Surgery Opening hours are as follows:

If you need medical attention

'Choose' Well by choosing the right service. Further details can be found on the Choose Well leaflet.  The short video below is all about Choosing the Right Service.

PLEASE NOTE, THE BELOW APPOINTMENT GUIDELINES MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DUE TO COVID-19. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR RECEPTION STAFF.

COVID-19 Face Coverings

Please ensure you wear an appropriate face covering before entering the surgery (in accordance with Government Guidelines). You may wear one of the following:

A medical mask (no material masks) or a visor if you are unable to wear a mask.

If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering, please contact reception prior to your appointment to discuss options available to you.

How to see your Doctor at the Surgery

• All consultations are by appointment.
• Please book well in advance whenever possible.
• You will have a 'usual' doctor allocated to you, with whom you should book your routine appointments, to benefit from continuity of care.
• Routine appointments with GP are available as much as 3 - 6 months ahead, if required.
• Appointments are set at 10 minute intervals, and are intended to discuss a single problem.  Double appointments can be booked if required.
• If you need to be seen as an emergency please make that clear to the receptionist.
• For urgent appointments, you can be seen by any of the doctors, but it is sensible to see the same one for ongoing problems.
• Patients with urgent problems will always be able to speak with a GP on the day they call.
• Patients who cannot make surgery hours can arrange to meet their GP either early or late in the day, by prior arrangement.

At Home

Whenever possible patients should be seen at the surgery, which is fully equipped for examinations and diagnostic tests.  If you think you may not be well enough to attend please phone to speak to a doctor, preferably before 10.30am.  All visits are at the discretion of the GP.

Telephone Advice

Telephone advice is available from all members of the Practice team.  If you particularly wish to speak to a doctor, the receptionist will advise you of the most suitable time to call.

Alternatively you can call NHS Direct on 111.

Out of Hours Service

(6.30pm - 8.00am)

This is strictly an emergency only service.  If you require help ring the surgery number and listen carefully to the entire recorded message.  You may phone the Out of Hours service direct on 111.

Improved Access Scheme

This is a new initiative across Somerset whereby patients can make appointments at extended times (up until 8pm at night Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings) at other practices across the local area.  Practices working together to deliver extended access to appointments are listed on the poster below.

Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week.  They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse.  We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.

To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem.  By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you.  Further information is shown below.

Luson Surgery will open on Monday and Thursday evenings.

Improved Access Poster

Improved Access FAQs

CURRENTLY, DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, PLEASE NOTE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO BOOK APPOINTMENTS VIA THE BELOW LINK.

If you are a patient aged 16 years or over, you can now book a routine 10 minute appointment with your GP using our internet booking service.  Once registered for the internet service you can also order repeat prescription items.

If you haven't registered yet you will need to visit our reception desk to sign up for the service. You will need to do this yourself in person and bring with you some form of ID such as photo driving licence or passport.

You can register online by clicking the link below, but you will still need to come into the surgery with a form of ID to be able to complete the process and use the service.

Click below to use, or to register to use, the online service:

Continue to Online Appointments

We have made the decision to close our prescription line from the 4th April 2022 as we were one of the few remaining surgeries to offer one.  We would encourage you to sign up for our Online Services and download the Patient Access App to order future repeat prescriptions. This is a much more secure way for our patients to order their repeat prescriptions. Please refrain from contacting the surgery regarding this.

Alternatively, you can download the NHS App via this link: NHS account - NHS (www.nhs.uk) to order your repeat prescriptions, request them directly from JHoots if this is your nominated surgery or complete a prescription slip and bring this to the surgery or take it to your pharmacy.

If you are a patient aged 16 years or over, you can now order your repeat prescription using our internet booking service.  Once registered for the internet service you can also book a routine appointment with your GP.

If you haven't registered yet you will need to visit our reception desk to sign up for the service. You will need to do this yourself in person and bring with you some form of ID such as photo driving licence or passport.

You can register online by clicking the link below, but you will still need to come into the surgery with a form of ID to be able to complete the process and use the service.

Click below use, or to register to use, the online service.

Continue to Online Prescriptions

PHARMACY INFORMATION

From April 2021 NHS Prescription charges are:

• £9.35 per prescription per item
• Three month prepayment certificate £30.25 and will save you money if you need more than three prescription items in a three month period
• Annual prepayment certificate £108.10 and will save you money if you need more than eleven prescription items over a twelve month period

Further information about prescription charges and exemptions from charges.

Digital health is revolutionising health and care services, forming a crucial step on the road to care that is more efficient and patient-centred than today. But, with hundreds of thousands of apps available, and 85% falling below quality thresholds, health and care professionals require tools to find the right digital solutions for their patients' and service users' needs. Developed by clinicians, ORCHA's AppFinder gives you unlimited access to thousands of independent app reviews across all health conditions, each of which includes a breakdown of key assessment criteria relating to Clinical Assurance, Data Privacy and User Experience. Sign up to discover the strengths and weaknesses of an app before downloading or recommending it to a patient. Feel confident in accessing quality assured digital health. Is your digital doctor qualified?

Click here to visit the Somerset ORCHA website. 

The Low Calorie Diet Programme is open to all patients of Luson Surgery who qualify based on their medical needs. Your GP will be able to refer you if you qualify.

Maternity services are provided by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in Taunton in a number of locations. This including the main Musgrove Park maternity unit, Mary Stanley midwifery led birth unit at Bridgwater Community Hospital and in your own home throughout the local community. The maternity services provides care for over 3,200 births per year.

If you are pregnant you can refer yourself to maternity services by filling out the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust online form here.

Once you have completed their online form, your referral will be processed by the maternity admin team and may take up to 5 days to be processed. Your details will then be passed onto one of the midwives who will look after you. For further information, please see the Self Referral Frequently Asked Questions. 

From August 2021, we are pleased to be able to offer a Community Pharmacist Service for minor illnesses. This will help to reduce waiting times for our patients and enable our nurses and GPs to focus on more critical illnesses. To be referred to a Community Pharmacist, please speak with one of our Reception team.

Whether you are at home or work you can quickly log on to view, book and cancel appointments and order repeat prescriptions via Patient Access. Available 24 hours a day, it's especially useful when the practice is closed or telephone lines are busy.

Continue to Patient Access

WHEN YOU NEED TO CALL A DOCTOR URGENTLY

In the Daytime between 8:00am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday (Excluding Public Holidays) please phone the surgery number: 01823 662836.

After 6:30pm and before 8:00am, Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays emergency out of hours and night cover is provided by Somerset Out-of-Hours Medical Service on 111.

If you need to be seen by a doctor you may be asked to go to the Primary Care Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital.

If you are too unwell to attend, you may be visited at home.

If you need urgent medical assistance please phone: 111.

If you require general medical advice you can telephone NHS 111 24 hours a day on 111 or visit the NHS 111 website.

If your situation is life threatening please phone 999. 

We are not an emergency service but do try to offer advice as available

When it comes to your health or the health of someone in your family, it is often very obvious if the person is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care. An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation. Please see NHS.uk for further information.

We have also prepared an emergency ambulance check-list (see below).

Should I call for an Ambulance?

RING 999 for an Ambulance if you answer YES to any of the questions below:
 

Severe chest pain:

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Has the patient got a history of heart problems?
• Is the pain a crushing pain like a band around the chest?
• Is the pain moving into the jaw or arms?
• Does the patient feel sick?
• Is the patient sweating or clammy?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?

Unconscious:

• Is the patient unconscious?

Semi-conscious (or 'floppy' baby or child):

• Is the patient semi-conscious or floppy with any other of the following symptoms
• Difficult to wake? Stiff neck? Severe headache? Child with a high pitched whimpering cry? Purple or blood coloured rash? Photo-phobic?
• Is the patient a diabetic? Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient having chest pains?
• Has the patient got a history of heart problems?

Overdose and Semi-conscious:

• Is the patient unconscious or very drowsy?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?

Overdose and fully conscious:

• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient a danger to himself?
• Is the patient a danger to others?

Severe breathlessness or collapse:

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient semi-conscious?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?
• Is the bleeding uncontrollable?

Serious head injury / Road accident:

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient fitting?
• Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?

Epilepsy / Fitting:

• Is the patient still fitting? Is this the patient's first fit?
• Has the patient received a serious injury to the head?

This is strictly an emergency only service.

If you require help ring the surgery number and listen carefully to the entire recorded message. You may phone the Out of Hours service direct on 111, or access the NHS 111 website.

If broken bones or other significant injuries are suspected you should go directly to Casualty at Musgrove Park Hospital.

Respiratory clinics

Our respiratory nurse Sarah Merry holds clinics every Tuesday & Thursday afternoon for patients with respiratory problems, including Asthma & COPD.   Advice from the practice nurses or GPs may be obtained at any time by appointment or by telephone.

Diabetes clincs

Charlotte Bailey is the practice diabetes nurse, and all patients suffering from diabetes are invited to attend for regular reviews at her clinic, which runs every Tuesday morning.  Advice from the practice nurses or GPs may be obtained at any time by appointment or by telephone.  

Cervical cytology

Cervical smears are usually arranged with a practice nurse.  Clinics are run each Monday to Wednesday afternoons, but appointments can be made at other times if this is not convenient.  In conjunction with the Somerset PCT we operate a computerised system to call women between the ages of 24 and 49 for a smear every three years and women between 50 and 64 every five years.

Child health

Assessment, and advice is carried out by both doctors and health visitors.  The key checks are as follows:

• 6 weeks Developmental check with the doctor.
• 6 to 9 months Developmental assessment and hearing rest with your health visitor.

Your health visitor will advise you about further routine checks.

Child immunisations

Clinics for school-leavers, pre-school children and babies are currently held on the afternoon of the 3rd Thursday on each month.

You will receive notification of an appointment direct from the health authority.  Please bring with you to the appointment your Personal Child Health Record (red booklet), your appointment card and your signed consent form.

If you are unable to keep the appointment please let reception know in good time beforehand.

Further information is shown on the Immunisations page (see below).

Up to date information on child and other immunisations is also available at the NHS.uk website.

Counselling service

Our in-house counselling service is provided by Somerset Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service.  If you need the services of a counsellor please discuss this with your doctor.

Family planning

We offer a complete service during routine appointments with your doctor.  This includes arranging for the fitting of intra-uterine contraceptive devices.

Emergency and confidential advice is available at all times.

Foreign travel

We are able to arrange most vaccinations required for foreign travel. Please consult the practice sufficiently early. Some travel vaccinations and disease prophylaxis is not free of charge under the NHS.  Please contact the surgery for a list of up-to-date fees.

We need at least six weeks' notice prior to departure in order to allow an appropriate interval between vaccinations if needed, and ensure that you are offered appropriate advice.

Please note that although many travel vaccinations are available from the surgery, some drugs such as for malaria prophylaxis have to be purchased by the patient from a pharmacist (some on a private prescription).

Our practice nurses will give advice where required.

See the Holiday travel page below.

Health promotion

Various members of the primary health care team are involved in aspects of health promotion.

Topics covered Include:

• stopping smoking advice
• dietary advice
• sexual health
• mental health
• advice on alcohol consumption
• accident prevention
• exercise
• skin cancer prevention

Influenza & pneumococcal immunisations

A flu vaccination programme is undertaken between October and December each year. Patients aged 65 or over or those of any age suffering from a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, renal disease, or immmunosuppression are encouraged to attend for an annual vaccination.

Flu clinics will be advertised nearer the time and invitations sent out where appropriate. Special arrangements are made for those in nursing or long-stay residential homes.

Pneumococcal immunisation is recommended for children as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. A single dose is also recommended for adults aged 65 and over. Pneumococcal immunisation is also recommended for children and adults of any age who have certain diseases that put them at risk, e.g., asplenia or splenic dysfunction.

Maternity

Doctors see patients for antenatal care during normal surgery appointment times.

An antenatal clinic is held by the midwifes regularly. Please contact reception for details and leaflet.

Postnatal and 6 week baby checks are carried out by the GPs at the surgery.

Minor surgery

Our treatment room is fully equipped for minor procedures carried out under a local anaesthetic. Your own doctor will arrange minor surgery for you if required.

Other services

The practice also provides the following:

• Anti-coagulation monitoring (warfarin dose monitoring)
• Near patient testing (drug monitoring by blood testing)

Sexually transmitted infections

Genita-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics provide free testing & treatment. These are held at:

Musgrove Park Hospital:

• Taunton (Appointments) : 01823 252222
• Health Advisor : 01823 332182

Yeovil District Hospital :

• Yeovil (Appointments) : 01935 384382
• Health Advisor : 01935 384705

Bath Royal United Hospital:

• Bath (Appointments) : 01225 824617
• Health Advisor : 01225 824558

Ask at reception for a copy of the Sex Directory-giving full details of all sexual health services in Somerset.

Test results

Staff are able to advise you whether a result is normal or whether you should consult your doctor.

Please telephone reception between 2:00pm and 4:00pm for results.

All laboratory tests results are dealt with in strictest confidence. Please note; it is the patient's responsibility to ring in for or follow up their results.

Foreign travel

We are able to arrange most vaccinations required for foreign travel. Please consult the practice sufficiently early.

We usually need at six weeks prior to departure to allow an appropriate interval between vaccinations if needed, and ensure that you are offered appropriate advice.

Please note that, although most NHS travel vaccinations are available from the surgery, some drugs such as for malaria prophylaxis have to be purchased by the patient from a pharmacist (some on a private prescription). Please note that not all vaccinations including drugs for prophylaxis of infections when travelling are not free of charge on the NHS. Any vaccines that are not available on the NHS will need to be discussed at a Travel Clinic.

Please call reception to make an appointment with one of our practice nurses.

Travel questionnaire

Please ensure you complete this travel questionnaire and then either email it to or drop it into the surgery prior to your booked appointment with the nurse.

Useful websites (click to visit)

Fit for Travel - a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK

Foreign and Commenwealth Office

NHS Immunisation - the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate source of information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.

Private commercial services

Patients requiring travel immunisations at less than six weeks notice are advised to check with the surgery whether a short notice appointment is available but must be prepared to contact one of the organisations currently providing a private commercial service if we cannot meet your requirement in time:

• Bristol Travel Clinic - MASTA Travel Clinic, 14 Overnhill Road, Staple Hill, Avon BS16 5DN. Telephone: 0117 975 5500
• Nomad Travel Clinic - 43 Queens Drive, Clifton Bristol, Avon. Telephone: 0117 922 6567
• Lisson Grove Medical Centre - 3 -5 Lisson Grove, Mutley, Plymouth, Devon PL4 7DL. Telephone: 01752 205 556
• Exeter Travel Clinic - 22 Southernhay W, Exeter, EX1 1PR. Telephone: 01392 430590

Summary: We normally require six weeks notice for travel immunisations. If you are unable to give six weeks notice you may wish to check whether we have a short notice cancellation but should be prepared to arrange your immunisations through a private clinic if no appointment is available.

This practice follows the national policy for childhood immunisation. Further information can be found on the NHS Immunisation Schedule website.
 

New additions to Schedule

Cervical Cancer can be caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18- recently the HPV vaccination has been introduced into the schedule for girls aged 12 to 13.

Up to date details on the current range of Meningitis vaccinations.

Adults

Tetanus & Polio

Protection against tetanus and polio should be kept up to date. A full primary course with a booster at 15 years of age should be followed by at least two boosters at 10 year intervals to protect throughout life.

Influenza

Annual protection against influenza is offered to patients aged 65 and over and those at high risk, e.g., with chronic heart, chest and breathing disorders, and diabetes.

Notice of this coming winter's Flu Vaccination Programme will appear here and also in our Latest News section.

Travel Immunisations

The practice nurses will give advice on foreign travel and any other immunisations required.

A minimum of six weeks notice is required. If you are unable to give this, you may wish to check whether we have an available appointment. If the nurses are fully booked you should be prepared to arrange your immunisation through a private travel clinic.

Details can be found on the holiday travel page.

Useful websites (click to visit)

Fit for Travel - a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK

Foreign and Commenwealth Office

NHS Immunisation - the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate source of information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.

The doctors are in general partnership to provide general medical services, maternity care and family planning, minor surgery, child health surveillance, physiotherapy, counselling, school nurse, insurance and employment medicals.

Care of patients at Wellington Cottage Hospital

Dr Yates and Dr Awodiji are School Doctors for Wellington School.

Details of primary medical services provided in the area may be obtained from;

Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
Wynford House
Lufton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA22 8HR

Tel: 01935 384000

Child Vaccinations

All children should commence the immunisation programme from two months old. You will receive invitations to attend our child clinics. For detailed information regarding childhood vaccinations, please see our Immunisations section.

Cervical Cytology

Women between the ages of 25 to 65 will receive an invitation for a cervical smear test. This procedure should be performed routinely at three to five year intervals depending on age. Smears will be done more frequently where necessary.

Family Planning

A full range of family planning is available at the surgery, including coil and implant fitting and removal as well as advice on safe sex.

Health Checks

Free NHS Health Checks are available for patients between the ages of 40 - 74 who do not have a pre-existing condition. This involves an assessment of your risks for developing heart disease and a simple examination, e.g., blood pressure, urine check and cholesterol level. This is particularly important if you smoke, or have a family history of coronary heart disease at an early age (less than 60 years). The service is provided by Somerset County Council, and will give advice and follow-up support on giving up smoking, losing weight, lowering your cholesterol levels and following a healthy lifestyle.  Appointments can be booked at the Somerset Health Checks website.

Influenza

Annual protection against influenza is offered to senior citizens and those at high risk, e.g., with chronic heart, chest, some breathing disorders, and diabetes.

Mammography

Women aged 50 to 70 years will be offered a mammogram every three years, please discuss with your nurse or doctor.

Pre-pregnancy advice

Pre-pregnancy advice is offered by the doctors and midwife for those thinking of becoming pregnant. It is essential that you stop smoking, reduce your alcohol intake to a minimum, ensure an adequate daily intake of the vitamin folic acid in your diet, and check with your doctor about any medication you are taking. As a general rule don't take any drugs, including those bought over the counter, in pregnancy, unless advised by your doctor. All pregnant women should attend the antenatal clinic as soon as possible.

Tetanus & Polio

Protection against tetanus and polio should be kept up to date. A full primary course with a booster at 15 should be followed by at least two boosters at 10 year intervals to protect throughout life.

Travel Immunisations

Please visit Fit for Travel. Our Practice Nurses are able to give NHS vaccinations.  For further information regarding Travel Immunisations, please see our Holiday Travel section.

General Advice

Addiction Advice

Sexual Health Advice

Are you a Carer?

Compass Carers is a dedicated support service for carers across Somerset. We offer FREE information, advice and guidance as well as emotional support, signposting, training, and a telephone support service for un-paid carers.  Please call us on 01823 255911.

For 24 hours General Medical Advice telephone 111 or visit the NHS111 website.

Click any of the images or titles below to visit the relevant website

		NHS Health A-Z
		Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods. Information on how the health and social care system works. Sign posting you to the most appropriate service/s.

		HANDi Paediatric app
		Download the free HANDi Paediatric app for expert advice, support and guidance on common childhood illnesses. The app has been designed as a way to reduce the number of children and young people who visit A&E but need no treatment.

		Contraception - Know Your Options
		Don't want to think about contraception everyday or every time you have sex? Click the image left or title above for further information.

		Taunton Well Being Zone
		Taunton Deane Symphony Service is based in 12 surgeries across the Taunton and Surrounding areas. Our Wellbeing advisors are there to listen to your health and wellbeing story and support, signpost and nurture you to help you achieve your wishes.

		Healthier together
		Healthier Together has been developed for parents and healthcare staff which focus on children aged under 5 years. APPs for iPhone or Android smartphones are available

		NHS Tools, Apps and Podcasts
		A wide range of NHS approved healthcare apps to help you monitor your conditions or achieve your goals. for example fitness, smoking, alcohol, weight loss, pregnancy, depression, blood pressure, sexual health, etc.

		Patient
		Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods. Symptom checker  Wellbeing = health, fitness, nutrition, parenting  Medications

		Self help connect uk
		National self help forum support groups

		Self help Forum
		The Self Care Forum aims to further the reach of self care and embed it into everyday life. Self Care is the actions that individuals take for themselves, on behalf of and with others in order to develop, protect, maintain and improve their health, wellbeing or wellness.

A selection of self-help advice is provided below.

Please visit our PCN Health Information pages for more extensive advice and videos.

At Patient UK you can also Search over 500 Patient Information Leaflets as well as details of 2000+self-help/patient support groups and similar organisations.

Back Pain

• Back pain causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year.

• Symptoms usually respond to 24 hours rest lying on a firm bed followed by gentle exercise and return to normal activities.

• Paracetamol or Ibuprofen will help to relieve pain and local heat from a hot water bottle may also help.

• Avoid straining your back while exercising and take great care with lifting even when the pain has subsided

• When sitting, an upright chair with support for the small of the back lessens strain on the spine.

• If the pain does not start to improve within a few days, then consult your doctor for advice.

Insect Bites and Stings

• Most need no treatment.

• Anti-histamine tablets and/or cream can be obtained from the chemist without prescriptions and will relieve most symptoms.

Burns

• Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and continue until the pain subsides: but running cold water is the most effective. 

• This may take some time. If the skin is unbroken but blisters, apply a loose dry dressing.

• If the burn is larger than 10cm (4 inches) in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

• Do not use creams such as Germoline or Savlon

Chicken Pox

• On the first day a rash appears with small red spots.

• Within a few hours these develop small blisters at the centre.

• Over the next 3 or 4 days further spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off.

• Calamine lotion will soothe the itching and cool baths may help.

• The most infectious period is 2 or 3 days before the rash appears and until the last crusts have formed dry centres, usually 7-10 days after the onset of the rash.

• Children may return to school as soon as the last crusts have dropped off.

• The incubation period of chicken pox is 14-21 days.

Colds and Flu

• These usually start with a runny nose, cough, temperature and muscular aches.

• They are usually caused by viruses for which antibiotics will have no effect.

• Paracetamol helps the temperature and aches whilst decongestants and throat lozenges may also help to relieve symptoms. 

• It is important to drink plenty of fluid, but do not worry if you do not eat for a few days - you will come to no harm

• However no more than eight paracetamols should be taken within any 24 hours

Diarrhoea and Vomiting

• In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting is usually caused by a virus.

• Treatment consists of replacing fluid lost with small amounts of water, or fizzy lemonade taken frequently and not eating for 24 hours.

• If the diarrhoea contains blood, if there is severe pain or high fever you should consult your doctor.

• Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution and your doctor will be happy to advise you over the phone and arrange to see you if necessary.

• Elderly people and those with medical conditions (e.g. diabetes) should consult a doctor.

• Women taking the oral contraceptive pill may need to take extra precautions.

Headlice

• These creatures prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene.

• Daily combing with a fine tooth comb after application of conditioner is also effective

Meningitis

• This is an infection of the covering of the brain and the most serious from is caused by the meningococcus bacteria and requires urgent medical attention.

• Warning signs include a "blood spot" rash that does not blanch under pressure, and neck stiffness.

• In infants there may be drowsiness, change in the cry, irritability, fever, diarrhoea or vomiting.

• In adults, as well as neck stiffness and rash there may be high temperature, vomiting, headache and back or joint pains

For more detailed information visit the Meningitis Now website.

Blanch = press the side of a clear drinking glass onto the rash or bruises and checking that they fade.

Nose Bleeds

• Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped.

• If the bleeding continues or if your are taking blood-thinning tablets (anticoagulants): consult your doctor.

• Avoid blowing your nose for 48 hours and hot food and drink for 24 hours.

Sprains and Strains

• Apply a cold compress (e.g. a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a wet tea towel) to reduce swelling: then apply a firm crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until the discomfort has subsided.

Sunburn

• Try to prevent this by avoiding exposure to the sun in the heat of the day and using sun screens.

• Treat sunburn by cooling the skin with cool water or calamine lotion and take Paracetamol or anti-histamine tablets as necessary.

Temperature

• A raised temperature occurs commonly even with mild infections.

• In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and they should be given Paracetamol syrup which may be bought from the chemist.

• If they are still feverish they should be gently sponged with tepid water as in a bath or shower to cool them (this may take up to 20 minutes)

• If a temperature is very high and does not come down with this treatment or the child appears very unwell you should consult your doctor.

• A child or adult with a temperature will not come to any harm being brought by car or by pram to the surgery.

Below is a list of useful medicines and dressings. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions so you know how much medicine to take or to give to children, and how often to give it. If you're not sure, get advice from your pharmacist, GP or Health Visitor.

Never give the medicine more often than recommended, and don't give any more than the stated dose.

Keep all medicines locked-up and out of the reach of children.

Paracetamol: Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.

Paracetamol Mixture: For relief of pain or fever in young children.

Sedative Cough Linctus: For dry or painful coughs - but not coughs caused by common colds.

Menthol Crystals: Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.

Vapour Rub: Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.

Antiseptic Solution: One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.

Antiseptic Cream: For treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.

Calamine Lotion: For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites and stings and sunburn.

Dressing Strips: For minor cuts.

3" Wide Crepe Bandage: To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.

Gauze Squares: For cleaning cuts and grazes.

Thermometer: For fevers.

To search for local NHS Services, click here

NHS Webinars

NHS Dietitians in Somerset have developed useful webinars to provide accurate informaion to patients. To access these, visit https://patientwebinars.co.uk/

We are pleased to accept registration requests from patients who are living within the area indicated in the map below:

Please see our practice boundary and check your postcode is within our catchment area. 

To register as a new patient please call at reception, preferably with your medical card, to complete the necessary forms. Please note that you will need to bring ID (preferably photo ID) & proof of address with you.  If you are an adult registering with a the NHS for the first time, you will need to bring evidence of your entitlement. 

Registration will be with the practice and not a specific GP, although you will be allocated to the list of one of the GPs as your usual GP, who will be responsible for your ongoing care.

You have the right to express a preference to see a particular GP, which will be entered on your record.

Download Registration Form - GMS 1

UK residents

If you are in the area for a short time and require medical treatment you are able to register with this practice as a temporary resident.  This gives you the same access to general medical services as registered patients but either for a period of 24 hours up to 15 days, or between 15 days and three months.  If you are going to be in the area for longer than three months you should register fully with a GP.

If you are registered with another practice locally it is essential that you to attend your own practice where your medical notes are available.

Overseas visitors

People from abroad are eligible for free treatment on the NHS in the case of an emergency.  Broadly, this means that if, in the opinion of the GP, your condition requires emergency treatment you will not be charged for a consultation with the GP. 

If you require treatment or medication for a pre-existing condition you will be charged a fee, which then should be claimed back via your insurance company. 

Please note that these conditions also apply to British nationals living abroad.

If you are in the area for less than 24 hours and have an accident you can receive emergency treatment at this practice.  

Please note that the surgery is not a casualty department and if it is thought that an X-ray is required the patient should be taken straight to hospital. The nearest casualty department to Wellington is Musgrove Hospital in Taunton. 

Meeting Notes

June 2022

June 2019

October 2018

April 2018

November 2017

June 2017

February 2017

August 2016

May 2016

February 2016

November 2015

June 2015

April 2015

We Need You!

Virtual Patient Group

It is important that we find out what you think of us, and how we can improve or develop services that are appropriate to meet patient needs. Occasionally we would like to have a group of patients to approach for their thoughts regarding proposed changes in service.

This will usually be done via email, but if you don’t have e-mail we can contact you by post. We will either send you a survey form for you to complete or other information on which we would welcome your thoughts. We will not ask you to comment on a service that you have not experienced, and will not ask for your comment more than 3 times in a 12 month period.

If you are interested in helping us, commenting on services that you have experienced please complete a registration form available from reception or download a copy of the enrolment form which you can fill out and either post or bring into reception.

PPG

From April 2015 we have established a Patient Participation Group.  This group will meet at regular intervals to discuss aspects of primary health care, including the service provided by the practice, and may be asked by Somerset CCG to provide input into the development of new services in Somerset. We are currently looking for applicants aged 50 or below, to ensure the mix of patients on our PPG better reflects or practice population.  Applications to be included in this group should be made on the same registration form used for the Virtual Group (see above), but clearly marked PPG.

Following installation of a new telephone system please be aware that all incoming and outgoing calls are now recorded for training and quality monitoring.

We ask that all patients take extra precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases when visiting the surgery.

When entering the surgery and before leaving, please use the anti-bacterial gel which is supplied throughout the surgery for your convenience.

When using the check-in screen, the patient feedback IPad or the patient BP machine, please ensure you use the supplied anti-bacterial gel before and after use. We encourage you to clean the BP machine after use with the antibacterial wipes provided next to the machine.

Please do not attend the surgery if you have experienced vomiting or diarrhoea within the last 48 hours. And please do not attend the surgery if you have any cold, cough or flu-like symptoms or if you have a temperature. Please contact the surgery first before visiting and we will advise you on the most appropriate steps and where to wait should you require an appointment.

We are still actively encouraging the use of COVID-19 facemasks within the surgery and in the waiting area. We ask you to be considerate of other patients who may be vulnerable and immunocompromised.

We thank you for helping us to protect our patients and our staff from the avoidable spread of infectious diseases.

For up-to-date information regarding Luson Surgery and to download our Practice Leaflet, please click here

Talk To Us

Every patient has the right to make a complaint about the treatment or care they have received at Luson Surgery. We understand that we may not always get everything right and by telling us about the problem you have encountered, we will be able to improve our services and patient experience.

Timescales for Complaints

The time constraint on bringing a complaint is 12 months from the occurrence giving rise to the complaint. Or, 12 months from the time you became aware of the matter about which you wish to complain. The Practice Manager will respond to all complaints within 3 business days from receipt. Furthermore, they will provide you with regular updates regarding your complaint whilst aiming to have your complaint resolved within 40 days.

Who to Talk to

Most complaints can be resolved at a local level. Please speak to a member of staff if you have a complaint. All our staff members are trained to handle complaints effectively. Alternatively, please ask to speak to the Practice Manager (Lizzie Guttridge). A complaint can be made either verbally or in writing. Should you wish to complain in writing, please email or post us your complaint.

Investigating Complaints

Luson Surgery will investigate all complaints effectively and in conjunction with extant legislation and guidance.

Confidentiality

Luson Surgery will ensure that all complaints are investigated with the utmost confidentiality and any documents are held separately from the patient’s healthcare record.

Final Response

Luson Surgery will issue a final formal response to all complainants which will provide full details and the outcome of the complaint.

Further Actions

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you may seek further guidance from: NHS England PO BOX 16738 Redditch B97 9PT 0300 311 2233  

Or, alternatively complain to: The Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman Milbank Tower Milbank London SW19 4QP 0345 015 4033 www.ombudsman.org.uk 

Contact Us

Luson Surgery 41 Fore Street Wellington Somerset TA21 8AG

Telephone: 01823 662836

Email:  

To download this information in a Leaflet, please click here. 

Dr Takudzwa Chinomona - New GP

We are pleased to welcome Dr Takudzwa Chinomona to our practice from March 2022. Dr Chinomona will be working Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Dr Natalie Lister - Departure

Dr Lister left Luson Surgery on the 17^th November 2021

Dr Adrian Tyler - Departure

Dr Tyler left Luson Surgery on the 30^th September 2021

COVID-19 Surgery Guidance Following Government Announcement on 19.07.21

Please be advised that the surgery is permitted by the Government to instigate our own policy following the Government announcement on 19^th July 2021.

All patients attending the surgery will still be required to wear surgical face masks and maintain social distancing. Our procedures for managing the pandemic will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. This is to ensure both patients and staff members are protected and to ensure our service and level of care remains unaffected.

We do hope you understand the situation as the surgery has the health and wellbeing of patients and staff in mind. Any inappropriate behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated.

Please see the latest COVID 19 guidance here. 

Lizzie Guttridge - New Practice Manager

Lizzie joined the practice in January 2021 and has stepped into the role of Practice Manager. She is highly experienced in management and leadership and works full time, Monday to Friday. 

Martin Ellacott - Retirement

After a couple of decades dedicating himself to the surgery, we said farewell to Martin Ellacott (former Practice Manager of Luson Surgery) in January 2021. His successor, Lizzie Guttridge stepped into the role in January. 

Dr Adrian Tyler - new GP

We are pleased to welcome Dr Tyler who will be joining us from 1st October 2020 as a GP Partner.  Dr Tyler is an experienced GP who has worked at other surgeries in Somerset, and will initially work at the practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Dr Barbara Crabtree - Retirement

After over 29 years service, Dr Crabtree has retired as a partner at Luson Surgery.  We anticipate having a replacement GP in place in the new year.  In the meantime Dr Crabtree's patients will be able to see any of the other GPs when necessary.

We wish Dr Crabtree a long and happy retirement. 

Improved Access Scheme - July 2017

• From 1st July 2017 patients can book routine appointments until 8.00pm each weekday, and on Saturday morning.
• These routine appointments will be at a GP Practice within the Taunton Deane Area, as practices will be open on a rotational basis to see each other's patients.
• Luson Surgery will open on Monday and Thursday evenings.
• All appointments are by prior arrangement, and no walk-in service will be available.
• Patients with acute problems who require medical assistance can still call 111. 

On-line Access - enhancement from 1st April 2016

Patients are now able to view details of all coded entries and test results recorded in their medical record in addition to medications, allergies, ordering repeat medication and booking appointments with their GP on-line.
In order to access the system, patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website.  If you already have access and would like to take advantage of this enhancement, you will need to visit the surgery, againing bringing photo identification, to enable us to enhance your access. 

Values by which we operate

We have put together a statement of the core values by which we run the practice.  These values are also displayed in the practice. 

Electronic Prescribing - release 2 - 12th May 2015

From 12th May 2015 prescriptions can be sent electronically, direct to the Pharmacy of your choice, without the need for you to collect a signed form from the surgery.  If you already have an arrangement with a Pharmacy to collect your prescriptions from the surgery, please ask us to update your records.  If not then ask at your Pharmacy, and they will sign you up for the service, which will save time for both you and us. 

On-line Access - enhancement from 1st April 2015

Patients are now able to view details of all medications and allergies recorded in their medical record in addition to ordering repeat medication and booking appointments with their GP on-line.
In order to access the system patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website. 

Blood Clinics

Following the departure of Maggie Leyden after many years of service, our weekly blood clinics will in future be run by Wendy Bass on Wednesday morning. 

On-line Access for Repeat Prescriptions & Appointment Booking

Patients are now able to order repeat medication and book appointments with their GP on-line. In order to access the system patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website.

Surgery Hours may vary

Surgery Hours may vary

Dr Takudzwa Chinomona

Surgery Hours may vary

Dr Sarah Regan

Surgery Hours may vary

A Clinical pharmacist is a highly qualified health professional who trains for many years to become specialist in medicines. Clinical pharmacist role in general practice is to ensure that the medications prescribed for patients contribute to the best possible health outcomes.

Our clinical pharmacist role includes: 
​
Running a High Blood Pressure clinic (the purpose of this clinic is to provide support and information for patients suffering from high blood pressure, which includes analysing blood pressure readings, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and advice on lifestyle changes).
 

Conducting annual medication reviews 

• making sure medication is being taken correctly
• finding out whether there are any side effects or interactions and if appropriate, suggesting alternatives
• checking whether there are some medications which should be stopped or dosages changed
• ensuring that relevant blood tests have been carried out as part of monitoring the medication.

Providing information and advice about medications (side effects, interactions etc.)

Dealing with prescription queries

Implementing medication changes after hospital discharge 

Meet our Clinical Pharmacists:

Monika Zac

Kris Zieba

Practice nurses may be seen by appointment in our well-equipped Treatment Room.

They are able to provide a number of services including:

• Dressings and removal of stitches
• Taking of blood samples
• Treatment of minor injuries
• Cervical smear tests
• Ear syringing
• Blood pressure checks
• Flu and Travel vaccinations
• Hormone Replacement Therapy checks
• Warfarin monitoring
• Contraceptive checks
• Asthma clinic
• Diabetes clinic
• Coronary Heart Disease clinic
• Smoking Cessation Advice
• All aspects of health promotion
• Children's vaccination sessions

We are a very busy surgery taking over 950 calls and scheduling over 675 appointments each week. In addition to our doctors and nurses your visits are supported by other members of staff in the reception and office areas. 

Reception Staff

Our reception team book appointments with the doctors and practice nurses and will do their best to answer any queries that you may have. Sometimes they may have to ask you for further details in order to assess how best to help you. Please help them by being as concise as you can about your requirements. All our surgery Staff will respect your privacy and are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the doctors and nurses.

The reception team also run our repeat prescription lines which open from 9am to 1pm on 01823 669719. 

Medical Secretaries

Our secretaries provide the secretarial back-up for the doctors as well as maintaining over 5900 medical records. There may be occasions when they are able to answer your query on referrals or hospital admissions without your needing to speak to the doctor.

Counselling is available through the surgery for a range of presenting issues, including loss, depression, anxiety, difficulties or breakdown in relationship, problems at work, trauma, distressing childhood memories, support at times of crisis, self esteem.  

Counselling can help bring relief when life situations threaten to overwhelm the individual. Increased understanding of our experience, values, motivation and behaviour can increase choice and peace of mind.  

Sessions are 50 minutes long and usually for a maximum duration of six. Counselling is confidential within certain limits that will be explained to you.  

Our counselling service is provided by Somerset Emotional Health & Well-being Service.

If you would like to receive counselling or arrange an appointment to talk to our counsellor further about the process, please ask your GP for a referral.

The Doctors and Community Midwives provide a comprehensive ante-natal service to patients of the practice.   Our Community Midwife Rebecca White works from the practice, and runs ante-natal clinics on Friday mornings. 

Patients can make their initial contact with a midwife by completing the Self-Referral form using the link below.

Maternity Self Referral

If you have not been contacted by a midwife more than 2 weeks after submitting your self referral form, our require support to complete the form, please call 01823 343321

The Community Nursing team offers a 24-hour service to housebound patients needing nursing care. The team attached to Luson Surgery, led by Frances Brice, work closely with the Doctors to provide co-ordinated patient care. The team may be contacted directly on 0300 124 5606.

Our Health Visitors, Clare Sibley and Sandra Leigh are available at the surgery.   If you wish to discuss a problem with them phone 01823 665551 or call in at the surgery. Our Health Visitors take a special interest in the under fives.

GP Salaries

All GP practices are required by NHS England to declare the mean earnings (i.e. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice. However it should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.

The average pay for GPs working in Luson Surgery in the last financial year (2019-20) was £68,953 before tax and national insurance.

This is for 1 full-time GP and 4 part-time GPs.

Conflicts of Interest

Each of the GPs, Prescribing Nurses and Practice Management have made a declaration that they have no conflicts of interest in carrying out their duties within the practice.

Luson Surgery is a shareholder in Somerset Primary Health Ltd, a company established jointly by GP practices in Somerset to undertake joint working and commissioning.

We want to have feedback from you. One simple measure of our service is whether you would recommend our surgery to your friends and family.

In the entrance hall at the surgery we have an iPad which can be used to give your assessment of the service we provide by telling us how strongly you would recommend us.

Alternatively, you can complete our online form.

We thank you for your feedback.

Would you like a Chaperone?

When attending the doctor or nurse for some examinations or tests you may prefer to have
a chaperone present.

Please ask if you would like a chaperone.

We can give you the following choices;

• We can rearrange your appointment so that you can be seen by a doctor of the same sex.
• We can arrange for another nurse or doctor to be present during your examination.
• One of the receptionists can be present, behind a screen, in the consulting room. 

Confidentiality

We ask you for personal information so you can receive appropriate care and treatment. This information is recorded on computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act. The practice will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by all members of the practice team. However, for the effective functioning of a multi-disiplinary team it is sometimes necessary that medical information about you is shared between members of the team. Access to confidential patient information is given only to those NHS healthcare professionals who need it in order to provide a service to the patient. All staff working in the surgery are subject to stringent confidentiality requirements and no information from your record will be released to third parties outside the NHS without your specific consent. 

How we use your information:

For further details about why we collect information about you, how your information will be used and your rights in respect of your data, please see our the following documents;-

Fair Processing Notice Layer 1 - General Information

Fair Processing Notice Layer 2 - Detailed Information

Access to health records

In general you have the right to see your health records though certain legal exclusions may apply. You can ask to see your record and may request a copy of any part subject to a small administrative charge. If you require access to your records please ask to speak to the Practice Manager in the first instance.

Concerns

If you have any concerns regarding the confidentiality of your personal medical records, or you would like further information. Please do not hesitate to discuss this with your doctor or the Practice Manager

Luson Surgery General Practitioner's Publication Scheme

 download the latest Acrobat reader

Luson Surgery statement of general policy

General Public

• To employ only trained staff (or trainees that are supervised by a suitably qualified person)
• To provide suitably safe facilities and equipment [that has regular safety checks]
• To have established procedures for evacuation of the premises in case of an emergency
• To have Infection control procedures in place

Staff

• To provide adequate control of the health and safety risks arising from our work activities
• To consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety
• To provide and maintain safe plant and equipment
• To ensure safe handling and use of substances
• To provide information, instruction and supervision for employees
• To ensure all employees are competent to do their tasks, and to give them adequate training
• To prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health
• To maintain safe and healthy working conditions

Specific Arrangement

• All work areas to be kept clean and tidy
• All rubbish to be cleaned away
• All gangways and staircases to be kept clear at all times
• All spillages of water, chemicals or other substances to be cleared immediately with due respect to the content of the material spoilt
• No machinery or other equipment to be run without necessary guards and safety equipment in position and in full working order
• Excepting for clinical emergencies, no person will be allowed on site under the influence of alcohol and/or non-prescribed drugs
• To establish and maintain fire extinguisher and fire points
• To prevent accidents and cases of work related ill health
• To record any accidents in the Accident Book and immediately report any such accident to the Practice Manager
• To review and revise this policy as appropriate at regular intervals

Please read our National Opt-out Compliance statement.

Aims and objectives

At Luson Surgery we aim to provide our patients with the best quality care available. Our charter is a statement of what you can expect from the practice and what we feel we can expect from you in return. 

Your rights as our patient

• We are committed to giving you the best possible service we can achieve by working together.
• You will always be treated with courtesy and respect.
• You will always be offered the treatment we believe is appropriate for you, by a suitably qualified person.
• We will provide Information about our services in our practice booklet and through our staff and website.
• We will make every effort to see you promptly. Medical emergencies will receive immediate attention and there will be a duty doctor available each day for urgent problems.
• We will offer you an appointment with a doctor within two working days whenever possible. If your own doctor is not available, we will arrange for you to see another doctor. You will be seen by a doctor on the same day if this is appropriate, although we cannot guarantee you will be seen by your own doctor.
• Emergency cover will be available at all times outside normal surgery opening hours by telephoning 111.
• Medical advice is available 24 hours a day from NHS 111 on 111
• We will tell you when the results of tests and X-rays are likely to be available and how to obtain them.
• Repeat prescriptions requested Monday to Thursday will normally be available for collection after two working days. Prescriptions ordered on Friday will be available on Tuesday.
• We will strive to promote good health through advice and preventative medicine.
• We will respect your rights of confidentiality and access to your medical records, within the law.
• We will try to deal at once with any problems or complaints which you bring to our attention and welcome your suggestions for improving our service to you.

What you can do for us

• You are partners in the care you receive and we ask you to accept your own responsibilities in return.
• Please treat your surgery staff with due courtesy and respect.
• If you are unclear about your treatment please ask. Try to follow any medical advice given you.
• If you need a home visit, if possible please telephone before 10.30am.
• If you wish to speak to your own doctor please telephone before 10.30am to book a telephone consultation after their morning surgery.
• Only ask for urgent appointments, emergency consultations or home visits when appropriate.
• Let us know as soon as you can if you cannot keep an appointment.
• Please telephone between 2.00 and 4.00pm to obtain the results of investigations and X-rays.
• Whenever possible please request repeat prescriptions using the slip on your prescription form. It may be sent by post enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope or dropped into the prescriptions post box in the surgery foyer for collection after two working days.
• Please respond promptly to any letters we may send to you.
• Be understanding when your own consultation is delayed by someone else's unexpected emergency.
• Many illnesses can be prevented through healthy living. Ask about the health promotion activities on offer through the surgery.
• Screening programmes are invaluable in the early detection of certain illness. Please take advantage of them.

Suggestions, Complaints or Compliments

We try to provide the best possible service to our patients and will always welcome your views or suggestions for further improvements.

If you have a suggestion please write or ask to speak, to our practice manager. Alternatively why not tell the doctor or nurse next time you see them.

We realise that there may be occasions when our service to you falls short of our customary standard. If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or any of the staff working at Luson Surgery please let us know.

See our Complaints Procedure page for further details.

LUSON SURGERY PRIVACY POLICY

Plain English explanation

This practice keeps data on you relating to who you are, where you live, what you do, your family, possibly your friends, your employers, your habits, your problems and diagnoses, the reasons you seek help, your appointments, where you are seen and when you are seen, who by, referrals to specialists and other healthcare providers, tests carried out here and in other places, investigations and scans, treatments and outcomes of treatments, your treatment history, the observations and opinions of other healthcare workers, within and without the NHS as well as comments and aide memoires reasonably made by healthcare professionals in this practice who are appropriately involved in your health care.

When registering for NHS care, all patients who receive NHS care are registered on a national database, the database is held by NHS Digital, a national organisation which has legal responsibilities to collect NHS

GPs have always delegated tasks and responsibilities to others that work with them in their surgeries, on average an NHS GP has between 1,500 to 2,500 patients for whom he or she is accountable. It is not possible for the GP to provide hands on personal care for each and every one of those patients in those circumstances, for this reason GPs share your care with others, predominantly within the surgery but occasionally with outside organisations.

If your health needs require care from others elsewhere outside this practice we will exchange with them whatever information about you that is necessary for them to provide that care. When you make contact with healthcare providers outside the practice but within the NHS it is usual for them to send us information relating to that encounter. We will retain part or all of those reports. Normally we will receive equivalent reports of contacts you have with non NHS services but this is not always the case.

Your consent to this sharing of data, within the practice and with those others outside the practice is assumed and is allowed by the Law.

People who have access to your information will only normally have access to that which they need to fulfil their roles, for instance admin staff will normally only see your name, address, contact details, appointment history and registration details in order to book appointments, the practice nurses will normally have access to your immunisation, treatment, significant active and important past histories, your allergies and relevant recent contacts whilst the GP you see or speak to will normally have access to everything in your record.

You have the right to object to our sharing your data in these circumstances but we have an overriding responsibility to do what is in your best interests.

Fair Processing Notice

For further details about why we collect information about you, how your information will be used and your rights in respect of your data, please download the following documents;-

Fair Processing Notice Layer 1 - General Information

Fair Processing Notice Layer 2 - Detailed Information

Data Protection Officer contact details                

Kevin Caldwell
GP Data Protection Officer
Somerset CCG
Wynford House
Lufton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA22 8HR

Tel: 01935 384000

Email: 

Website Privacy Policy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals using this website.

This policy explains how we use any personal information we collect from you through this website.

Collection of personal information

You can access most of the pages on our website without giving us your personal information. However, you may choose to provide us with your personal information on some pages of the website by completing an on-line form.

By submitting your personal information, you consent to our use of the information as set out in this privacy policy. 

Use of personal information

We shall use any personal information you give to us, in accordance with this policy, and with any additional statements appearing on forms used for submitting your personal information. We shall not disclose your personal information to any third parties without obtaining your prior consent unless we are required by law to do so. In particular:

We shall use your personal information to administer, and may respond to, your request.

We shall securely store the information you supply together with any response we may provide.

If you contact us regarding the website we may use your details to reply to you. If you make a comment or complaint about other aspects of the service we may use your details to investigate your comments.

Website privacy

This website uses https to ensure data is encrypted in transmission. This encryption, known as TLS encryption protocol, allows us to protect your privacy. You can usually verify that the page is encrypted by seeing a small lock symbol in the upper left corner of your browser and the website address is prefixed with https://.

Data storage

All data obtained by us is held and used in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.

Cookie Policy

Please read the PCN Privacy Policy.

Links

This website contains links to other sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties that run any other websites. Please refer to their own privacy policies for more information.

Access to your personal information

You have a right under the Data Protection Act 2018 to ask us to provide you with the information we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies corrected. If you would like to access a copy of your information, please contact the Practice Manager using the following contact details in the heading above.

The content on this site is regularly reviewed. 

As a practice, we feel it important that patients are aware of what happens to personal information stored on the computer system.

Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.

All staff employed by this practice abide by our Code of Confidentiality, and we operate a Practice Policy on Information Security.

When you register, you will be asked for information about yourself so that you receive the appropriate care and treatment.

This information is kept with details of your health and treatment provided, so that the practice can ensure that the care you receive is appropriate and consistent with your medical history. The practice may pass information to other organisations and strict conditions must be complied with before information is released. Occasions when information is released are:

1. Statutory requirement, e.g., notification of birth or death.
2. The NHS Central Register for England and Wales contains basic personal details of all patients registered with a General Practitioner. The register does not contain clinical information.
3. The practice takes part in Drug Trial research approved by the Local Research Ethics Committee. If the research involves you personally, you will be contacted for your permission before information is divulged. Patients will not be identified in any published results without their prior permission.
4. At times it may be necessary to refer to patient records when dealing with complaints or legal claims. Information will not be divulged without patients' prior permission.
5. We may use some information for preparing statistics to continue improving quality of care and to ensure that our services meet patient needs. At all times steps will be taken to ensure you cannot be identified.

You may be receiving care from other organisations within the NHS. To ensure you receive a consistent programme of care we may need to share some information about your medical history. We only ever do this if it is in your interest.

The Law strictly controls the sharing of some types of very sensitive information. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.

Violent or Abusive Behaviour

In line with national NHS policy, we have zero-tolerance of violence or abuse towards any member of staff. If your behaviour is considered to be unacceptable you will be removed from our list immediately and advised to re-register elsewhere.

Please help us to help you.

Thank you.

NHS 111 is here to make it easier and quicker for patients to get the right advice or treatment they need, be that for their physical or mental health.

24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To get help from NHS 111, you can:

• Go online to 111.nhs.uk (for assessment of people aged 5 and over only).
• Call 111 for free from a landline or mobile phone.

Luson Surgery

41 Fore Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8AG

Tel: 01823 662 836

Prescription: order online

Consult with your GP online: Online Consult (online-consult.co.uk)

Click here to view in PCN Locations