False Covid text asking patient to order test kits

We have been notified of a text scam that has been sent to patients purporting to be from their GP practice. The text could easily be mistaken as a legitimate notification as the recipient’s mobile will show the text grouped with legitimate texts from their own GP practice.
The message advises them that they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Omicron and that they must order a test kit using a link within the text. The link then asks for a payment of £0.99 for postage.
GP Practices would not text in this way seeking payment for text kits.
Patients should be vigilant to avoid providing personal information such as bank details to fraudsters.

Update 17/05/22

Please use the NHS App, email admin.crich@nhs.net or call the surgery for general enquiries/requests. Please do not email the Practice Manager directly as this may result in a delay in your request being processed and passed accordingly due to current responsibilities.

MOL – IMPORTANT NOTICE 04/05/22

• The Medicine Order Line (MOL) is under increased pressure at the moment. We recognise this is causing patient concern and we apologise for any inconvenience this is causing. MOL staff are working hard to resolve the temporary service issues. As a result, the time you are waiting in the call queue may be longer – please be patient
• If any patients have access to email, please email the MOL with your name, date of birth, GP surgery and telephone number – one of the MOL operators will call you back within 48 hours to process your prescription request
• ddccg.northmolonlinerequests@nhs.net for those who would normally call the 01246 number
• If any patients have access to the internet / apps, could we please suggest you try these alternative ordering methods (online ordering via the practice / NHS app). This will free up the busy phone lines for patients who have no other means of ordering their repeat prescriptions
• With the upcoming Jubilee bank holiday, the MOL is accepting prescription requests up to 14 days early rather than the usual 7 days early. This means prescriptions can be ordered from May 19

Updated 28/03/22

The medical practice continues to work on skeleton staff.

We have lost a further two doctors and a HCA plus two more administrative staff to Covid-19 from this morning – therefore we shall not be booking any routine face to face appointments until further notice.

Any patients believing they are needing to be seen will first be clinically assessed by telephone.

Please DO NOT attend the surgery unless absolutely necessary.

Please consider if your contact can be dealt with by an alternative service ie pharmacist.

Please consider if your contact is safe to be postponed I.e letters, reports etc.

Thank you for your patience .

Shona .

Practice Manager .

THIS WEEK THE CRICH MEDICAL PRACTICE HAS LOST;

-124 GP appointments

– 117 hours of administration time

due to Covid-19 and Sickness.

We would therefore like to politely request;

– if your visit to the surgery is not urgent ; registration requests, collection of letters/ reports, general enquiries, private work etc that you do not visit the surgeries in person until further notice.

– If your appointment can be conducted by telephone then we would ask that you request this at the time of booking to minimise footfall in the surgery and the risk of cross-contamination.

– Please use the Econsult form through the NHS App where appropriate.

– Please use the Medicine Ordering Line to order prescriptions wherever possible.

– Any patient with existing communication outstanding from the Practice Manager shall be informed that our practice Pandemic policy shall be in force until further notice. A copy of which shall be made available if required.

Mostly, we ask for empathy , patience and understanding as we strive to provide healthcare to our population in such unprecedented times.

The well-being of our staff and patients remains paramount to all and I’d like to thank you personally for your continued support and understanding.

Thank you

Shona Wragg

Practice  Manager

We are experiencing a high number of calls into the surgery and you may find you have a wait before we answer your call please be patient, the team are working hard to answer each call quickly and efficiently. For non-urgent health issues please visit Crich Medical Practice and complete the eConsult form.