News
WHY DOES THE GP RECEPTIONIST NEED TO KNOW WHY I NEED AN APPOINTMENT
Why does a Receptionist need to ask what is wrong with me?
When our Receptionists ask a Patient why they want to see a GP, they are not being nosy or interfering, it is part of their role.
Our GPs have asked them to ask and have had training to ask certain questions to ensure that you receive:
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the most appropriate medical care
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from the most appropriate health professional
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at the most appropriate time
Receptionists also do this:
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to help doctors prioritise visits and phone calls
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to ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care
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to direct patients to see the nurse or other health professional rather than a doctor where appropriate
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Reception staff, like their clinical colleagues, are bound by confidentiality rules:
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any information given by you is treated as strictly confidential
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the surgery would take any breach of confidentiality very seriously and deal with accordingly
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you can ask to speak to a receptionist in private away from reception
However, if you feel an issue is very private and do not wish to say what this is then the Receptionist will respect this.
Our surgery has a team of skilled, qualified healthcare professionals who all have the experience and competency to treat many of the patients who traditionally believe they need to specifically see or speak with a GP.
REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL LETTERS FOR UNIVERSITIES
Over the past few months we have seen a large increase in patients requesting personal letters for Universities. Due to the volume and capacity to provide the letters The Spires Health Centre will no longer offer this service. A printed summary can be provided but no letters will be completed. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause, however Primary Care is working beyond capacity and we have to prioritise our workload in order to meet patient care.
JOIN US FOR A COFFEE!!
The Spires Health Centre
is hosting a
monthly coffee catch up. Whether you're
looking for companionship, advice, or just
a warm cup of coffee, everyone is
welcome!
Meet your friendly social prescriber,
Kulwinder Kaur, to discuss personalised
support options tailored to your interests
and needs.
Mark your calendars for our next
coffee catch-up! We look forward
to seeing you there.
First Friday of each
month, 10am-12pm
Speak to a member of staff for
more information.
Mounjaro
THE BLACK COUNTRY ICB STATEMENT ON TIRZEPATIDE (MOUNJARO)
UPDATE JUNE 2025
Access to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for Weight Management in the Black Country
From 23 June 2025, access to the medication tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is beginning in England for a small number of patients living with obesity who are at the highest risk of serious health conditions.
In the Black Country, new community-based weight management services are currently being developed to support safe and effective access to this treatment, this means GPs are not yet able to prescribe tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for weight management in this area. We’re working quickly to make these services available.
As part of our phased approach, the first group of patients who may be eligible will include those who:
Have a BMI of 40 or more (or 37.5 for people from minority ethnic backgrounds),
And have obstructive sleep apnoea on CPAP (or where CPAP is not suitable or tolerated),
And have at least three of the following long-term conditions:
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Cardiovascular disease
Dyslipidaemia (HIGH Cholesterol)
Other patients who meet the broader NHS criteria
(BMI ≥ 40 and four or more related health conditions) may become eligible in later stages.
Please do not contact your GP about tirzepatide at this time. GPs currently cannot prescribe this treatment or refer patients into the new pathway until local services are launched.
ORAL CONTRACEPTION NOW AVAILABLE BLACK COUNTRY PHARMACIES
Get your oral contraception at a Black Country pharmacy
Women across the Black Country can now get their supply of oral contraception at a local pharmacy, without the need to see a GP.
More than 200 pharmacies in the Black Country are participating in this new service, aiming to increase choice for women in the ways in which they can access contraception.
Oral contraception, known as ‘the pill’, can now be accessed at a pharmacy without a referral from a GP. Women can also be referred to their pharmacy by their GP practice or a sexual health clinic.
The pharmacist will offer a confidential consultation and will offer the first supply of the pill, or the ongoing supply of their current oral contraception. This is an NHS service and so the supply of oral contraception will be exempt from any prescription charges.
Sukhy Somal, Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “This new service is another great milestone in showing how much of an important role community pharmacists are improving wider access to healthcare services.
“This is a safe and confidential service for women across the Black Country and allows general practice and sexual health services to free up appointments for more complex assessments.
“Women will still receive their yearly pill check-up, like they would with their GP, which they will have when requesting their next supply of contraception. It is still encouraged to seek medical advice from a pharmacist or doctor if any unusual side effects continue after three months.”
Individuals do not need to be registered with a GP to access this service. Pharmacies will only inform the GP practice that individuals have accessed the service, with their consent. Business cards are being rolled out for patients across the Black Country enabling pharmacists to write down the date of the next supply of contraception and the name of the pharmacy.
Contraception is free and confidential, including for young people under the age of 16. The doctor or nurse will not tell anyone, including parents or carer, unless they think you or someone else is at risk of harm.
For further information, visit the NHS Black Country ICB website.
Page created: 14 September 2023