gun lane medical centre and pharmacy - Strood
Gun Lane Medical Centre
Strood
Rochester, ME2 4UW
01634 290644
Telephone 1:
01634 727888
Telephone 2:
01634 296404
Fax:
Gun Lane Pharmacy 01634 724397
NHS Liaison Service 111
www.gunlanemedicalcentreandpharmacy.co.uk
Website
When the surgery is closed call 01634 891900
Gun Lane Medical Centre and Pharmacy
Welcome
Gun Lane Medical Centre and Pharmacy is based in Strood, Kent and forms part of the
Sydenham House Medical Group. Click on the link to the right, called Sydenham House
Medical Group, to access our other practices within the Group.
We've packed our website full of useful information in a very easy format with the added benefit
of several online functions. If you're new to the area, have a look at our opening times, download
a registration form and come and see us.
Patient Online Services commencing 15th June 2015
To access these services, you will need to register. This will enable you to book
appointments on line and view medications, immunisations and allergies. Please
speak to the reception staff who will be happy to help. Patients have to be 18 and
over to be eligible for this service.
All patients have an allocated GP, this is not to say you cannot see other GPs too.
Opening Times
Reception is open Monday - Friday from 08:30 to 18:30. Late evening appointments are
available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 18:30 onwards.
Doctor Availability
Dr Shahi
Dr D Ray
Monday
AM - PM
AM-PM
Tuesday
AM - PM & Late Evening
AM-PM
Wednesday
AM - PM
AM-PM
Thursday
AM - PM
AM-PM
Friday
AM - PM
AM - PM
When We Are Closed
When the Reception is closed (between 18:00 - 08:30) please telephone 01634 290644 or 01634
727888 and listen to the answerphone message. Patients are requested not to call the out-of-hours
service for minor illnesses such as colds and sore throats.
For In-house Pharmacy services, please go to 'In-house Pharmacy' page
NHS Direct
Alternatively you can access urgent assistance by calling NHS On-Line advice on 111. A triage
nurse will assess your situation and take appropriate action. This could simply be by offering
advice or where necessary guide you for further services as appropriate.
Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor
and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath
constitute an emergency.
Appointments
Patients are advised to telephone the surgery from 08:30 onwards to make an appointment with
the GP or other health professional. As far as is possible you will be able to see a doctor on the
same day or within 48 hours, although it may not always be possible to see a doctor of your
choice.
There are appointments that may be pre-booked for patients who have work or family
commitments. These appointments can be booked up to one week ahead. Extended evening
surgery appointments are offered on Monday and Tuesday evenings for commuters working
away from home.
Practice Nurses
In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather
than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen
more quickly. We also have a health care assistant available three days a week, offering various
services.
Telephone Advice
You can speak with a doctor or nurse over the telephone if you need advice. Please call
after 10:30 to minimise disruption to the surgery.
Chaperones and Interpreters
If you would prefer to have a chaperone present during an intimate examination please let the
doctor know. You can either bring a friend along or we will ask a member of staff to be present.
Patients requiring an interpreter need to give three days notice.
Cancellations
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order
for us to give the slot to someone else.
Home Visits
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment
and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do
need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:30.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your
GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also
decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide
suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You
should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are
newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.
Sickness Certificates
You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your
employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is
available from your employer or on the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sc2.pdf) .
Evidence that you are sick
If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of
medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).
It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate,
now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence
that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.
You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist.
Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any
doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.
Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'
The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help
you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or
injury.
For more information see the DirectGov website
(www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/
DG_175850) (where this information was sourced)
Training Practice
We are an approved training practice for Foundation Year 2 (FY2) doctors. In this respect you
may be asked for your consent to have that doctor present during the consultation.
We hope you will assist in our teaching activities but you do of course have the right to refuse.
The Practice is planning to become a 'Training Practice' in the future and would be taking trainee
General Practitioners who would be available to provide medical care as well.
You can now register to receive information by text message on your phone regarding
appointments and health care.
If you wish to register for this messaging service please fill out the consent form.
Repeat Prescriptions
Patients on long-term medication can order repeat prescriptions by handing in the tear-off slip
attached to their last prescription to the surgery reception or nominated chemist. On-site
Pharmacy can help you regarding your repeat prescriptions and they can offer a home delivery
service if required.
ON-LINE PRESCRIPTIONS can be requested by e-mailing the in-house Pharmacy gunlane.pharmacy@nhs.net, where your repeat slip can be 'ticked, scanned and attached'. It
would be taken as your consent for repeat medication and medicines can be collected at the
pharmacy within 48 hours of this request. First time users will be required to complete a simple
registration form upon collection of your medication at the pharmacy.
Please note we do not accept requests over the telephone for medico-legal reasons as errors
can occur.
Medication Reviews
Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at
least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your
repeat slip. Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays
to further prescriptions.
Please allow two full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take
weekends and bank holidays into account.
Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying
charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought
it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription
prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
NHS charges
These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
prescriptions are free of charge.
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Prescription (per item): £7.85
12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £104.00
3-month PPC: £29.10
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 15 items
in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
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Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030
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General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line
There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website
(www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx)
Tel: 01634 724397
The practice has an in-house late night and weekend pharmacy with opening hours as below and
it also provides delivery services of repeat medications if required.
Monday - 7.00 am to 11.00 pm
Tuesday to Friday - 7.00 am to 10.30 pm
Saturday - 7.00 am to 9.30 pm
Sunday - 12.00 noon to 8.00 pm
A pharmacist is on site all the time to give advice about minor illnesses, who can also dispense
on counter medicines without prescription as appropriate. It is advisable that before going to
MEDDOC or Accident & Emergency at Medway, take advice from the Pharmacist.
Other services the pharmacy provides to patients are C Card Service, Smoking Cessation,
Medicine Uses Review, New Medicine Service, Emergency Contraception.
You can use this pharmacy if you have used MEDDOC services in the evenings and weekends
for prescriptions and during extended hours surgery appointments provided by doctors in the late
evenings.
Please allow 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed.
Any problems please telephone the surgery.
Clinics & Services
Clinics & Services
In addition to GP consultations the practice offers a wide range of clinics and services:
Chronic Disease Management
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Angina
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Asthma/COPD
Hypertension
Coronary heart disease
Diabetes
Hypo-thyroidism
Epilesy
Cancer
Atrial Fibrillation
CKD
Learning Disability
Mental Health service
Additional Services
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Cervical smears - carried out during normal surgery hours. Please inform the
receptionist in order for a longer appointment to be made.
Contraceptive services - including the fitting of IUD's, caps and Nexplanon. Emergency
contraception is available without a consultation in certain circumstances only.
Minor Surgical Procedures and joint injections - Practice is Accredited for carrying
out minor surgical procedures and it is available for the practice patients and nonregistered patient by appointment.
Child health & immunisations
Maternity services - pre-conceptual advice is available and ante-natal and post-natal
clinics are run by the doctors and midwife.
New patient screening checks
Three yearly health checks - for patients aged 16 - 74 years
Annual checks - for patients over 75 years
Vaccinations and immunisations - including flu and travel.
In-house Ultrasound scans
Phlebotomy
In-house Podiatry
Non-NHS Services
Non-NHS Services
Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract
charges. Examples include the following:
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Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
Insurance claim forms
Passport signing
Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
Private sick notes
Vaccination certificates
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.
Outpatients Clinics
Outpatient Clinics are held within our practices.
We now provide diagnostic services by way of non-obstetric ultrasound.
Many other projects are being developed with the common aim of bringing healthcare services
closer to home with shorter waits. As these are developed we will update the website.
Test Results
Test Results
When you attend for a test of any kind you will be told how long you should expect to wait for
the results.Normally Doctor or our Receptionist would contact you personally regarding any
abnormal result requiring action. Please call the surgery after 15:00 hrs if you are concerned.
Our reception staff would communicate with you the comments made about your results by the
Doctor but they are not qualified enough to give any explanation, therefore please make a
follow-up appointment with the doctor if you wish to discuss the result further.
Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this
respect certain questions would be asked to verify your identity. We will only give out results to
the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release.
Blood Tests
Blood Tests
A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a
wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood
test can be used to:
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assess your general state of health
confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning
A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your
arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are
relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the
back of the hand. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before
the sample is taken.
You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the
NHS Choices website.
X-Ray
X-Ray
An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very
effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify
problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.
If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part
of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.
An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in
using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.
You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by
visiting the NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk/conditions/x-ray/Pages/Introduction.aspx) .
Registration
New Patient Registration
You will be expected to complete the new patient registration form and would be offered an
appointment at that stage for a health check and screening. Immunisations details contained in
the 'RED BOOK' must be provided for under 5 years of age at the time of registration.
Please note that a new patient health check has to be carried out before being registered as a
patient.
Medical treatment is available from the date of registration. Please contact reception for further
information.
Guide to GP Services
The Royal College of General Practitioners has produced a useful guide for patients about the
services on offer at GP Surgeries and how to access them. You can download the guide below.
A Patient Guide to GP Services
Registering Online
Joining the Practice - Online
You need to complete pre-registration form and medical questionnaire for new patients - by
clicking on the links below.
When you have completed all of the details, click on the "Send" button to mail your forms to us.
On your first visit to the surgery you will be asked to sign the form to confirm that the details are
correct. You would be registered as a practice patient only after health check screening
consultation has taken place for which our receptionist would offer an apppointment on your
contact telephone or mobile number provided.
Pre-registration Form
Your medical records can take up to 3 months to be transferred to this practice and thus you need
to complete a medical questionnaire on line as well by clicking on the link below.
Online Medical Questionnaire For New Patients
Note that by sending the form you will be transmitting information about your self across the
Internet and although every effort is made to keep this information secure, no guarantee can be
offered in this respect.
Alternatively you may print off a registration form, fill it out and bring it in with you on your
first visit to the practice to hand over to the receptionist.
Registration Form
Practice Area
Practice Area
Temporary Residents
Temporary Registration
If you are ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one
you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP practice for 14 days. After 14 days you
will need to register as a temporary or permanent patient.
You can be registered as a temporary patient for up to three months. This will allow you to be on
the local practice list and still remain a patient of your permanent GP. After three months you
will have to re-register as a temporary patient or permanently register with that practice.
To register as a temporary patient simply contact the local practice you wish to use. You cannot
register as a temporary patient at a practice in the town or area where you are already registered.
Download the Temporary Resident Registration Form
Sydenham House Medical Group
Sydenham House Medical Group
Sydenham House Medical Group comprises of a number of Primary Care Medical Practices
based within Kent and East Sussex:Sydenham House Medical Centre, Ashford, Kent
http://www.sydenhamhouse.co.uk (www.sydenhamhouse.co.uk)
Musgrove Park Medical Centre, South Ashford, Kent
http://www.musgroveparksurgery.nhs.uk (www.musgroveparksurgery.nhs.uk)
High Glades Medical Centre, St Leonards, East Sussex
http://www.highgladesmedicalcentre.nhs.uk (www.highgladesmedicalcentre.nhs.uk)
Gun Lane Medical Centre and Pharmacy, Strood, Kent
http://www.gunlanemedicalcentreandpharmacy.co.uk
(www.gunlanemedicalcentreandpharmacy.co.uk/)
For more information and contact details, please click on the relevant link above.
The Partners for the Group are:Dr R Menon BSc (Hons) MBBS DRCOG FP Cert Docc Med, Senior Partner
Mr N Keyte - Managing Partner
Dr D Ray MBBS, Partner
Dr E Klim BSc (Hons) MBBS MRCGP FP Cert, Partner
Dr Chintakuntla MBBS, Partner
Dr D Fox MBchB MRCGP, Partner
Dr Shahi MBBS MRCGP, Partner
Ebola
If you have returned from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone or cared for someone with Ebola in
the past 21 days and you have a fever or feel unwell - without touching anyone tell a member of
staff or call 111.
Do NOT come to the surgery.
Flu Campaign 2015
Our Flu campaign will start in September 2015, notices will put up nearer the time in the
Surgery.
Pregnancy & Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy
There's a lot of whooping cough around at the moment and babies who are too young to start
their vaccinations are at greatest risk.
Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated against whooping cough
(pertussis) when they are 28-38 weeks pregnant. Please contact our Reception to book an
appointment to receive the pertussis vaccaine
Why are pregnant women advised to have the whooping
cough vaccine?
Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant may help to protect your baby from developing
whooping cough in their first few weeks of life. The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass
to your baby through the placenta. Babies are not routinely vaccinated against whooping cough
until they are two months old.
For further information please click on the link below:
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) vaccination (www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-andbaby/Pages/whooping-cough-vaccination-pregnant.aspx)
The Friends and Family Test
From 1st December, if you visit our GP Surgery you will be asked about whether or not you
would recommend our surgery to your family and friends, if they need similar treatment or care.
When you visit our GP surgery for care or treatment, you will be given the opportunity to give
your feedback by answering a simple question about your experience.
"How likely are you to recommend our GP practice to friends and family if they need similar
care or treatment?"
You will be asked to choose one of six options, ranging from 'extremely likely' to 'extremely
unlikely'.
You will also be invited to tell us: If we could change one thing about your care or treatment to
improve your experience, what would it be?
Your response is anonymous and you will be able to post the questionnaire anonymously in a
box in our GP practice reception on your way out of the surgery.
If you are unable to answer the question, a friend or family member is welcome to respond on
your behalf.
The Friends and Family test results will be published on the Medway Clinical Commissioning
Group website at www.medwayccg.nhs.uk
The information will give our GP practice invaluable feedback on what you think of the care and
treatment you have received, which along with existing ways of gathering feedback , will help us
to make improvements and improve the experience for our patients.
The Friends and Family Test has already been successfully rolled out in hospitals across the
country and is proving to be valuable in obtaining patient experiences.
For more information on the Friends and Family Test, please visit
www.nhs.uk/friendsandfamily
Practice Policies
Confidentiality & Medical Records
The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable
information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances:
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To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital
services.
To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your
consent.
When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient
information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and
Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care.
If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us
know.
Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their
jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff.
Freedom of Information
Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act
can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the
practice manager.
Access to Records
In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients
may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice
manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released
without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so.
Complaints
We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.
However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a
genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly,
and as amicably, as possible.
To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns
appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from
reception.
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.
Staff Details
Doctors
Dr Deepak K Ray
MBBS (2001) MRCP (2006) MRCGP (2007)
Dr Prabhat K Shahi
MBBS (1995) MRCGP (2006)
Nurses
RGN
Our Practice nurse is qualified and a registered nurse. She can help with health
issues such as family planning and healthy living advice. The practice nurse also
runs clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes,
hypertension and CHD etc. Cervical smears, breast examination, travel
immunisations and child immunisations are also done by our practice nurse.
Healthcare Assistants
Healthcare assistants support practice nurses with their daily work and carry out
tasks such as blood pressure measurement, NHS health checks and new patient
checks. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.
Our HCA is available three days a week.
Practice Management
Practice Manager
The Practice Manager is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the
practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high
quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and
equipment and information technology. The Practice Manager supports the GPs and
other medical professionals with delivering patient services and also helps to
develop extended services to enhance patient care. She does liaise with CCG and
other organisations related to the practice. She is also complaints manager for the
practice and can be approached for any complaints or suggestions through any
practice staff.
Reception
The practice is well suppported by six receptionists and a secretary who provide an
important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for
general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and
direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists
make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform
other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with
prescription enquiries and dealing with patient records.
Receptionists are life-line to the practice and they deserve to be dealt with respect
and care as this can help you to get excellent patient care and service from the
practice. The practice runs a zero tolerance policy to verbal abuse and violence and
does not discriminate between race, colour or religion.
Mutual co-operation will make a successful practice.
Community Midwives
The midwife provides maternity care from the very beginning of your pregnancy to
the end so that mothers receive support and continuity of care through their
pregnancy and beyond to the point where the health visitor takes over.
Community Nurses
Telephone 01634 717755
We have close links with the community nursing service and if community help is
required our practice staff will organise the appropriate service. For wound therapy
clinic – self referral or hospital follow-up treatment Telephone 01634 810925
between 09:00 – 12:30.
Health Visitors
Telephone 01634 717755
A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related
to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with
children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of
mental, physical and social wellbeing.
Attached Staff
Counsellors
Physiotherapists