Services

Dawley Medical Practice

Non-NHS Work

A reminder that GPs do not have to carry out work that does not come under the NHS.

This includes things like To Whom It May Concern letters, completing holiday insurance forms, adoption and fostering medicals and taxi & HGV medicals.

These are classified as private work and practices can charge a fee. A list of the recommended charges for non-NHS work is available below (appendix 1).

Dawley Medical Practice carries out periodic reviews of the charges.

Please note the GPs will NOT do the following: -

Sign passport forms

Write letters in support of Blue Badge applications

Write letters for bus passes

Appendix 1

Exemption Certificate for Court

Please note that as a matter of policy the partners at Dawley Medical Practice

will not issue certificates of exemption or To Whom It May Concern letters for patients required to attend court. Court attendance includes as a witness, defendant or for jury service.

A Fitness to Work Note (Sick Note) is not acceptable to the court. Not being well enough to work does not necessarily mean a patient cannot attend court.

The judge looks at a patient’s ‘capacity to litigate’ (i.e. make decisions regarding legal proceedings, including instructing solicitors and understanding advice).

The GPs at Dawley Medical Practice do not have the specialist knowledge needed to decide this.

This work does not come under the NHS, and the partners have therefore decided, that any request for a private letter or certificate will be refused.

Patients will be advised they may need to gain specialist opinion through alternative means which could include seeing a doctor or psychiatrist privately.

The new community-based Optometry First services for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, bringing eye care closer to people’s homes, will have a phased launch from Tuesday 1 July and will replace the current Minor Eye Condtions Service (MECS).

Who is this service for? 

This service is available to adults and children registered with a GP in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin presenting with a recent onset urgent or minor symptomatic eye conditions that require consultation.

We no longer provide an Ear Syringing (Irrigation) Service at Dawley Medical Practice.

We are still able to refer patients who are eligible to the Service provided at Charlton Medical Practice. 

Please view our Patient Information Leaflet with guidance and information, to view please click here.

The NHS has announced that a new weight-loss injection called Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is available to help people with obesity, there are also other weight loss injections, such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide). This news has created a lot of interest, and we’ve been getting lots of questions about it.

We thought it might be useful to set out a response to help those patients considering contacting us about weight loss and weight loss injections - 

1. We cannot give weight loss injections at the surgery. The hospital are not correct if they tell you to see your GP for them.

2. ⁠There are very strict guidelines as to who is eligible.

3. ⁠There is strict guidance which we have to adhere to before we can refer for weight loss injections.

4. ⁠The hospital will triage those patients we refer, and they may reply that you're not eligible.

5. ⁠If appropriate , you may be referred to a special clinic. This is not done at this surgery. The waiting time for this is currently over 6 months.

6. If you want to be considered for referral and believe you are eligible then please book an appointment with sister Blodwen to discuss , not a GP.

7. There are other ways we can support you with your weight management - NHS digital weight management programme (see link to information below), diet and exercise advice, NHS Health Checks (patients aged 40-74 and you do not have an pre-existing condition such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease as these patients will be called for regular monitoring of their condition).  Again, Sister Blodwen can discuss these options with you in a booked appointment.

8. You can book routine appointments with sister Blodwen 

• use our online request service online appointment request.  
• phone us on 01952 630500, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
• use your NHS Account  (through the NHS website or NHS App) When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with

These are some useful links if you want to consider weight loss:

NHS Digital Weight management Programme and criteria for referral -

https://www.england.nhs.uk/digital-weight-management/how-to-access-the-programme/

Weight loss support in Shropshire - 

https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/public-health/healthy-shropshire/healthy-lifestyles/weight-management/

Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care system website where you can search for the latest in weight loss support in this area - 

https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/

View for information and support for Long Covid

For support, please see the following web link

https://www.shropshiresupportsrefugees.org/our-services