Important News
As many of you are aware Dr Bryant is still on sick leave following her knee replacement, she is undergoing intensive physiotherapy and hopefully will be back at work by early August.
We will be welcoming two new GP's to the practice during August and September, Dr Lucy Cowdry and Dr Mark Rooney.
We would also like to welcome Debbie Dodge - Advanced Clinical Practitioner to our team. Many of you will have already met Debbie who has worked at Heartwood as our Pharmacy Advisor. Debbie will be undertaking medication reviews and chronic disease management as well as working closely with the GP's to improve patient care within the practice.
Thank you for your understanding during this difficult period, we appreciate the support and patience given to us.
PRESCRIPTION BOX
We now have a box situated to the right of reception for repeat medication requests. Please use this box if you come to the surgery to order your medication, this will help avoid long queues at reception.
Please allow 48 hours for us to process your request.
The self check in screen is now in operation, please use it when attending appointments. I t is easy to use:
- Enter the month you were born
- Enter the date you were born
- Enter the first initial of your surname
Repeat Dispensing
This is a process by which patients taking regular, stable dosed medication are able to receive further supplies of medication without needing to see a GP, or contact the practice on each occasion a new supply of medication is needed.
For example:he prescriber issues a full 6 months ( or 1 year in the case of oral contraceptives) supply on repeatable prescription. The patient will only need to see the GP for a review at the end of that period unless the condition alters, and different medication is required.
Repeat Dispensing is a good system to use as:
- It is convenient for patients, and efficient
- Improves patient safety
- It is an easy system to administer for practice staff
- Reduction in prescriber workload
- Uses NHS resources wisely, increasing appointment availability.
Guidance on repeat dispensing:
Patients and carers should be able to understand the system, leaflets are available on request.
Both medications and the patient condition must be stable, no changes to medication should be anticipated in the next 6 months.
Patients should be willing to use one designated pharmacy and also be willing for us to share information with that particular pharmacy.
If you require further information on repeat dispensing, please discuss with either your GP or the practice nurse on your next visit to the practice.
Minor Ailments Scheme
Did you know that you can be seen in a pharmacy and treated with certain medications doctors would normally prescribe without seeing a GP.
The ailments included in the scheme include:
- Sore throat Acute diarrhoea
- Hay fever / allergies Acute constipation
- Insect bites or stings Scabies
- Ear Wax Worms
- High temperature Head lice
- Thrush Headache
- Indigestion or heartburn Ezcema
- Itchy or sore eyes
To access primary care plus a patient will need :
A leaflet - this can be given at either the GP practice or pharmacy
A referral card - this can be given at either the practice or pharmacy
A reference number - this is necessary if you telephone the surgery with one of the problems listed above. You will be given a weekly reference number, you then present at your local pharmacy, who will then assess the problem and supply you with a referral card.
If you do not normally pay for your medication, ther will be no charge at the pharmacy.
A regular prescription charge will be collected if you do normally pay for medication prescribed by the GP. If the pharmacist thnks you do need to be seen by a GP, he will advise accordingly.
By using this facility, you will help generate appointments for patients with more complex conditions, and also save a visit to the practice.
Healthy Walks
Now Spring has finally arrived, why not join us on a healthy walk.
We leave the surgery at 2pm every Monday, walking for approximately one hour. On returning to the practice we enjoy a up of tea and a chat.
The walks are suitable for people of all ages and abilities, we walk at a pace to suit everyone with leaders at both the back and front of the group.
It is a fun way to enjoy some exercise, please ask at reception for details.
Missed Appointments.
During March a total of 195 clinical appointments were missed, these were with either a GP, Practice Nurse or Phlebotomist. This equates to 32.5 hours of wasted appointments, based on a 10 minute appointment in one month.
Between 12th - 30th April a total of 103 appointments were missed. This equates to approximately 17 hours of wasted appointments which could have been used for other patients.
If you cannot attend any appointment, please let the practice know in advance, other patients may use these appointments. If everyone makes an effort to cancel scheduled appointments, we are able to provide a better service.
Occasionally the GP you are waiting to see may be running late. If you have been waiting more than 20 minutes, please ask at reception. Some consultations are complex and take longer than the allocated 10 minutes. If you think your problem will take longer, please ask to book a double appointment. As you can appreciate our GP's give every patient their full consideration, please be patient with them.
Test Results.
Patients are encouraged to contact the surgery for results of their tests. Results are annotated with information for the patient. Where clinically appropriate, patients are notified of their test results.
Out of hours service.
As part of an ongoing effort to improve access to out of hours service, please find the attached link to the website, which will enable you to find out how to access out of hours care:
www.derbyshirehealthunited.com
CVS Social Car Scheme
The social car scheme can be used by anyone who lives in South Derbyshire and cannot use public transport for any reason. For example this might be because of mobility problems, disability, illness or mental issues.
The scheme is staffed by volounteer drivers who are helpful and friendly and will do their best to make your journey a pleasurable one.
The scheme doesn't make any profit but isn't free. All charges go to cover the drivres' expenses.
You can use the scheme any time you need transport. For example, you might have a medical appointment or you might want to visit a friend or go shopping.
For more information or to book a car please call Alyson Key on 01283 551766, between 9.00am and 12 noon, Monday to Friday. Please note, the service always needs volounteer drivers, if you have any time to spare please contact Alyson.
Patient Participation Group
We held our first joint PPG meeting since the merger on Friday 12th March. Click on link number 17 opposite to read the minutes.
We are always looking for ways to improve our practice. If you have any suggestions or ideas, why not join our PPG and help us give a professional, efficient service.
If you are interested please contact Shani Fairbrother on 01283 818100.
Rude and Abusive Patients.
We can appreciate that when you contact the surgery for an appointment that you may feel really unwell, however we cannot tolerate rudeness and abusive patients. We do our best to ensure patients are seen as soon as possible, but only have so many appointments to be offered each day.
It is not the reception teams fault if we cannot offer an appointment immediately, if anyone is rude or abusive the girls are within their rights to inform the patient that they are not prepared to carry on with the conversation and that they will put the telephone down.
We hope this does not have to happen so please try to be understanding if we cannot fulfill your requirements immediately.
Online prescriptions & appointments
We are now using SystmOne as our clinical system. Prescriptions and appointments are available using the links below. If you have any problem using the new system please contact the surgery.
Click Here to order your repeat prescription online
Click Here to book/cancel your appointment online