Total Triage
On 1st October 2025, Davenport House Surgery will be moving to a new improved way of access for patients called TOTAL TRIAGE. The partners have not taken this step lightly and have done considerable research working with other local practices who are already using this mode of access successfully to ensure that the new system will work well for our patients. Total Triage has been designed to facilitate equity of access to care.
To download the full document explaining Total Triage please click here.
Hertfordshire and West Essex Patient Engagement Forum
This group is hosted by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (HWEICB) Patient Engagement Forum (PEF) and is open to all residents of the area to discuss health related matters.
The PEF is an advisory group to the HWEICB. It gives input to the Board meetings, poses questions and ensures that patients’ needs, views and experiences of local health and care services are part of the decision-making process in the ICB. The patient members are from different geographic areas within HWE, and all have connections and links into different communities and networks.
This Facebook group is for all residents in HWE to find out more about NHS services, social care and other related matters, and we welcome open honest discussion and participation.
WHAT CAN YOUR PHARMACY PRESCRIBE
Pharmacy First is a new scheme designed to take pressure from GP surgeries and will enable community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines and other routine tests for conditions like:
Sinusitis · Sore throat · Earache · Infected insect bites · Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection) · Shingles · Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women
To access treatment for the above and other services, you can simply walk into the pharmacy or contact them through GP receptionists or NHS 111. Pharmacy First aims to free up 10 million GP appointments a year by next winter, giving GPs time to see patients with more complex conditions.
Walk-in Centres/Urgent Treatment Centres
Dear Patients,
As a general practice, our focus is on providing ongoing, personalised care to our registered patients.
Recently, we've noticed an increase in patients coming to the surgery for conditions that are more appropriately handled at a walk-in centre or urgent treatment centre.
Please may we ask that for minor ailments and non-emergency concerns, you consider visiting one of the following local walk-in centres:
Welwyn Garden City Walk-In Centre (UTC)
Address: QEII Hospital, Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4HQ
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (7 days a week)
Contact Number: 01707 247 259
Hemel Hempstead Walk-In Centre
Address: Hemel Hempstead Hospital, Hillfield Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4AD
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (7 days a week)
Contact Number: 01442 212 123
Luton Walk-In Centre
Address: Chapel Street, Luton, LU1 2SE
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (7 days a week)
Contact Number: 01582 709 290
These walk-in centres are well-equipped to handle minor injuries, infections, and illnesses, leaving GP appointments available for those who need ongoing care or more complex consultations.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. If you're ever unsure where to seek treatment, or if you have questions about what constitutes an emergency, please feel free to contact us or NHS 111 for further guidance.
Thank you for your continued support and for helping us ensure that we provide the best care for everyone.
PLEASE CANCEL APPOINTMENTS IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND
During the Month of April 2024, the surgery had 372 appointments which were not attended. Average cost of each appointment is £30. The loss of this clinical time has a detrimental effect on the service that the surgery provide to patients and it is wished to keep this to a minimum. The surgery feels that it is reasonable to ask patients to let it know in advance if they do not intend or are not able to keep their appointment.
Patients who are experiencing ongoing difficulties in keeping their appointments should discuss this with the surgery. The surgery reserves the right to remove patients from the practice list if they DNA (Do Not attend) three appointments within a 12 month period.
Please, if you are unable to attend remember to cancel your appointment.
Call the surgery on 01582 767821 or Text back to your automatic message reminder or Visit the practice in person.
HOW TO MAKE A BLOOD TEST APPOINTMENT
All West Herts (Hemel, Watford & St Albans) hospital blood tests now need to be booked online on the link below.
https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/ourservices/bloodtests.asp
For those unable to book online, telephone booking is available on 01727 897376.
Current forms still show times patients can walk in (not true); hopefully this will be updated soon. We have displayed posters in waiting rooms and if not sure please ask our receptionist for further information. Red House blood tests can still be booked at our Reception but due to high demand there is a 3-5 weeks wait time for appointments.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTION
To reorder your prescription, you can use one of the following methods:
Vaccine Eligibility
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus):
• Patients aged between 75 and day before 80th birthday
• Pregnant women between 28 weeks and 36 week gestation
SHINGLES
FLU
PNEUMOCOCCAL
COVID