Hello everyone, and welcome back to the re-launched edition of Whittington Health's GP connect newsletter!

It is with great enthusiasm that we embark on this journey of knowledge sharing and community building amongst one another. I am thrilled to start re-building a platform, where we can exchange valuable information, resources.

As the newly appointed Primary Care Customer Relations Coordinator, I am committed to facilitating meaningful connections and working collaboratively across primary and secondary care to ensure our patients receive the best possible service.

I look forward to working with you all, and of course, thank you to everyone for your hard work and support.

Appointment only phlebotomy service

Please be aware that the Wood Green Community Diagnostic Centre is now offering an appointment only Phlebotomy service, this is a change from our initial walk-in service.

For booking: Patients for routine blood tests will now be able to book appointment online using Swiftqueue or via telephone: 020 7288 5626.

Swiftqueue allows patients to see appointment times, make a booking at a time of their choice, reschedule, and cancel their appointments at the Wood Green CDC.

We would appreciate your support with encouraging patients who can, to book their appointments online as this helps us to improve waiting times and reduce the possibility of overcrowding.

GPs can request same day or next day appointments for urgent bloods and INRs via phlebotomy.woodgreencdc@nhs.net.

Attending appointments: Please advise patients to arrive at the CDC no more than 5 minutes before and no later than 10 minutes after their appointment time.

A gentle reminder from our Paediatrics team, to please ensure all blood test requests for children are requested via e-RS.

Please ensure that the patient is provided with a blood request form as the team will need this to carry out the blood test and send to the lab with the sample.

Paediatric bloods cannot be booked via swiftqueue, which is currently used for adult bloods. There have been some cases of parent's being sent the link and booking the appointments under themselves but turning up with their child and the team unfortunately having to turn them away, to re-arrange a new appointment with their GPs.

Thank you for your support.

Islington GP Federation working in partnership with Whittington Health, North Middlesex, and UCLH Trusts have formed the Gynaecology Collaborative, a Haringey and Islington community gynaecology service. The Gynaecology Collaborative enables patients to be seen sooner, whilst in a safe and appropriate setting. Consultants from these NCL Trusts work closely with GPs to provide the service.

When referring patients in eRS, please use the ‘Primary care’ option and Gynaecology Collaborative will be clearly visible. Please note that it also comes under the name Islington PCCS. If the patient needs to be seen in secondary care, this will be picked up at the triage or appointment stage and they will be sent to the Trust of their choice which provides the service they need.

A gentle reminder from our ambulatory care team, to ensure consultant connect is used prior to patients being sent to ambulatory care.

Consultant connect helps streamline our service, by GPs utilising it to make contact with the consultant of the day in Ambulatory Care. From there, patient needs will be discussed, and our consultant can determine whether the referral is suitable. If agreed appropriate the consultant will then accept the patient and they will be asked by the GP to attend Ambulatory Care.

Taking care of the workflow and patient flow through the department ensures a safer and more pleasant experience for both patients and staff.