Anima is a web-based tool which allows you to contact the surgery for all
requests.
It guides you through a series of structured questions and answers which mean our team get presented with a very clear summary of your request.
What if I don’t use the internet?
Your request will be handled in the same manner whether you complete the Anima request online yourself, or contact us via telephone, where our receptionists will ask the same
questions to ensure equity of access for all patients.
Triage
‘Triage’ means our Doctors review these requests in real time and can efficiently determine the best course of action. So, we can be confident urgent problems are highlighted for action that day, and routine problems can be booked with the most appropriate clinician (e.g. your usual GP who knows you best) at a convenient future date and time.
Anima seamlessly and confidentially integrates with your medical record.
Anima allows our team to continue to improve access times by helping us to direct you to the most appropriate care for your medical needs. This ensures we make use of limited resources in the most safe and efficient way. All appointments will continue to be offered according to clinical urgency and need.
By using this triage system, it means that patients will be managed more equitably and effectively, connecting our patients efficiently to the right person for the right service.
We would encourage all patients who can do so to use Anima, as this will prevent you needing to queue on the telephone and keep lines free for those who do not have internet access or are unable to use the system.
Completing an Anima request yourself also provides you with more discretion should you prefer not to discuss your medical problem with one of our receptionists.
What are the benefits to me as a patient?
As a patient you will benefit from:
- Being able to log on to see the status and outcomes of your current
and past requests. - You will be asked questions based on your issues (asked without
medical jargon) - You can use the system in a number of languages.
- Your medical records will be more complete for the future.
- The practice responses will be clearer.
- You will receive a text message and email to let you know when the
practice has responded. - You can provide all the information that the practice needs without
waiting on the phone. - What are the benefits to the practice? As a practice, Winchcombe Medical Centre will benefit from:
- We will see your request in a clear structured format.
- We will be able to save all the information about your requests in a
structured way into your medical records – This will help staff when
looking at your records for this episode of care or in the future. - As patients can see the status of their request, we should get fewer
duplicates that clog up the system. - Your requests will come into our system with a Red, Amber, Green
rating with clear information about what responses have trigger the
rating. This will allow the team to focus on any urgent requests. - Our communication back to you will be clearer using the Anima
system and confidential and secured behind your log in details, unlike
texts and emails.
In the meantime we would like you all to setup your account.
Create an account on Anima or log in using your NHS app login details.
For more information, please refer to our How Does Anima Work/FAQ Guide.