July Newsletter

Dr Kumar 

Dr Kumar will leave the practice in July to pursue his career elsewhere; recruitment is already underway to find a replacement - watch this space!

Self-book appointments

The practice is making it easier for patients to book many routine appointments, including blood tests, diabetic reviews and ECGs. Instead of contacting the surgery directly, patients will receive a message through text message or the NHS app with a link to book their appointment at a convenient time. Non-responses will be monitored to help ensure the new system is working smoothly.

Clare’s law

‘Clare’s Law’ is named after Clare Wood, who in 2009 was killed by her abusive ex-boyfriend. At the time, data protection laws allowed abusers to keep their criminal records confidential. A campaign, lead to the introduction of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS ). If you are worried that you, or someone you know, may be at risk of domestic abuse you can ask the police to check whether their current or ex-partner has a history of abusive or violent behaviour.  You have the ‘Right to Ask’. ‘Clare’s Law’ covers all forms of domestic abuse – physical violence, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic or sexual abuse. To make a ‘Clare’s Law’ request go to the Thames Valley Police website

Fake medicines!

It is important that you take care when buying medicines online or from unfamiliar outlets, as unregistered sellers are becoming more common across the country, including in the Thames Valley.

Some websites and sellers, often promoted through social media, may not be licensed and could offer fake or illegal products that are ineffective, contaminated or harmful.

There have also been reports of fake products being sold to unsuspecting customers through beauty salons and hairdressers.

You can avoid putting your health at risk by checking if online sellers are licensed with the General Pharmaceutical Council website which lists pharmacies who are licenced to practice and sell products. There is further information on the NHS Thames Valley website.

Patients requesting medication for holiday process

If a patient wants extra medication or to request early for their holiday, please let the Dispensary know otherwise the request will be rejected as ordered too early.

Please advise via the practice website message or call the Dispensary on 01993 708452.

Are you a ‘ghost’?

“Ghost patients” are people still registered with a GP practice despite no longer living locally or having recent contact. This can happen when someone moves and registers elsewhere, but their records are not transferred, or when they move away without registering with another UK practice. They remain on the original practice list until removed. The NHS have recently started monitoring this more closely. If you have not been seen in the practice for a while, you may receive a letter from NHS England asking to confirm your address. This is a genuine and important routine check conducted by NHS England and Primary Care Services England (PCSE) to ensure patient records are accurate and up to date. 

You must respond to the letter within 30 days of the date on the letter. Failure to do so may result in your removal from the practice's patient list, meaning you could miss out on important health screenings, appointment invites, and vaccinations

On a related note…

Please ensure that the practice is promptly notified of any changes to your personal details, including email, phone numbers, and addresses. It is vital that the practice staff have your correct, up-to-date information to aid prompt and necessary communication. You can update your details via our secure online form.

Medication wastage

If your medication is automatically issued but you have excess stock of an item, then please call the Dispensary team 01993 708452, who will stop issuing that medication for a while.

Good news - one!

The building work at Witney Hospital has made a real difference to the entrance area and the Minor Injuries Unit. The PPG has been invited to look around and will report back to you in our next issue.

Good news – two!

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) has been recognised as one of the most improved NHS trusts for urgent and emergency care in 2025 to 2026.

The Trust has made significant year-on-year progress in the number of patients being seen, treated, and either discharged or admitted within four hours of arriving at an Emergency Department.

OUH runs Emergency Departments at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. Its four-hour performance rose from 68.4% in March 2025 to 80.2% in March 2026, reflecting ongoing work to improve patient flow, reduce waiting times, and support services during busy periods.

Plans for the Warneford Hospital in Oxford

The Warneford Hospital, part of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, provides mental health services across the county. It is currently based in what is thought to be the NHS’s oldest inpatient unit. Plans have now been submitted for a new hospital, Warneford Park, developed through a collaboration between the University of Oxford and the NHS. The project aims to create a world-class research campus that will benefit patients and advance medical research in mental health and brain science.

Our fabulous garden

The enclosed photographs beautifully capture the care and dedication of our fabulous volunteers, who help keep the practice gardens looking so bright and welcoming in bloom. They also show the memorial tree planted in loving memory of Dr May McCrea, who sadly passed away in February 2024 following a short illness.

That’s “real service”

We were pleased to hear from two older patients who recently shared their positive experience of care from our practice and hospitals in Banbury and Oxford. Their health concerns were serious, though not life-threatening, and they described receiving prompt, thorough GP appointments, immediate referrals to the appropriate hospital departments, and treatment appointments within five days.

They also told us that their treatment and scans took place within around 20 minutes of the scheduled time, and that they felt reassured throughout by skilled, experienced and caring NHS professionals.

In their words, this was “real service”.

Is your relative / friend having a stroke? Think FAST!

How do you know? Remember to check their Face ….. Arm ….. Speech: at the first sign of a problem it Is Time to call 999. 

A stroke is a medical emergency. So please, if you think you or someone else has any of the stroke symptoms, think FAST and call 999 straight away. Ambulance paramedics are trained in stroke care and will take the patient to the best hospital

Published: Jul 17, 2026