Help & Information

Armed Forces Covenant

Benefits and Financial Support

If you think you may be eligible for financial support including PIP (Personal Independance Payment) please check these websites for further information:

www.gov.uk/pip

www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/

Our clinicians cannot provide advice regarding an individual patient's eligibility for benefits or financial support; this decision is made by the agency who the application is made to and multiple factors will be considered by them before making any decision.

After you have made your application to the relevant agency, the Practice may be asked to provide medical information and this will be provided only with your consent.

Bereavement

Experiencing loss of a loved one can be devastating. Cruse provides free, confidential help and support for both adults and children by telephone, email or face-to-face.

There is no ‘normal’ way to grieve; everyone experiences bereavement in many different ways. After a loss, a range of, or all emotions including shock, pain, anger, guilt, depression and longing may be experienced. Cruse UK Bereavement page provides further helpful information on the feelings experienced when someone dies in both adults and children, how to help someone who is grieving and coping mechanisms.

For the practical matters – what to do when someone dies:

Get a medical certificate – you will get this from a doctor (GP or at a hospital). You need the certificate to register the death.
Register the death within five days – you will then get the documents you need for the funeral.
Arrange the funeral – either through a funeral director or you can do it yourself.

You do not need to deal with their will, money and property straight away. See www.gov.uk/after-a-death/overview for more information.

You may be able to use the ‘Tell Us Once’ service which allows you to report the death to most governmental services in one go. See www.gov.uk/after-a-death/organisations-you-need-to-contact-and-tell-us-once for more information on this service.

Care Quality Commission

MMP received an inspection from the Care Quality Commission on 13th April 2017 and a report has just been published stating Marsh achieved a fantastic result of ‘Good’ in all key areas. This is testament to all the hard work of all the staff at Marsh.

To see our assessment result please visit the North Somercotes CQC page.

Purpose of the CQC

To make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and they encourage care services to improve.

Role of the CQC

The CQC registers, monitors, inspects and rates service providers to ensure they are meeting quality and safety standards.

Chaperones

If you would like a chaperone, please mention this when you make your appointment.

Complaints

Patient Complaints Procedure
If you are unhappy with your care or the service you have received, it is important to let us know so we can improve. We follow a Practice Complaints Procedure as part of the NHS complaints system, which meets or exceeds national criteria.

How to complain
We hope that we can sort most problems out easily and quickly at the time they arise. Please ask to speak to the Operations Manager or Duty Manager at the Practice if you would like to discuss any concerns or if you would like to make a verbal complaint. 

If you wish to make a formal written complaint, please do this as soon as possible – ideally within a few days. This will help us to establish what happened more easily. If doing so is not possible, your complaint should be submitted within 12 months of the incident or problem occurring. Address your complaint in writing to the Operations Manager. 

If you would like to use our complaints form please ask for one at Reception (or download - see below.) The Operations Manager will ensure your concerns are dealt with correctly and promptly. Please be as specific and concise as possible.
Download our complaints form
For additional information about complaints see the information document below:
Download our complaints information document

Complaining on behalf of someone else
We keep strictly to the rules of medical confidentiality. If you are not the patient but are complaining on their behalf, you must have their permission to do so. The patient must provide signed consent, unless they are incapable (due to illness or infirmity) of doing so. Please ask for a Third Party Consent Form from reception or download using the link below.
Download our third party consent form

What we will do
We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days and aim to have fully investigated within 40 working days of the date it was received. If we expect it to take longer we will explain the reason for the delay and provide a new date of completion. You will receive a final letter setting out the result of any Practice investigations.

Complaints Directly to the Commissioner of the Service.
After 1 July 2023 if you want to make a complaint about primary care services (general practice) to the commissioner, you need to contact NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) instead of NHS England.

You can do this by:
Tel: 01522 309 299
Email: LICB.feedbacklincolnshireicb@nhs.net
Writing to the ICB at:
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board,
Complaints and Customer Care Team,
Bridge House,
The Point,
Lions Way,
Sleaford
NG34 8GG

If you remain dissatisfied by their response, the next step would be to contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) to review how the complaint has been handled. More details can be found at Ombudsman - Making a Complaint or by calling their helpline on Helpline 0345 015 4033.

Disabled Facilities

Disabled access and facilities are available at both of our sites.

Designated parking bays are adjacent to the entrances of both sites with ramp access and wide doors to allow for wheelchairs. If you require further assistance, or have specific needs, please do not hesitate to call our reception on 01507 358623.

Driving Assessments

The Regional Driving Assessment Centre (RADC) is a charitable organisation. Their aim is to help older and disabled people achieve a better quality of life by helping them to maintain or regain independent mobility as drivers, passengers, scooter, or wheelchair users.

RADC’s primary function is driving assessment. They may also offer practical advice on adaptations and tuition if required.

For further details about their services click here https://www.rdac.co.uk/

Disabled Parking Badges

Disabled Parking Badges can be obtained from Lincolnshire County Council, their contact details are:

Lincolnshire County Council Blue Badge Team
County Offices
Newland
Lincoln
LN1 1YL

Tel: 01522 782232

Email: DisabledCarParking@lincolnshire.gov.uk

Enhanced Data Sharing Model

The clinical computer system used at Marsh Medical Practice is SystmOne. It is a system that is used widely in this area and across England. This system gives us a facility (The Enhanced Data Sharing Model - EDSM) to share your health record with other health providers involved in your care.

Your health record includes your medical history, details about your medication and any allergies you may have. You can now choose whether to share these full medical details with other health provider units (for example District nurses).

Many organisations may use SystmOne including some GP practices, out of hours services, children's services, community services and some hospitals. Sharing your health record will help us deliver the best level of care for you.

You have two choices which allow you to control how your record is shared. You can change these choices at any time by completing the EDSM consent form and returning it to a member of the reception team.

Sharing OUT

This controls whether your information recorded at this practice can be shared with other health care providers.

Sharing IN

This determines whether or not this practice can view information in your record that has been entered by other services who are providing care for you or who may provide care for you in the future.

Imagine you are receiving care from three services, your GP, a district nurse and a smoking clinic. You want your GP and district nurse to share information with each other and you want both of them to know your progress at the smoking clinic. However, you don't want the smoking clinic to see any of your other medical information.

Your sharing choices at each place would be:

The GPs can share information IN and OUT
The district nurses can share information IN and OUT
The smoking clinic cannot share IN but can share OUT

Exceptions

In very exceptional circumstances your information may be shared without your permission - for example if your life is at risk.
A parent can give consent to share a child’s record. This will be recoded as “Consent Not Asked” and “parental consent given” noted as the reason why the record was shared.
Vaccinations will be shared regardless of whether there is consent to share or not.

Friends and Family Survey

Our Friends and Family Survey is a useful tool for us to gather feedback from our patients about their recent visit/experience using our services. The information you provide is completely confidential and will enable us to establish the areas of care we do well in and the areas that could be improved.

You can give feedback after any interaction with the surgery by filling in the survey sheet located at either North Somercotes or Manby waiting rooms.

GP2GP

GP2GP allows patient’s records to be transferred electronically between practices when a patient changes their practice. This improves patient care by making full medical records available to practices, for a new patient's first and later consultations. It is an NHS requirement that all practices use GP2GP for transferring electronic patient records.

Marsh Medical Practice uses GP2GP, meaning that as long as your previous practice also uses GP2GP, your electronic medical records will be automatically uploaded onto our clinical system. Similarly, if you register with another GP practice that uses GP2GP, your medical records will be transferred electronically to your new practice. Your paper medical record will continue to be sent to your new practice.

For more information, visit: http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/gp2gp.

Hospitals and Pharmacies nearby

Local Numbers

Hospitals:

Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby 01472 874111

Lincoln County 01522 512512

Louth County 01507 600100

Pilgrim Hospital, Boston 01205 364801

Pharmacies:

Boots, Mercer Row, Louth 01507 602578

Boots, Eastgate, Louth 01507 603527

Boots, High St, Mablethorpe 01507 472238

Boots, Seacroft Rd, Mablethorpe 01507 478226

Pharmacy Wise, Newmarket, Louth 01507 604444

Lincolnshire Co-Op Chemists Ltd, Eastgate, Louth 01507 603130

Lloyds pharmacy, Fieldhouse Road, Humberston 01472 812323

Named Accountable GP

All patients are now allocated a named, accountable GP. Should you wish to know which GP you have been allocated, please contact our reception teams who will be happy to advise as such. Please note, this does not mean we can guarantee appointment availability with your named, accountable GP. You are also still able to see any of our GPs within our practice when they are available.

What does 'accountable' mean?

Our NHS contract requires the named accountable GP to undertake responsibility for coordination of all appropriate services required under the contract and ensure services are delivered to each of their patients, based on the clinical judgement of the named accountable GP.

However, the contract remains 'practice based', so overall responsibility for patient care has not changed. This is a role of oversight and should reassure our patients that they have one GP within the practice who will ensure work is carried out on their behalf.

What are the named GP's responsibilities to 75s and over?

For patients aged over 75 and over the named accountable GP is responsible for:

Working with relevant associated health and social care professionals to deliver a multi-disciplinary care package that meets the needs of the patient
Ensuring that these patients have access to a health check

Does this mean 24-hour responsibility for patients?

No. The named GP will not:

Take on vicarious responsibility for the work of other doctors or health professionals
Take on 24-hour responsibility for the patient, or have to change their working hours. The requirement does not imply personal availability for GPs throughout the working week
Be the only GP or clinician who will provide care to that patient

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May Newsletter - Spring Refurbishment Special Edition

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Non-English speakers

If English is not your first language, please advise our reception staff so that appropriate measures can be taken.

These UK Government fact sheets have been written to explain the role of the UK health service (the National Health Service - NHS) to newly-arrived individuals seeking asylum. They cover issues such as the role of GPs, their function as gatekeepers to the health services, how to register with a GP and how to access emergency services.

The Government has taken special care to ensure that the information given is in clear language and the content and style is suitable. Open the leaflets by clicking on the appropriate flag/language:

Albanian

Arabic

Bengali

Bulgarian

Chinese (Cantonese)

Chinese (Mandarin)

Farsi

Russian

Gujerati

Hindi

Polish

Portuguese

Spanish

Punjabi

Non-UK Citizens (Overseas Visitors)

People from abroad may be eligible for free treatment on the NHS in the case of an emergency only. Broadly, this means that if in the opinion of the GP, your condition requires emergency treatment you will not be charged for a consultation with a GP. This is in keeping with current UK Government policy.

However, if you require treatment or medication for a pre-existing condition, you may be charged a fee unless you have appropriate documentation proving you are entitled to NHS treatment.

Where a fee is charged we recommend you claim this back via your travel insurance company.

Obtain A Prescription

In accordance with best practice, medications will be regularly reviewed and this may require certain checks to be performed such as blood pressure, ECG or blood tests. If you are asked to attend the surgery as part of a medication review, please do so in good time as there may be circumstances where we are unable to reissue medication until these checks have been performed.

Prescriptions are regulated and if you require a medication you must be in possession of a current and valid prescription. If you have repeat medication, you will be given a white piece of paper with your prescription. This itemises all your current and valid repeat medications. You can register for our web repeat system systmonline.tpp-uk.com.

For repeat medications we do require two clear working days (48 hours) to process your prescriptions before you can collect them from us. However in an emergency, we will do our utmost to obtain your medication as soon as possible. Please tell dispensary staff if you need an item urgently.

If you do not have a valid repeat prescription you will need a consultation with a GP or a Nurse Practitioner. Please contact our reception to make an appropriate appointment.

Our dispensary staff are here to help, so if you have any questions please ask them and they will do their utmost the assist you.

We aim to provide an excellent service and welcome your feedback.

For further details of our Dispensary Services Click Here.

Online Patient Access

Records from 16th June 2023 onwards are available online for patients to view via the NHS app.

If you require any information from your primary care records that is not available online, please complete a Subject Access Request.

Meanwhile if you need any specific information from your records, please complete a Subject Access Request which is available to download here or can be requested from reception.

Patient Data Protection

You can find out how we use your personal information by viewing our Patient Data Protection page.

Practice Policies

Confidentiality

Marsh Medical Practice aims to treat all contact with its patients with complete confidentiality. Any patients requesting sight or copies of their medical records must complete a subject access request (SAR) more details are below.

Equality and Diversity

Marsh Medical Practice is committed to providing services to the public that do not discriminate against individuals on any grounds.

Freedom Of Information (FOI) Requests

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives you the right to access recorded information held by public sector organisations.

Anyone can request information and there are no restrictions on your age, nationality or where you live.

Your request will be handled under different regulations depending on the kind of information you ask for.

Before you make a request

You might not need to make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to get the information you need.

We may be able to give you information straight away or be available from a different agency.

Further information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/the-freedom-of-information-act

Patient Medical Records

HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU HELPS THE NHS PROVIDE BETTER CARE FOR ALL

Confidential information from your medical records may be used by the NHS to improve services offered so that the best possible care can be provided for everyone. This information (along with your postcode and NHS number but not your name) is sent to a secure system where it can be linked with other health information. This allows those planning NHS services, or carrying out medical research, to use information in different parts of the NHS in a way which does not identify you.

You have a choice. If you are happy for your information to be used in this way you do not have to do anything. If you have any concerns, or wish to prevent this from happening, please speak to our reception.

If you want further information, ask for a copy of the leaflet "How information about you helps us to provide better care" or visit www.nhs.uk/caredata

NHS Constitution

Where appropriate, and relevant to Marsh Medical Practice, we follow the NHS Constitution.

Subject Access Requests (SAR) - Asking For Your Notes

Any patients requesting sight or copies of their medical records must make their request in writing to the Practice Manager. We endeavour to action such requests as quickly as we can. However, please note there is legal guidance regarding the time line to action such requests. Appropriate identification will need to provided before any information is released.

A fee will be charged for any copies requested in accordance with current legislation. Please contact our reception staff to obtain further details and an application form, or click here to download the form.

If you require another health care professional to have your records to complete an assessment or report (e.g adoption, firearms, HGV medicals etc) please complete a Consent to Share Medical Records form available here and hand to Reception.

Summery Care Record (SCR)

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). The SCR is designed to help emergency doctors and nurses help you when you contact them and our surgery is closed. Initially, it will contain just your medications and allergies. Your information will be extracted from practices such as Marsh Medical Practice and held on central NHS databases.

Later on, and as the central NHS computer system develops, other staff who work in the NHS will be able to access the SCR together with other information from hospitals, out-of-hours services, and specialists letters as they are added.

As with all new systems, there are pros and cons to think about. When you speak to an emergency doctor you might overlook something that is important and if they have access to your medical record it might avoid mistakes or problems. Remember, every time you are seen you should be asked to give your consent each time a member of NHS Staff wishes to access your record unless you are medically unable to give your permission.

On the other hand, you may have strong views about sharing your personal information and wish to keep your information at general practice level. The Government agency, Connecting for Health (CfH), who are responsible for the SCR have agreed with doctors’ leaders that new patients registering with a GP should be able to decide whether or not their information is uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System. For existing patients, it is assumed that you want your record uploaded to the Central NHS Computer System unless you actively opt out.

If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery.

For further information visit the Connecting for Health Website systems.hscic.gov.uk/scr.

The NHS is changing how patient information is stored and shared in England, to provide better care for patients. SCRs provide healthcare staff treating patients faster access to key clinical information. For further information see http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/3768/For-the-public

Zero Tolerance Policy

The Practice follows the NHS guidance concerning Zero Tolerance of verbal and physical aggression towards staff or other patients.

As an employer, the Practice has a duty to care for the health and safety of its staff. The Practice also has a legal responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for staff, patients and visitors. All patients are expected to behave in an acceptable manner and violent or abusive behaviour towards staff or patients may result in removal from our Practice list or even criminal proceedings.

All instances of actual physical abuse on any member of staff, by a patient or their relatives will be reported to the police as an assault.

If you are not satisfied with the quality of service we provide, you have the right to register with another practice without notifying us.

Examples of Unacceptable Standards of Behaviour:

Violence
Threatening, disruptive or abusive language involving swearing or offensive remarks
Derogatory racial or sexual remarks
Malicious allegations relating to members of staff, other patients or visitors
Offensive sexual gestures or behaviours
Use of alcohol or misuse of drugs on Practice premises
Illegal activity (e.g.drug dealing) on Practice premises
Wilful damage to Practice property
Threats or threatening behaviour
Theft

The Practice may request the removal of any patient from the Practice list who is aggressive or abusive towards staff, other patients, or who deliberately damages property.

Pregnancy Services in Lincolnshire

A Positive Pregnancy Test? What to do Next...

If you have done a pregnancy test and it is positive the next step is to contact a midwife as soon as possible, preferably before eight weeks into the pregnancy.

You can contact your local midwife direct, you don’t need to see a GP first, although we are always happy to provide advice and signpost you to appropriate services.

In the majority of cases most women discover a pregnancy in the early stages and as a result can be seen before 12 weeks. It is important to be seen as soon as possible, no matter when you discover you are pregnant. Book your first appointment by calling the relevant number below:

North East Lincolnshire – 03033 305232
Goole – 03033 304079
Brigg – 03033 306860
Barton – (01652) 660052
Scunthorpe (Cottage Beck Road) – (03033) 303088
Epworth – 03033 306744
Louth – (01507) 631210

Antenatal care is led by the midwifery team but you may still see the GP or practice nurses for other health related appointments during your pregnancy.

Your GP records are available to the antenatal team. However, it is important to notify your midwife or obstetric team of any changes to your health or medication, or any tests or treatments that have been undertaken as this may affect your pregnancy or the care they provide.

What if I decide I do not want to go through with the pregnancy?

Midwives are also able to offer all the emotional support that goes with this sort of decision and offer a discreet and professional environment that is non-judgemental.

Further details including how to refer yourself can be found at: www.nlg.nhs.uk/services/abortion/

Other useful information can be found at:
www.lincolnshire.icb.nhs.uk/your-health-and-services/maternity-services-better-births-lincolnshire/
www.nlg.nhs.uk/services/maternity/just-found-out-you-are-pregnant/
www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/

For more information, visit: http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/gp2gp.

Privacy Policy

You can find our latest Privacy Policy on our Privacy Policy page. You can find our Minuteful Kidney Privacy Notice here: Minuteful Kidney Privacy Notice.

Private Referrals and Appointments

Download our Private Referrals and Appointments leaflet.

Download our Private Patients - Guidance on Prescriptions leaflet.

Events Calendar

Events being held in North Somercotes, Manby, Mablethorpe & Louth areas

North Somercotes Events Calender

Over 60’s Club Held in the Village Hall fortnightly on a Tuesday at 2 pm

Garden Club Held on the 2nd Thursday of the month in the Church Hall at 7.30 pm

Bowls Club – North Somercotes

Saltfleet Veterans Breakfast Club Meet fortnightly on a Saturday at 9.30 am at The Crown Inn at Saltfleet

The WI Held on the 1st Thursday of the month in the Church Hall at 7 pm

Slimming World Held on Wednesdays 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm at the Primary School

Yoga Held on Thursday at 7 pm in the Village Hall

Textile Group Held on Mondays at 10 am in the Church Hall

Clubbercise Mondays 6.30 & 7.30 in the Village Hall, Thursdays 9.30 – 10.30 am in the Village Hall

Luncheon Club Mondays 12 noon at the Traveller’s Joy Restaurant

Bingo Tuesdays at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall

Mablethorpe

Huffers & Puffers For patients who suffer with COPD Held every Tuesday from 2 pm – 4 pm at Marisco Medical Practice at Mablethorpe

Louth

Parkinson's Group Held on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Pavilion London Road Louth at 1 pm

Louth Museum – Antiquarian & Naturalist Society During the winter months, weekly lectures take place on Tuesday evenings 7.30 – 9 pm at the Conoco Rooms, Louth Library

Manby & Grimoldby

Dog training Club Held on Sundays from 12 pm – 2 pm at Manby & Grimoldby Gymnasium (behind Tedder Hall)

Honeysuckle Club – Over 60’s Held on a Tuesday afternoon 2.30 – 4.30 pm in the Village Hall

WI Held on the 2nd Thursday of the the month at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall

St. Edith’s Church Coffee & refreshments every Saturday morning from 10 am – 1 pm

Further Details

Please contact the local organiser of these events for further details.

Research & Surveillance Centre Practice

We are one of over 200 practices participating in a national surveillance programme that provides continuous monitoring of infectious diseases in the community. The purposes of the network are surveillance of infectious disease, particularly flu. The Royal College of General Practitioners Research and Surveillance Centre looks to predict when flu outbreaks and pandemics occur and is involved in vaccine effectiveness studies; principally in collaboration with Public Health England. For more details visit: www.rcgp.org.uk/rsc

The Practice may from time to time participate in other research projects. We ask that patients participating in research projects outside of the Practice advise us of their participation. This is purely to ensure patient safety and to ensure that we are fully aware should there be any untoward side-effects.

Sick Notes - Now Called Fit Notes, Med 3 forms

If you are absent from work less than 7 days, including weekends, a Self-Certification Form can be obtained from your employer or by visiting www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sc2.pdf. Med 3 certificates are only required for absences of more than 7 days in a row and will not be issued for shorter periods.

Full details regarding this Government directive can be found at www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave.

If you require a sick note for a shorter period of time it will be subject to a charge – see non-NHS services.

Summary Care Records

The NHS in England is introducing the Summary Care Record (SCR) which will be used in emergency care.

The record will contain information about any medications you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have, to ensure those caring for you have enough information to treat you safely

Your SCR will be available to authorised healthcare staff providing your care anywhere in England, but they will ask your permission before they look at it. This means that if you have an accident or become ill, healthcare staff treating you will have immediate access to important information about your health.

We are supporting the SCR and as a patient you have a choice. If you would like the SCR you do not need to do anything and a SCR will be created for you. If you do NOT want a SCR you will need to download and complete the SCR opt out form and hand it in to the Practice.

If you do nothing we will assume you are happy for us to create a SCR for you. Children under 16 will automatically have a SCR created for them. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 16 then you may request to opt them out and we will consider this request.

Read the SCR information leaflet.

Supported Patients

In keeping with Government policy, we have introduced a support programme for certain patients who may require additional medical assistance. This programme is subject to clinical need and patients are assigned to the programme by our clinical team. Time on the programme is subject to a patient’s medical need.

If you are on this support programme, you will have received a letter from us. If you have not, please talk to our reception staff.

If you require urgent assistance call us on 01507 358 623 (Mon-Fri 8am to 630pm) and state you are a supported patient. Please do not misuse this system to get priority for routine issues.

Test Results

Since our telephones are very busy in the early morning, please call after 10.30am if you have an enquiry. All results are reviewed before being filed into patients' notes by our clinicians; if there are any problems, they will contact the patient.

To ensure confidentiality, we only release results to the patient, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.

If you have access to Systmonline, you can ask for the additional facility to view your results online. Please speak to reception for further details.