Practice updates

The Text messaging reminder service has been switched off and will not be operating for the foreseeable. Please take a note of your appointment date/time.

If your mobile number has changed please let the front office know so they can update the system so you still receive any practice updates

All calls from our GP Practice will no longer show as "no caller ID/withheld". They will now show as coming from an 0300 number. This is a generic NHS Number so could be from any NHS service. If you try to call this number back, you will be informed that the number does not accept incoming calls.

PATIENT INFORMATION REGARDING MERGE OF BYDAND MEDICAL GROUP & RHYNIE MEDICAL PRACTICE

From 1st September 2025 Bydand Medical Group will take over the running of Rhynie Medical Practice.

We want to make this transition as smooth as possible for both Rhynie, Huntly and surrounding area patients.

This information guide is to keep patients up to date with what will happen, when they will happen, any changes to systems and any possible disruption during the transfer process.

We will also post regular updates on our Practice website (bydandmedicalgroup.gp.scot), display posters in the surgeries and send text messages with updates if appropriate.

TRANSFER PROCESS & WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON 1st SEPTEMBER 2025

•    The Practices will merge on Monday 1st September 2025

•    We will not be able to access our usual IT systems (computers) during the transfer process and will have limited access to read only patient records (patient information is for reading only)

•    An Emergency Service will run in Huntly from 10.30am on Monday 1st September & all day on Tuesday 2nd September 2025. 

•    An Emergency Service will run in Rhynie all day on  Monday 1st September Tuesday 2nd September 2025

•    We will reinstate normal surgery duties as soon as the transfer is complete and checked to ensure minimal issues for patients & staff.  We will do our best to keep patients updated regarding this as soon as we can

•    We hope that the transition goes smoothly but we would appreciate your patience, understanding and co-operation during these 2 days whilst the transfer process is completed.

WHICH BRANCH TO CALL – HUNTLY OR RHYNIE

•    Patients who have always been registered at Bydand Medical Group – Huntly should continue to call Huntly branch

•    Patients who have always been registered at Rhynie Surgery should continue to call the Rhynie branch (Rhynie will now be a branch surgery of Bydand medical Group)

•    The reason for this is, although we can access patient records at both surgeries, patients records are flagged as being attached to either Huntly or Rhynie branch. To ensure that we offer patients the best care there is a slight difference as to how systems run at the two surgeries, we feel it is in the patients best interests to continue to contact the surgery they are attached to.

•    If you telephone the surgery you are not attached to you will be asked to call the other surgery.

EMERGENCY SERVICE ON 1st & 2nd SEPTEMBER– WHAT THIS MEANS

•    Monday morning 8.30am – 9.00am telephone triage will run as normal at the Huntly Branch.

•    Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning & afternoon telephone triage call times will not be available at either Practice

•    If you have an urgent medical issue you should contact your usual surgery.  Your call will be answered by the reception team and passed on accordingly to the relevant clinician

•    We will not have the usual face to face appointments on these days at either surgery.  If you need to be seen face to face on either of these days this will be arranged directly by the GP or other clinician.

•    Repeat Prescriptions will not be able to be ordred via the online system or telephone on these days.  The Prescription line answering machine at Huntly will not be accepting messages on these days.  

•    Prescription re-order slips can still be handed in at the Health Centres and will be processed in due course.  Please be aware - prescriptions requested on either of these days will be delayed in being processed and arriving at the chemist or being available for collection at Rhynie Dispensary

•    Rhynie Branch patient prescription requests - please ensure you have enough medication to cover the week of 1st September.  Last orders for repeat medications will be taken at Rhynie surgery on Tuesday 26th August to ensure they are processed in time

•    Huntly Branch patient prescription requests - please ensure you have enough repeat medication to cover the week commencing 1st September.

All required repeat medications should be ordered by 5pm on Thursday 28th august to ensure these are processed in time

Prescriptions ordered at Rhynie or Huntly after the above detailed dates & times will take longer than the usual 72 hours to arrive at the chemist

•    If you are seen by a clinician they will be able to hand write and issue prescriptions if required

•    Any urgent blood tests required over these days will be done and will be arranged directly with the patient

WHAT THE MERGE MEANS FOR BYDAND MEDICAL GROUP PATIENTS

PATIENTS REGISTERED WITH HUNTLY BRANCH

•    There will be no changes to how any current systems run at the Huntly branch of Bydand Medical Group

•    There will always be GP’s and Advanced Nurse Practitioners at Huntly, but a GP will be allocated to Rhynie surgery every day.

•    You should continue to telephone the Huntly branch to be added to telephone triage system for accessing appointments.  

•    You should not telephone the Rhynie surgery for this.  If you do, please do not be offended when advised that you will need to telephone the Huntly branch.

•    At times you may be offered an appointment at Rhynie surgery if they have appointments available and Huntly do not and if this fits in better for yourself, where you stay/work and times you are available.

WHAT THE MERGE MEANS FOR BYDAND MEDICAL GROUP PATIENTS(continued)

PATIENTS REGISTERED WITH RHYNIE BRANCH

•    There will be a GP allocated and at Rhynie surgery everyday

•    As previously advised our Telephone triage system will be introduced to the Rhynie branch for accessing GP appointments.  

•    There will no longer be pre-bookable appointments.

•    There are 2 telephone triage times 8.30am – 9.00am & 1.45pm – 2.15pm

•    Rhynie patients should telephone Rhynie surgery to be added to the telephone triage list.  

If you call the Huntly branch – please do not be offended when you are advised to call Rhynie.

•    When you call the receptionist will ask for your details and a brief reason of why you are calling.  

Please do not be offended when the receptionist asks why you are calling, they do this at the request of the GP’s.  The reason for this is to assist the GP/Clinician identify who is best placed to call you back and to give them an idea of what is going on before they call.  It also gives the receptionist the opportunity to signpost you to any other relevant services e.g physio first

If you do not want to give the reason you are calling that is fine, just advise the receptionist of this.

•    Prescriptions should continue to be ordered as normal, but we would ask that telephone requests are made between 9am – 12.30pm, to avoid clashing with the telephone triage time.

•    The dispensary facility at Rhynie will continue to run as is.

•    The Practice Nurse service will continue as is. 

•    Practice Nurses at the Huntly branch will take over your Annual Chronic disease reviews.  We are still finalising details of how this will work.  We will update you regarding this in due course

•    Coil, implant and ring counselling will continue to be offered and will be done by GP’s/Practice Nurses at Huntly branch.

•    At times you may be offered an appointment at Huntly surgery if they have appointments available and Rhynie does not or if this fits in better for yourself, where you stay/work and times you are available.

•    Please telephone between 3 - 3.30pm for test results.  This gives the GP’s time to have worked through their results which will mean the receptionist will have the necessary information to advise you of your result.

•    If you are registered for Vision online services, this will automatically transfer.  You will be able to continue to order your prescriptions via the online service.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE PRACTICE MERGING WITH RHYNIE MEDICAL PRACTICE ON 1ST SEPTMEBER 2025 WE WILL HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS DURING THIS TIME

PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH REPEAT MEDICATION TO COVER THE WEEK COMMENCING 1ST SEPTEMBER 2025.

WE WOULD ASK THAT ALL REQUIRED REPEAT MEDICATIONS ARE ORDERED BY 5PM ON THURSDAY 28TH AUGUST TO ALLOW TIME FOR THESE TO BE PROCESSED

PRESCRIPTIONS ORDERED AFTER THIS TIME WILL TAKE LONGER THAN THE USUAL 72 HOURS TO ARRIVE AT THE CHEMIST

PLEASE NOTE OUR PRESCRIPTION LINE WILL NOT BE TAKING PRESCRIPTION MESSAGES FROM 10.30AM ON MONDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER AND ALL DAY ON TUESDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER UNTIL FULL COMPUTER SYSTEMS ARE REINSTATED.  PRESCRIPTIONS CAN STILL BE REQUESTED VIA THE ONLINE SYSTEM AND HANDING IN YOUR REPEAT ORDER SLIP