A ‘Long Term Condition’ is any medical condition for which a person has to take regular medication or receive regular monitoring in order to make sure the condition remains well controlled. This can include conditions such as Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease, Heart Failure, Dementia, Mental Health as well as many others.
As a practice we are updating the way in which we process these reviews, with a view to making the process easier to manage as a patient. We hope this will help to reduce the amount of time patients are having to spend trying to contact the practice, as we understand this can sometimes be difficult, and also reduce the number of contacts / appointments required per year for your annual reviews. You may be required to attend multiple appointments with different clinicians for your Long Term Condition review, this is to ensure we are looking after you holistically and you have the opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have with the appropriate clinician i.e. GP, Diabetes Nurse, Respiratory Nurse or Pharmacist.
When your review is due you will either receive a text message or phone call from the practice advising that you are due a review and book an appointment for you, any future appointments that are needed to complete your review will be booked during the initial appointment.
We are also aware of technology limitations, and if you are unable to receive messages or telephone calls, we will send a letter. We are open to hear any other suggestions on how our patients would like to be contacted.
If you need to be seen face to face at the practice or have a telephone consultation, we will contact you to arrange an appointment. Otherwise, you may receive requests for blood or urine tests through the post for you to arrange or complete. We will always send you a message prior to these coming out, and also at any point we action anything throughout your review, so you are kept fully updated throughout the process.
Whilst we fully implement this process it may mean in some instances, as a one off, you may be asked to attend slightly earlier than you were expecting or have to wait slightly longer for your review, but rest assured the process will even itself out so you will then be called at regular annual intervals.
Your health and wellbeing is of the utmost importance to us, so for those patients who are having to wait a little longer for your full Long Term Conditions Review, we may invite you for an Interim Review in the mean time to make sure you are always monitored properly and your medication can continue to be issued as usual.
If you are aware you have a Long Term Condition please ensure your contact details, particularly your mobile number, are up to date on your medical records. We are extremely appreciative of your patience and support whilst we implement this new process.