We know it is hard to access us

We are doing all we can to improve access, including working with our Patient Participation Group (do join!). The demand on GP services in the UK at present are higher than ever before. There are no simple solutions to this, so please bear with us. 

We work with one list each day, and patients go on the list when contacting us via this website or their NHS App. Alternatively you can walk in or call us.
Each day, the 'on-call GP' ensures each patient is seen by the right clinician: the right GP (some have special interests), Pharmacists, Nurses, Physician Associates etcetera. Sometimes we can signpost you to services like Pharmacy First. 
The list has to be limited depending on how many clinicians are working that day. Our emergency list is open throughout our opening hours – so anything that cannot wait will be dealt with on the day. 

We can respond by phone, text, face to face or video consultations, whatever is best for you. If you do need to be seen you will be given a time to come in that day (or another day if that is better). We will try our best to be flexible. If you are unable to come in then one of our clinical team will  visit you at home. As not all patients are seen face to face, the waiting room looks quieter than before the pandemic, but behind the doors, we are working harder than ever to meet the demand in a safe way. We are dealing with many patients who are often stuck on long waiting lists, needing our care in the meantime, which makes it very challenging to be as accessible as we want to be.

If you have more than one thing to discuss, it may be necessary to call again on another day, so that we don't run (even) late(r), which is not fair on other patients. 

How to best access us:

Best is to contact us from 8am, ideally online. If you phone us, there is a good chance you will be stuck in a queue so please bear with us – we will answer you or can call you back. We are really sorry if we reach capacity before you contact us. 111 is always available if needed when we are at capacity or closed.

We know that many of you are hesitant to bother us. Please know that we want to be here for you when you need us. 100%.

Here are some tips to make accessing us easier

• If you need an on the day appointment – call at 8am. Our phones do get inundated though – if at first you don’t succeed, try again
  
  
• If you have a general enquiry – call after 2pm. 
• If you want to find out your results – call after 2pm. You will be told if they do not need further action, and if they do what the plan is. If you need to discuss your results (normal or not) call at 8am and ask to be added to the list to discuss them with a clinician (preferably the one who ordered the tests)
  
  

Mission Practice Vision

For over 100 years a team of nurses, doctors and other health professionals have worked as part of The Mission Practice in Bethnal Green with a desire to provide excellent, whole person care to the people of the East End. We, as the current partners feel honoured to continue that calling, striving to serve our community with the resources and gifts we have been given. 

We are thankful for the Christian heritage on which the Mission Practice is built and are deeply convinced of that as we care for all our patients equally, recognizing their innate value and worth, and respecting each individuals uniqueness. The tenets on which the practice was first built are the same tenets on which we will continue to flourish and see our community flourish. We recognize in particular the complex needs of the vulnerable and marginalized in our society and seek to address these with the resources we have. We believe in serving our patients according to their healthcare needs without partiality or discrimination on any basis.

Our belief in whole person care has led us to build a diverse and highly skilled multidisciplinary team, recognising the vital role of social prescribing, occupational therapy, Physican's Associates, nurses, chaplains and others in providing a care that envelops not just the physical but also the social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the population we serve. We work closely as a team, with care supervised by senior GPs, ensuring our care is always provided at a safe standard.

We are privileged to be a training practice. In addition to our team of experienced GPs, we have fully qualified doctors attached to the practice to complete their training for general practice as well as student doctors who attend on a regular basis as part of their medical school education.

CQC Inspection - Mission Practice is rated as good