Beacon Primary Care Online

You can now book a telephone consultation online.

Initially you will need to register for online access. For security reasons we will need you to attend

And confirm your identity to get registered. After that you can book online.

Please see below for details of our talk and treat system.

So…

1. Go into any site with ID

2. Ask to be registered for online access

3. If you want full notes access please inform the staff.

We operate the Talk and Treat telephone consultation system. This system is being used more frequently in many practices as it improves access and reduces missed appointments, most patients find it far more convenient.

This is a different system for booking appointments, the aim is that we reduce the barriers between you and the clinical team dealing with you. We accept that this is a departure from the norm, but in essence your needs are discussed with an experienced clinician and not reception staff.

​When you select an appointment you will be given a telephone consultation slot. We will aim to phone you back within a two hour window of your slot. If you have a special requirement e.g. A call at a certain time or a problem that is pressing please mention this and we will try to accommodate. The aim is to provide you with the access and care you need.

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A talk and treat slot will be allocated to you, the clinician will call you back at this time or within 1 hour of it. We try a few times if you are engaged but try to keep the line free

If you feel the situation is urgent a clinician may drop a call with an existing patient to speak to you.

The Doctor will meet your needs in one of the following ways:

• Immediate attention with G.P. — You will be seen immediately if your need is judged medically urgent.
• Agreed appointment with G.P.
• Nurse appointment
• Health care Assistant Appointment
• Phlebotomy Appointment
• Telephone consultation.

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The aim is NOT to “fob” you off, the Doctor phoning you will most likely be one of the partners i.e. the most senior and experienced Doctors in the practice.

We want to make sure that you are satisfied with your access at the point of call.

Confidentiality

Creating a safe password

Passwords are very important when accessing personal information over the internet (from your bank, supermarket or General Practice) because systems on the web are built to discriminate very carefully when incorrect passwords are entered. The system that is used by most online services is case sensitive which means that not only are the correct order of letters,numbers and other characters required but it is also essential also to use the correct upper and lower case letters – THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHEN CREATING YOUR PASSWORD!

We have assembled tips from some of our patients on creating strong passwords below:

• Include both uppercase and lowercase letters and at least one number
• Do not use birthdays
• Do not include your login name, a.k.a. username, in any form (i.e. as is, reversed, capitalized, doubled) or any other name
• Avoid words that can be found in a dictionary (including foreign and technical dictionaries) these include names.
• Do not use a password that has already been given as an example of a good password.    
• Create an easy to remember password: One possible way to choose a good password is to make up your own acronym (an Acronym is something like NHS, TUC, GMPTE etc. 
• Create a phrase that has meaning to you and pick the first letter of each word. Remember: a combination of numbers and letters is harder to guess or crack with a computer program.

For example:

I love to shop for sandals in the Spring.” (Il2s4sitS)

12 x 12 are 144 (12x12r144)

“I’m going to work out 3 times a week.” (Ig2wo3taw)

“Last summer I caught a 30 inch striped bass.” (LsIca30isb)   

My password needs to be 8 letters long (mpntb8ll)

A similar method is to take out all the vowels from a short phrase.

For example:

“I work 8 hours a day.” (wrk8hrsdy)

Overall it is important that a password is something that you can easily remember now and in the future and that you ensure that loved ones are aware of your PIN and password if you feel you would like them to be aware of it in case of an emergency where you may yourself be unconscious.

What is the Online EHR Viewing System?

The system is a website that allows you to view your medical record over the internet. It allows you to easily and quickly view the electronic medical information held about you by your GP Practice.

The information is presented to you in a format that is easy to navigate and offers you links to resources such as patient information leaflets about diseases, tests, investigations, support groups and medications etc.

Registering and consenting to use the EHR Viewing system

To be able to use the system you must be able to access the internet via a PC, Tablet or Smartphone.

You have to collect your PIN NUMBERS from the receptionist and REGISTER on-line. You also need to complete an ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE. We will then process your request and then contact you to confirm your access and complete the consent process.

Any data held by the practice concerning you is subject to the regulations laid down in the Data Protection Act (1998). The consent is between you and your GP Practice.

How do I use the Online EHR Viewing System?

Once you have registered and signed a consent form to access the system, from your PC web browser enter the web address https://www.patientaccess.com/ and follow the instructions to sign up for and begin using EMIS access.

Once you have signed into EMIS Access you must select the ‘View Medical Record’ section which will further prompt you to enter the password specifically assigned to allow you to view your online EHR.

When you have been correctly identified the system will allow you to view the parts of your medical record as described below. Use the menu and links to view each area of your medical record. There is an online help section to help you use the system.

What can I see on the Online EHR viewing system?

The system allows you to view the following areas of your medical record:

• A summary that gives you the most important and recent entries in your health record.
• Consultations including: date, practitioner seen, reason for visit, history, examination, outcome, investigations, etc.
• Medical Record showing diagnoses, investigations, and procedures
• Allergies.
• Patient Information Leaflets linked from the diagnoses in the medical record section.
• Results showing all investigations such as blood results, liver tests, blood pressure etc.
• Vaccinations.
• Medications.
• Letters to and from the GP.
• The system also allows you to send messages to your practice using a system in EMIS Access.

Why have an Online EHR viewing system?

There are many reasons to provide you with access to your medical information. A few of them are listed below:

‘We want to develop a culture of openness, honesty and trust; to ensure that patients have the information they need to make informed choices; and to enable patients to become equal partners with health care professionals in making decisions about treatment and care.’

This is the response to the Department of Health from the enquiry into the Bristol Royal Infirmary Enquiry.

REMEMBER – To protect your privacy, as with all password protected applications on the internet, logout of the system when you are finished.

Changing your registration details

We take your confidentiality very seriously, it is important to update your address so that clinical letters do not go to the wrong place. We rely on telephone contacts, so we have to be sure we know that we are calling you.

Moving house

If you move house within the practice area your registration will automatically continue. To change your registration address you will need to produce evidence of your new address e.g a utility bill or a letter from your solicitors dealing with the move.

If you move outside the practice area but not too far away we will continue your care, however this is at the discretion of the practice. Please contact our Head Receptionist to discuss this.

Changing phone number

If you change your phone number please bring photo ID to the desk and let them know the new number. In urgent circumstances we will use an unregistered number but require verification within 7 days.

Change of name

If you change your name due to a change of marital status or deed poll, please bring a passport or wedding certificate to the desk so we can alter your details.

​Remember you can do all of this online using patient access, click the button below to go to Patient Access

Where is my confidential medical information held whilst I am viewing my online EHR and who has access to it?

The information you view on the online system comes from the clinical system in your GP practice. Portions of this information are encrypted (this means it is very difficult for someone else to intercept and read the information) and securely sent from the GP system to your PC web browser.

None of the medical information that is shown on the online system is held permanently on any computer except the computer which holds the original data in the GP practice.

When you log off from the online system or if a problem occurs with your computer, for instance a power failure, all your confidential medical information is cleared from the system.

Using the online system does not allow any extra people to view your medical information other than the people who would normally have access to it in the GP practice.

How will other people be prohibited from seeing my record?

To view your online EHR you have to identify yourself with passwords and PINs that only you know. Unless you reveal this information to someone else you will be the only person able to access your medical record via the online system

What if I find an error in my medical record or if I see someone else’s medical information?

If you find any errors or missing information in your medical record you can use the messaging system (if your practice has enabled it) to send the practice a message or alternatively you can tell the receptionist or discuss it with your GP. If you see someone else’s medical information you should immediately exit from the system and inform the practice staff.

What if I don’t want to register to use the PAERS System?

If you do not want to register to use the PAERS System you can still use all the practices’ services exactly as before. Your decision not to register will not affect your treatment or your relationship with your GP practice in any way.

What should I know about with regard to passwords I might use?

Passwords are all Case sensitive

Please remember there is a difference between O (letter O) and 0 (zero)

If you leave passwords lying around then the system is not secure

Should I be concerned about identity theft?

No address / NHS or National Insurance numbers are given out on screen

Those details however can be obtained when reading letters

What if I mess things up?

No matter what you do or click you can’t alter the records.

You can cancel appointments if you make a mistake

When you order repeat prescriptions, you are given the opportunity to check what you have requested before submitting it and can leave a message with your request

What if I am seeing a doctor and there is no computer in the room?

It can easily happen.  If you know you are going to see a doctor then take a print out with you.  This could include any of their letters to your GP and any recent test results

What if the doctor I am seeing objects?

Then be polite and apologise

You brought them with you to assist the doctor not to antagonise them

Please note some of these services may not yet be available at the Practice. Please check with reception.

A set of guides that use easy words and pictures to enable users to understand GP online services.

Please have a look at the GP Online Services case studies below which gives the views of patients, practice managers and GPs about how easy and useful it is to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and have access to medical records online. 

Proxy access

If you are the parent of any children under the age of 12 you will need to fill in a ‘proxy’ access form to view their details. You can also grant access to a carer if you wish.

You understand that it is your responsibility to keep your contact details updated and that you are responsible for the safety and security of your personal registration details for online services. You also understand that you can withdraw consent at any time by simply notifying the Practice in writing.

• Where access is granted to your registration details such as PIN, Practice ID, Access ID and CHI number will be sent via post or given in person.
• The Email address must be specific to the person making the request. It cannot be a shared account.
• Patient with a history of non-attendance at pre-booked appointments without cancelling will not normally be granted access to online appointment booking.
• Online appointments booked are to be cancelled by the patient as soon as it is determined it is no longer required.
• The Practice will not allow misuse of the online system and will monitor usage by individual patients. Where it is considered that a patient is misusing the system or is acting in a way detrimental a warning letter will be issued. Where the situation does not improve, or recurs, access will be removed permanently and without further notice at the discretion of the Partners. This will not affect your registration with the Practice.
• On approval request for online access you will be given access and instructions.
• Requests for reissue of access log-in details will be sent via post to the patients registered address or in person.
• The status of repeat prescriptions requests should be checked online to confirm they have been prescribed before collecting any medications from the Pharmacy especially if requesting a item not on your repeat prescription record.