Changes to Patchs opening hours

Message to Patients

*PLEASE DO NOT USE PATCHS FOR URGENT APPOINTMENT REQUESTS*

As part of the 2025/26 GP contract, practices are required to keep their e-consultation software  (Patchs) open to patients ‘for the duration of core hours for non-urgent appointment requests, medication queries and admin requests’. This comes into effect from 1^st October 2025 and means we at Spital have had to change our appointments system to meet these requirements. In order that we can deal with your appointment requests in a timely and appropriate way, and not delay help for any urgent cases, please take note of the following:

How to access appointments:

GP or other clinician appointment:

• URGENT APPOINTMENT NEEDED

Telephone reception on 0151 334 4019 -our reception staff /care navigators will ask you the nature of your problem and direct you to the most appropriate service / book urgent GP appointment as necessary. Patchs will only be checked at set intervals throughout the day, so it’s important you phone us with anything urgent so it can be dealt with the same day.

• ROUTINE APPOINTMENT NEEDED

(i) Complete a Patchs -link via our website or NHS app

This is the best way to relay your problem to the doctor and is our GPs’ preferred method of communication; you will receive a response to your problem within 2 working days.

Responses can be one of the following:

-Face to face (F2F) appointment with a GP (to be seen in an appropriate time scale for the problem -most seen within 3 weeks)

-Phone call appointment with a GP

-F2F or phone appointment with a GP/Clinician (Paramedic / Advanced Nurse Practitioner) at one of our Healthier South Wirral PCN Partner sites (PCN = Primary Care Network)

-Text/E-mail with advice for self-care; and weblinks to relevant information

-Request for you to book in for tests directly with follow up face to face appointment or phone call as needed e.g. blood tests, urine sample etc

-Appointment with our Nurse / Nurse Associate

-Appointment with our Clinical Pharmacist

-Appointment with ARRS Role (e.g. Social Prescriber, Mental Health Practitioner)

-Redirection to another provider –such as a Community Pharmacist (Pharmacy First) or Walk-in-Centre

*PLEASE NOTE YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE ON THE SAME DAY; WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE NEXT WORKING DAY TO REVIEW YOUR PATCHS*

(ii)          Telephone Reception

We understand that some patients are unable to access online services. If you have difficulty accessing Patchs then call reception on 0151 334 4019 where our reception team will be happy to help.

• Routine follow up due e.g. Diabetes review /Asthma review or Blood test:

If you have a routine follow up due, you can ring the reception and book a Nurse appointment or Phlebotomy appointment

 We thank you for your cooperation while we are adopting these changes.