartphone, the NHS logo and the words Online access to GP health records.  Over 12 million patients withonline accounts now have full access to their new GP health record entries.  Over 2,700 practices now offer this access to their patients by default.
28th Oct 2023

Online access to GP Health Records

From November 2023 all patients in our network who are over 16 will be able to view notes and health records. This includes notes from GP surgery appointments, test results, medications, and letters we receive from hospitals. These can be viewed online via the NHS App, NHS website, SystmOnline or the Airmid app. If you do not want your record to be available online, please speak with the Reception or Patient Services team at your surgery. For more, please visit the Crane Valley PCN information web page here>>

the practice and NHS logos and the words The Friends and Family Test, our latest results
18th Aug 2023

Our NHS Friends and Family Test Results

The NHS want you to have the best possible experience of care. The NHS Friends and Family Test is a way of gathering your feedback, so we can continually review and improve our service to you. Between April and the end of July, our Practice received 328 FFT responses.

We are delighted to learn from our recent NHS Friends & Family test results that 99.4% of respondents said their recent experience of visiting the Practice was Good or Very Good.

Find out more including patients' feedback comments on our website here>>

An image of a hospital in 1948, two nurses in uniform and a modern day operating theatre scene with surgeons performing an operation
5th Jul 2023

The NHS at 75

5 July 2023 marks 75 years of the National Health Service. Treating 1.3 million people a day in England, the NHS touches all our lives.  The Cranborne Practice, along with the other GP Practices in our network are proud to be a small part supporting the people in our local community to obtain, regain and maintain a healthy quality of life. 

Read more about the NHS and how its met the health and wellbeing needs of successive generations>>

 

The PPG logo, a list of the pharmacy options, a woman with her arms outstretched and the words I have been issued a prescription where are my choices of have it prepared? A PPG Guide
30th Jun 2023

Pharmacy Options for our Patients

When you require medication, such a repeat prescription, we electronically send the prescription to your nominated pharmacy. Following the move of Verwood Pharmacy from Lake Road, we would like to make our patients aware of the pharmacy locations where our Practice can send prescriptions for dispensing.
 
Our Patient Participation Group members have developed guides to help you decide and the actions required to nominate the pharmacy of your choice.
 
Visit our Prescriptions web page to learn more about your pharmacy options for choice and how to nominate or change your nominated pharmacy.
Lake Road surgery
29th Jun 2023

More space, new consulting rooms and more face-to-face appointments at our Lake Road Surgery branch.

As recently communicated, Verwood Pharmacy has relocated from the Lake Road Surgery site to new premises.  Our Lake Road Surgery is still open as usual, and the departure of the pharmacy enables The Cranborne Practice to expand its consulting rooms at the site, adding three more consulting rooms for face-to-face appointments.  Work is now underway to convert the rooms in readiness for patients.

These changes have enabled the Cranborne Practice to continue to develop and offer more services, including increased availability of face-to-face appointments for our patients.  The surgery is proud of its same-day appointment service, where 86% of patients calling for a GP appointment will get to see or speak to a GP on the same day.  With this increased capacity, the surgery is pleased to continue to be able to take on new patients.  For more information on how to register with us, please visit our website by following this link>>

Our reception teams are receiving enquiries concerning our Lake Road Branch and Verwood Pharmacy.  So may we clarify that our Lake Road Surgery site remains open, but we cannot assist with queries about Verwood Pharmacy operations.  Pharmland Ltd, trading as Verwood Pharmacy, is a separate entity not owned or operated by our Practice.

Verwood Pharmacy has made available information about the move and its services. You can find out more by visiting their website (pharmland.co.uk) for updates.

26th Apr 2023

Would you know what to do if somebody’s heart stopped?

The British Heart Foundation offer free online CPR training. Find out more in this video created by our Patient Participation Group (PPG) members.

 
a male armed forces member walking hand in had with a female civilian, the togetherall logo and the words  Mental health support for the UK Armed Forces and family members.  Safe, anonymous, online community for mental health support
28th Mar 2023

NHS England partnership: Free access to Togetherall for Veteran Patients

Our veteran patients have free access to Togetherall - Togetherall is a safe anonymous online community where members can share what’s on their mind, take comfort reading the thoughts of others or browse the many resources available. 

Find our more on our dedicated Armed Forces Support page here>>

the nhs logo and the words finding bowel cancel early makes it easier to treat.  The nhs bowel screening kit detects signs of cancer before you notice anything is wrong
2nd Mar 2023

FINDING BOWEL CANCER EARLY MAKES IT EASIER TO TREAT

If you’re sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit, put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. However, the number of people dying has fallen in recent decades, with earlier diagnosis being the key.  Detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated.
 
Everyone aged 60-74 who lives in England is automatically sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years. The programme is expanding to include those aged 50-59. This is happening gradually over the 4 years from 2021-2025 so you may be sent a kit before you are 60.
A picture of a couple walking in the woods with the Help and Care logo and the words, Dementia Coordinator Service.  Many people living with Dementia feel that having support along their journey will maximise independent living and prevent a crisis.  The Dementia Coordinator Service, delivered by Help and Care, is committed to supporting people to live well with Dementia.
26th Nov 2022

Dementia Coordinator Service

a person speaking with a hospital consultant
23rd Nov 2022

No need to tell us about your hospital consultant letters

May we stress that people do not need to let us know about their hospital consultant letters, as details are already provided to us directly from the relevant secondary care provider. Contacting us to provide copies of consultant letters duplicates our work.

If you have registered to use SystmOnline or the NHS App, you can view your medical records to check what we have received, and only contact us if you think something important is missing. Find out more about online access to GP services on our website here>>

Thank you for your support.

a hospital corridor
31st Oct 2022

Hospital waiting lists are not within the control of your GP

A reminder to our patients:

The Cranborne Practice cannot influence, chase or speed up hospital appointments, even if we have referred a patient. Contact from us will not expedite when you will be seen, as the hospital triages all appointments. Please do not ask to speak to a GP regarding expediting a hospital appointment unless your condition has significantly changed since you were initially referred.
 
Are you awaiting an outpatient appointment or planned procedure date at a Dorset hospital?
 
 
Have a question about hospital appointments, or are you looking for the results of a test done at a hospital?
Please phone the relevant consultant secretary or hospital appointments booking team directly.
 
May we remind patients that Hospital information/appointments are not always shared on our computer system, and we only get results from hospital tests that we have directly requested.
Thank you.
A moon rising behind a tree
29th Sep 2022

Prefer an evening appointment?

Improving Access to General Practice Services
From Monday 3rd October, we will offer appointments to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professionals beyond the currently available surgery opening times on weekdays. This is part of NHS England's Enhanced Access.   To find out more, please visit our Opening Hours web page here>>
a health care assistance taking a vial of blood
18th Aug 2022

Online booking of appointments with our Health Care Assistants

A reminder to our patients booking appointments with our Health Care Assistants (HCAs) via SystmOnline, Airmid, or the NHS App that that the slots offered are for blood tests only.

We offer routine blood test slots through SystmOnline etc because they are of a defined duration. Other medical issues may take longer, but patients may still book quickly and easily using our Nurse/HCA Appointment booking form by following this link:>>

Booking a non routine HCA appointment this way enables our Reception team to find the right appointment slot for the patient. Thank you.

diary
26th May 2022

IMPORTANT CHANGES to our Appointments System

From Monday, the 6th of June, a new gateway will change how you book GP appointments.

The changes are intended to improve the accessibility of GP services, reduce waiting times and support our patient needs, creating opportunities to access a GP on the day of need. 

From this date, GP appointment bookings will only be able to be made by telephone or online using a Systmonline account or through the NHS app or Airmid App. In person bookings may also be made at our Lake Road Surgery branch.

For more information on what is changing and why, please visit our Patient Services and Information page here:>>

Please note that there is no change to other appointment booking types.  Appointment arrangements to see a Nurse, Health Care Assistant or for vaccinations remain unchanged.

Facebook Home Page
20th Feb 2022

Follow us on social media for the latest news

For patients who use social media, please note we have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts (@CranborneGP).  We often post breaking news on Facebook earlier than it is posted on this website, so please follow us so these posts appear in your news feed.  

As well as the ways in which you can get in touch with us published on our Contact Us page, you can also send us a message from our Facebook page.

See a Norse or Health Care Assistant
26th Jan 2022

Online booking of Nurse/Health Care Assistant(HCA) appointments now available!

 
In last year's PPG survey of patient views of the Practice's online services, many respondents indicated that they would like to book routine appointments with clinicians other than a GP. For example, they said they would like to go online to book blood tests, smear tests or request other health services. Unfortunately, the varying duration in these appointment times meant it was impossible to offer online booking of Nurse/HCA appointments through SystmOnline. However, we are now pleased to provide patients with the ability to book these online using the Nurse/HCA Appointment Request form.
doctor
5th Jul 2021

Accountable/Named GP for all patients

The practice is required by the Government under the terms of the latest GP contract to allocate all patients a named accountable GP. Individual patients will be informed of their named accountable GP at the first appropriate interaction with the practice. For convenience, if you have a medical card your Accountable GP will be the named doctor you are registered with.

Patients registering over the last 2-3 years will not have received a medical card as these are no longer routinely sent when registering with a new GP. However, the practice does keep a record of your registered (accountable) GP. If you wish to be told the name of your Accountable GP, please ask the receptionists when you are next in the surgery.

Please note: there is no need to telephone the practice for this information. Where a patient expresses a preference as to which GP they have been assigned, the practice will make reasonable efforts to accommodate this request. Having a named GP does not prevent you from seeing any other doctor in the practice. Your named GP will not be available at all times and if your needs are urgent, you may need to discuss them with an alternative doctor.