Important - Telephone line update

Dear Patients,

Please be aware that we are installing our new telephone system this week and that there may be intermittent problems getting through on our telephone lines. Please bear with us during this time, as we hope once it has been installed it will be so much better for us all.

Important Information Regarding Test Results

Patients with full online access will be able to see any test result that has been requested by a GP or clinician as soon as the results are returned from the hospital. These results may not have been seen by a GP and therefore may cause the patient concern if they show anything other than Normal.

This appears to be a system wide function and unfortunately we are unable to make any amendments to it.

Please do not contact the surgery with queries regarding the results, all tests will be read and actioned by a GP. You will receive a text, phone call or a letter if you are required to have any further tests or indeed need to speak to a GP.

We would like to reassure you that any abnormal results that require immediate attention are communicated to patients appropriately.

Welcome to The Robert Frew Medical Centre

The practice was established in 1919 by Dr Robert Frew with consulting rooms at his home 'Ladybrow' in Wickford High Street, the site of what is now the Ladygate Centre. His two sons later joined Dr Frew in partnership. In 1970 the practice moved to premises in Franklins Way. We moved to our new building in 1998, offering more space for our team of medical professionals.

We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help and give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format. It has been designed with the patient’s needs at the forefront of everything, from checking surgery times to letting us know what you think of us.

Serving You

Our dedicated team are here to treat those minor ailments that occur as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions and clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues. The technology also means you can now do a lot of things from the comfort of your home such as order a repeat prescription or cancel an appointment.

Partners in Care

Once registered, patients and healthcare professionals work together to ensure the most appropriate care is provided. This partnership philosophy extends even further and our active patient group exists to make sure that patient needs and the practice offering are always heading in the same direction.

Access

The surgery is provided with safe and easy access to wheelchair users and those with walking difficulties. A disabled patients' WC is accessed from the main corridor.

Appointment Booking

Ways of booking an appointment

In December 2023 110 Patients Did Not Attend Their Appointment.

Please contact the surgery if you are unable to attend your appointment.

Call 01268 209229 and choose option 3, there will be no queue and you will get straight through to a voice message where you can leave the details, we can then offer this appointment to other patients who are in need.

You can also use the automated system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Thank you for your continued co-operation.

Over this year, there have been rising pressures within the whole health and care system and at Robert Frew surgery we are doing everything we can to manage these pressures and prioritise patient care. We have noticed an increase in more and more patients attending the surgery early in the morning in order to make an appointment, we would like to provide reassurance that we are increasing the number of available appointments and adding more resource to reception to respond to more phone calls.

Please be assured we are doing everything we can and working with our partners to ease appointment booking and we have multiple ways to do this at our surgery, we have appointments available and we encourage you only attend in person if you are unable to use the following options.

ONLINE – We have both on the day appointments and now an increased number of pre-bookable appointments you can book through the online system, if you wish to apply for online access, it is a quick and simple process. We do appreciate some patients may not have online access or be confident in using this service, our automated telephone system is an easy to follow alternative. PLEASE STATE WHEN BOOKING IF THE APPOINTMENT IS FOR A FACE TO FACE OR A TELEPHONE CONSULTATION.

AUTOMATED SYSTEM – Contact the surgery on 01268 209229 and choose option 2. You will be asked to enter you date of birth and telephone number. You can book an appointment with a GP or Healthcare Assistant both on the day and pre-bookable up to 3-4 weeks in advance.

E-CONSULT – This is a new service on our website where you can request medical advice and guidance, as well as sick certificates and test results. WWW.robertfrewsurgery.com and go to the online service page.

TELEPHONE – we appreciate the phone lines are extremely busy but we do try to process these calls as quickly as possible.

IN PERSON – You can come to the surgery to book your appointment but during the winter months we would prefer you to stay in the comfort of your home and book your appointment through one of the methods detailed above.

Thank you for your patience.

SHOTGATE BRANCH SURGERY

We feel we have an obligation to inform you of the future of the service provision from Shotgate Surgery.

At the moment we are having difficulties with entering into a lease with the landlord and we have brought this to the attention of NHS England.

Whilst it is the intention of the partners to provide services from Shotgate, it is contingent on agreement by the landlord. We will keep you updated to the success or not of our negotiation.

Thank you

Robert Frew Medical Partners       

Automated Phone System (Patient Partner)

Please visit http://www.111.nhs.uk for up to date information

There is now an out of hours GP service operating from Wickford Practice run by BB Healthcare Solutions.

Patient Notice - Out of Hours Service

Patient Notice - Out Of Hours Service

An out of hours service is now being provided by BB Healthcare Solutions. This offers patients access to medical services outside of core hours and over the weekend.

These appointments will be at a practice in Wickford or Billericay.

You will be informed of the location of your appointment on booking.

Appointments are made in the usual way by phoning the surgery, these appointments are only bookable 48 hours in advance. You will be told where your appointment is. There are GP and Nurse appointments available.  The NHS 111 service is still available.

Care Quality Commission 

CQC Report October 2017

Fair Processing Notice