Welcome to 
Ivel Medical Centre
Ivel Medical Centre in Biggleswade aims to provide the highest quality healthcare to patients. Our doctors, nurses and all our other staff are dedicated to offering a professional service and this surgery website will help us to keep all our patients up to date with news and information about our practice.
As well as a source of information about our practice, the staff and the services we provide, we hope you will use this website as a useful resource for other health-related information. Please have a look around and do send us some feedback if you like. We can use your ideas to improve our online services and further develop the content of this site.
FLU VACCINATIONS
Please be aware there has been a delay in delivery of our flu vaccinations. As soon as they are received we will text you.
Currently they are expected in early October.
Please have your flu jab here at the surgery. funding from giving you a flu jab enables us to provide other services throughout the year -
services that only we provide
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Electronic Prescription Service
The Practice will be transferring to EPS with effect from 01.10.18.
This will mean that if you are registered with a Pharmacy, your prescriptions will be sent electronically to them. It will make the process easier and more efficient for the patients, the Pharmacies and the Practice. If you do not already have a nominated Pharmacy, you can discuss the process with them, and register. You can still come to the surgery to pick up your prescription yourself if you prefer.
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Important information regarding your repeat prescriptions!
Community pharmacies will soon no longer be able to order medication on your behalf (exclusions apply for vulnerable patients)
Patients are requested to take responsibility for ordering their own medication to ensure safe and responsible ordering, reduce errors, and to prevent unnecessary medicine waste.
There are various ways in which you can order your regular medications, for example -
on-line - via SystmOne, (you will need to register to be issued with a username and a password)
by dropping the prescription request into the surgery
by sending the prescription request in the post.
If you use a nominated pharmacy to collect and supply, your medication, this will continue.
For more information, contact the surgery and speak to the reception team.
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New Minor Eye Condition service
This is a free service offered at participating opticians for patients who have a minor eye condition. This is to save GP appointments and prevent A&E attendances. Please see the page on the right hand side for more information about the conditions that can be seen by this service and which opticians are participating.
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Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service
To contact this service please phone 0208 045 4254 or 0330 1331 1027
For further help and information visit the below website (copy and paste the link into your browser)
or see the NEPTS page on the right hand side.
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When the surgery is closed:
For medical assistance out of hours please phone NHS 111
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Save time – do it online!
GP online services gives patients the option to book appointments, request repeat prescriptions and view their GP records, using their computer, tablet or smartphone rather than having to phone or visit their practice.
Online services complement the existing ways patients can access appointments, prescriptions and their records. Our practices already have the facility to offer online access to records and transactional services for our patients.
If you are not already registered for GP online services please let a member of the practice team know you would like to use this service.
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Thank you to both the Biggleswade Art Society and Photographic Society for supplying a lovely selection of pictures and photos to display around the Practice. They are available to buy, anyone interested can contact the artist directly - the details can be found on each piece.
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Would you recommend our Practice?
Please tell us what you think by going to the Friends and Family Test on the right hand side of this page and answering 1 quick question.
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Informing Patients of their Named GP
From April 2015 all GP practices are required to provide all their patients with a named GP who will have overall responsibility for the care and support that our surgery provides to them.
Every patient at this practice has been assigned to one of the GP partners.
Please be assured that this will not impact your experience of the care the Practice offers, the provision of appointments, your treatment, or prevent you from seeing any GP in the practice as you have always done.
It is important to be clear that you do not need to wait and only see your named GP.
If you would like to know who your allocated GP is then please ask us when you next attend or contact Reception who will be happy to inform you.
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Important Notice for Patients on Warfarin
Due to a change in prescribing regulations you must now bring your yellow book to all medication review, Diabetic and Heart Clinic appointments. You must also bring your yellow book when collecting prescriptions from our Dispensary.
We cannot issue your prescription without having seen the book.
You are now able to book blood test appointments via the Access the Appointment system icon below. A limited number per clinic will be available to book online.
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Text Messaging System
The practice operates a FREE text messaging system for reminding patients of their appointments. Messages will only be sent for patients that are over the age of 16. The practice does not offer a reply facility to enable patients to respond to reminder texts directly. Text messages are generated using a secure facility however the messages are transmitted over a public network onto a personal telephone and as such may not be secure, however the practice will not transmit any information which would enable an individual patient to be identified.
By providing us with a mobile phone number you are consenting to receiving text appointment reminders. It is a patient's responsibility to advise the practice if your mobile number changes or if you no longer want to receive the text reminders.
The system started in June 2011 and all patients who had a mobile number registered with the practice at that time were sent a text message asking if they wished to 'opt' out. Patients informing us of mobile telephone numbers after the start of the system will be informed that by providing your mobile number you are consenting to receiving the text messages.
Patients can opt out of the system at any time by contacting us.
We hope patients find this system helpful, if however you have any problems or concerns do let us know.
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MOVING HOUSE?
If you are moving out of the area (our catchment area is detailed under the New Patients tab), you will need to register with a new GP where you will be living.
You will need your NHS Number, and once registered, your medical records will be transferred.
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Are you travelling abroad anytime soon?
You will need to check with the embassy of every country you will be travelling to and through, what their rules are for taking medicines which we prescribe for you.
We are happy to give you a print out of a list of the medications which we prescribe for you.
you will need to check with a pharmacist what each of your medicines contain
and don't forget to ask about -
1. all prescribed medicines (including tablets, syrups, injectables, creams and patches etc)
2. all medicines which you buy over the counter from the chemist or supermarket
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A public consultation is underway about the proposal to change the way we provide urgent care. The proposal is to close the Walk-in Centre at Putnoe, Bedford and replace the service with an Urgent Treatment Centre sited at Bedford Hospital. The CCG is very keen to involve as many local people as possible and hear their views. Take the survey via the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PutnoeWalkIn
(Site updated 18/10/2018)