SERVICES
We aim to offer the full range of NHS general practice services. If you require a specific service, please feel free to ask if it is one that we can provide. Services are provided according to a contract between Dr Byrne and partners and Northamptonshire Teaching Primary Care Trust and will depend on the terms of that contract. There may be variations from time to time if the contract alters.
Medical Certificates
Our procedure for re-issuing Medical Certificates works in the same way as repeat prescriptions, i.e. it will take 2 working days from receiving a request to the issue of a certificate. Requests are passed to the doctors first thing in the morning, usually the day after we receive them. They are signed during that day (as and when the doctor has time), ready for issue to patients on the following day.
The doctors are NOT permitted to issue follow-on MED3 Medical Certificates in advance of the end date for the current certificate.We will accept repeat Medical Certificate requests on the day before they are due, ready to pass to the doctor next morning, i.e the due date. Certificates will be dated to provide continuous cover.
Please remember that there is no requirement for a GP to issue a Medical Certificate for the first seven days of illness or for children attending school or college. If this is needed you will be expected to pay for a private certificate.
Long Term Problems
Diseases such as Asthma, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypothyroidism and Epilepsy may be long term or even life long. Over time your circumstances may change and affect the way the disease affects your lifestyle. It is important therefore that these conditions are regularly reviewed. In fact, it is a condition of our NHS contract that we review all patients with these conditions at least once a year. This will also include a review of your medication and repeat prescriptions will not be available for anyone who has not had a review in the preceding twelve months.
We will invite patients with these problems to attend an annual MOT (review) during the month of their birthday. This should help you to remember when it is due. The nurse will check your physical condition and offer you advice about the ongoing management of the disease.
Although you may have felt well all year these reviews will give us a chance to pick up any small changes in your condition.
Of course if you fell unwell at any time, or notice changes in your condition, you should make an appointment to see a nurse or doctor.