• 🆕 Staff Annoucement Below
• 🆕We are now  BOOKING for the new RSV Vaccine. 
• 🆕 Due to high demand and funding challengeds, local NHS services for ADHD are limited. Here's what you need to know about the options available for adults and children.  assets.practice365.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/623/2025/01/Mid-Chiltern-PCN-ADHD-Policy-for-website-V4.pdf
• 🆕Please see [Important%20Changes%20to%20our%20Services.pdf]herefor an update to services in line with British Medical Council Action
• 🆕We are NOT offering the Covid-19 AUTUMN booster vaccine. However, there are other ways to arrange a vaccine:

- call 119 free

- book online BOOK HERE . Local pop-up clinics and offers can be found here

• 🆕JHS Patient Group annual report published at https://johnhampdensurgery.co.uk/patient-participation-group

• 🆕 The Practice no longer accepts prescription requests of the phone due to safety issues, unless you are known to us as housebound.  Please sign up to the NHSApp/online services to order prescriptions at your leisure.  Under 18s should email their requests direct to the practice johnhampdensurgery@nhs.net

• Please DO NOT EMAIL MEDICAL QUERIES / INFORMATION TO THE PRACTICE. The email address should only be used to communicate prescription requests to the practice and where instructed to send something approved by a member of our team. If you have a medical enquiry or wanting to share information with us please contact the practice by phone on 01494 890900 and our team will support how this can be done in line with practice procedures. By emailing you risk your enquiry not being responded to - thank you in advance.  

STAFF RETIREMENT

After many years of dedicated service to our patients and the community Dr Mallard-Smith will be retiring in March 2025.

We know how much she has meant to so many of you, and we’d love to give her a heartfelt send off. A special retirement wishes book has been placed at reception for anyone who would like to leave a message, memory or well wishes for her next chapter.

Please feel free to pop by and add your message before the 19^th of March 2025. Your kind works and memories will mean the world to her!

Thank you for helping us celebrate the remarkable career of Dr Mallard-Smith

Dear Patients,

After nearly 30 years at John Hampden Surgery, I have decided to retire from the Partnership at the surgery. I will continue my role as Medical Director in the Local Medical Committee supporting my colleagues across the Counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

My time at JHS has been an amazing transformation from a small 2 partner village surgery where I used to do my own on call overnight alternate nights to what you see today. I have enjoyed being in a very enviable position of a stable team of colleagues within the NHS who all had the same values and dedication to continue to deliver an outstanding and valued local surgery. I have seen the development of IT and computers on our desks instead of paper Lloyd George notes, improvements and the robust development of safe patient care in infection control, medications and referral pathways to name but a few. Education never stands still and as a GP I have constantly learn ’t new things in medicine and that’s what I have enjoyed putting in place to improve the care of our patients in Prestwood

I have always felt like a respected friend to many of you and have enjoyed your children being born and seeing them grow into the people they are today and following you all through your lives too. I will continue to live in the village, and I hope that I will continue to see many of you as I walk my dog “Molly” and frequent “Matilda’s” for one of those naughty cooked breakfasts

Many Thanks to everyone colleagues and patients for your ongoing support through the difficult times we have had together. I will miss you all and some more.

Best Wishes, Dr Becky Mallard Smith, January 2025

In common with many other surgeries, from the 29^th of July we will be introducing an online contact form.  We call this ‘online triage’.

You will still be able to telephone the surgery.  But this new method will make more efficient the process of booking appointments and getting you the right care.  And it will free up the lines for patients who are vulnerable or do not have internet access, and also for requests for nurse appointments which will still be by phone.

What this means for you

Instead of ringing the surgery, you will be able to fill in a short form on your computer, tablet or smartphone.  There’s one form if you want to make contact about a medical matter, and another one if you have an administrative query.  If you do phone, our receptionist will ask the same questions that are on the form.

All the medical forms will be looked at by the clinical team.  They will read what you say about your medical condition and decide next steps.  You will then hear directly from the practice by phone, text, or email (you can say which you prefer).

All forms will be reviewed by the responsible team within 48 hours. 

The information you put on the form will be kept confidential in the same way we do with your medical records.

These new arrangements do not affect the existing methods of getting help, including 999 for any emergency and 111.

The form will be available on the NHSApp and from a link on our website and can be used between 7am and 4pm weekdays.  There’s a video showing how the new system works Patient Flash Demo: How to submit a medical request in Patient Triage (youtube.com).  We have also developed the below  FAQ guide - ACCURX Introduction and FAQs.pdf

The patient group did a survey of some patients to prepare for online triage. They can be reached at jhs.patientsgroup@nhs.net

Thank you for your patience during the initial stages of introducing the new system.

Dr Mallard-Smith and Partners

STAFF RETIREMENT

Dear Patients         

After 5 years at The John Hampden Surgery, and 35 years working for the NHS of which I’ve spent 31 years working as a GP in some capacity or another, I’ve decided to hang up my stethoscope for good, from the end of February 2025.

The last 5 years have been amongst the most enjoyable of my career – for which I thank all the team at The John Hampden. We managed the tricky times of Covid with good humour and a strong desire to look out for one another and our patients as best we could – I would not like to have been working anywhere else during that time.

I now plan to spend time with my husband as we would like to travel, plus I will be preparing both my sons for university life – we will soon be “Empty Nesters”!!

The John Hampden Surgery is a very special place to work – and I’d like to thank Laura, my Partners and all our staff for their hard work and support over the last 5 years. I’d also like to welcome Dr Karen Waddington to the Practice – I’m sure you’ll enjoy working here as much as I have.

I wish the John Hampden patients all the best moving forwards.

Dr Payne, January 2025

Policy Reminder for Patient Behaviour

Dear Valued Patients,

We hope this message finds you well. We'd like to take a moment to remind everyone of our practice's zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour towards our staff.

We have recently noted an increase in unfortunate incidents where dissatisfaction has been directed towards our receptionists. We understand that health matters can often evoke strong emotions, but it is crucial to remember that our receptionists and staff are here to assist you. They follow the protocols and guidelines set by our partners and medical team, and their main goal is to ensure your experience with us is as smooth and positive as possible.

We kindly ask for your understanding and respect when interacting with our team members. It is essential to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all parties involved - patients, doctors, and administrative staff. Negative behaviour will not be tolerated, and continued instances may result in re-evaluation of the provided services.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation in maintaining a respectful and courteous atmosphere within our practice.

Thank you for your understanding,

John Hampden Management Team