Patients with long term conditions will be invited for their annual review within the month of their birthday. You will receive a text message, letter or telephone call to invite you for these appointments. Please do not contact the surgery to book an appointment until you have been invited.

What is a Long Term Condition?

A Long term condition includes illnesses such as:

• Respiratory disease
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• High blood pressure
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Epilepsy

For some conditions, it may be necessary to have more than one appointment, for example, a blood test appointment with the health care assistant (to ensure results are available for the review) and then a review with the practice nurse. In some case, it may also be necessary to have an appointment with the GP, but most reviews will take place with our specialised Nursing team or the practice Pharmacist who have knowledge and experience of managing long term condition patients.

A review is very important for all patients. Your medication needs regular review to ensure that they are continuing to provide adequate control for your condition or symptoms, and that you are receiving any blood tests that are required when taking this medication and you are not suffering any potential side effects.

It also allows us to discuss if there is anything we can do to support you in ensuring that all your medication is taken regularly, address any concerns that you have that stop you using your medication regularly & also if there are any medications that you are no longer taking.

National guidelines state that medication should not be prescribed without the relevant blood tests under regular observation. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO RELY ON BLOOD TESTS RESULTS TAKEN AT HOSPITAL, AS THE DATA ISN’T SHARED WITH US. Therefore, if patients are unwilling to adhere to these guidelines, the issuing of medication becomes unsafe practice. We will not compromise on the safety of our patients and the risk placed on GPs to prescribe medication without full monitoring. Medication will be paused until an agreement is met for either the patient to attend for blood tests and review, or alternatively supported to move to a new GP practice.

Please help us to provide the best care we can by making an appointment at your earliest convenience.