August 2012
PRACTICE NEWS
New Appointment System
Following feedback from patients, staff and the close monitoring of the triage system, we have now decided to re-visit the appointment system and change in the following way.
Detailed below is how the system will work from 3rd September 2012.
AM APPOINTMENTS WILL CONSIST OF:-
Ø Same Day (Urgent) – these are appointments that you feel require urgent medical attention on that day.
Ø Pre-bookable (Routine Non-Urgent) – if you require an appointment with a doctor or nurse you may call into the surgery or contact us by telephone to book your appointment. You may also register to use our online booking facility for GP appointments (www.theoldschoolsurgery.com). You will see your own doctor wherever possible so that you receive the best continuity of care. If your doctor is away on leave you will be offered an appointment with another doctor. (Please contact us if you need to cancel a pre-bookable appointment as our audit has shown that many pre-bookable appointments are not kept).
Ø Internet Appointments – to help patients who work and find it difficult to ring in during opening times there is a pre-bookable internet slot available.
Ø Telephone Appointments - you can book a telephone appointment slot where the doctor can call you back, providing you feel the matter is suitable for discussing over the telephone. Doctors take telephone calls for routine enquiries these calls are taken at the end of morning surgery and therefore must be kept brief.
PM APPOINTMENTS WILL CONSIST OF
Ø Emergency Telephone Triage – this is an appointment that requires urgent medical attention on the day. The doctor can call you back, providing you feel the matter is suitable for discussing over the telephone, if the doctor feels you should be seen an appointment will be made for you.
Ø Same Day (Urgent)
Ø Pre-Bookable
Ø Emergency Slots
Patient Reference Group
When: Monday 24th September 2012
Time: 6.30pm
Where: The Old School Surgery
Over the last twelve months The Old School Surgery has been running a virtual Patient Reference Group, we have now decided to take this further and have regular meetings in the surgery. We would ideally like about ten patients who will be willing to come along to the first meeting to see if they would be interested in joining the group.
The aim of the Group is:-
Ø to give practice staff and patients the opportunity to discuss topics of mutual interest in the practice
Ø to provide the means for patients to make positive suggestions about the practice and their own healthcare
Ø to act as a representative group that can be called upon to influence the local provision of Health and Social Care
Ø patient satisfaction questionnaire
Ø the Group is not a forum for individual complaints and single issues
We are especially keen to make sure that the group is fully representative of our patients and therefore invite anyone with an interest to enquire about joining.
If you are interested please call Lynn Spencer or Karen Smith, there is no obligation whatsoever and the first meeting is just an introduction to what this Patient Reference Group will involve.
Contact the Elderly
Contact the Elderly is a national charity that changes the lives of lonely people over 75, who can’t get out on their own.
So many people over 75 spend the majority of their days by themselves. If you’re one of them, the group can help you get out of the house and back in touch with your local community.
The group is made up of volunteers who hold “tea parties” on the first Sunday of each month at suitable houses, volunteer drivers are available to pick you up and bring you home and have had appropriate CRB checks done.
The group is small, so everyone can really get to know each other. Members and volunteers make lasting friendships, and you’ll spend the afternoons laughing and enjoying each other’s stories.
Should you be interested in getting involved please contact Sylvia Boyall who is the group coordinator on the following numbers 0758 136 0116 or 0116 284 1230
A new way to get your Repeat Prescriptions
Would you like 6 or 12 months’ worth of Repeat Prescriptions?
Would you like to collect each repeat from your chosen Pharmacy?
Would you like your Pharmacist to check everything is OK with your medication each time you collect it?
If you have answered YES to these questions please read on ………
The Old School Surgery is starting a new system for repeat prescriptions which will save you coming to the surgery every time you need a new supply. You will be able to have up to 12 months’ worth of repeat prescriptions from your chosen pharmacy who will look after them for you. Each time you need a repeat supply you simply contact the pharmacy to arrange collection. The pharmacist will ask you how you are getting on with your medication and if any problems arise they will contact your doctor. You will also be asked to attend a medication review at the surgery at the end of the 12 month period, which may include any tests required for you to safely continue with the medication.
If you are interested in taking part in the scheme you will need to follow the steps below:-
Step 1 Ask your doctor if you are suitable to use the repeat dispensing scheme, they will then ask you for permission to share information with your Pharmacist about your treatment. This will help the Pharmacist give your doctor information about your treatment, and give you useful advice. You will be asked to sign an agreement form. Your doctor will give you a signed authorisation form (which is valid up to a year) and some repeat dispensing issue forms. The doctor will explain to you what these forms are for.
Step 2 The next step is for you to take the authorisation form and one of your issue forms to the Pharmacy when you need your first batch of medicine. You don’t need to fill in or sign the issue form until you’re ready to hand it to the Pharmacist. The Pharmacist can help you complete your form if you’re not sure what to do. Let the Pharmacist know if you’re taking any other medicines, or if your condition has changed recently.
The Pharmacist keeps your authorisation form. You should keep the rest of your issue forms in a safe place, or ask the Pharmacy to look after them for you. You will need one each time you collect your medicine.
Step 3 Next time you need more medicine, go back to the same Pharmacy with a new issue form. If the Pharmacy is looking after the forms for you, contact them and tell them you need more medicine so they can have it ready for you when you go in. Remember to fill in your issue form when you get to the Pharmacy so they can give you your medicine.
If you have any questions, just ask the Pharmacist. They will be happy to help you.
Leaflets are available at the surgery if you would like more information on the repeat dispensing scheme, please ask at reception.
Please note that if you currently pay for your prescriptions there will still be the same charge each time you collect one of the repeat prescriptions from your pharmacy.
Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by a variety of different flu viruses. It spreads rapidly through droplets dispersed by the coughs and sneezes of infected people.
The flu jab is offered to people in at risk groups. These are people, such as pregnant women and the elderly,who are at greater risk of developing serious complications if they catch flu.
Who should have the seasonal flu jab?
For most people, seasonal fluis unpleasant but not serious and they recoverwithin a week.However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu,such asbronchitis and pneumonia. Theseconditions may require hospital treatment.A large number ofelderly people die from flu every winter.
The seasonal flu vaccine is offered free of charge to at-risk groups toprotect them fromcatching fluand developing seriouscomplications.
At-risk groups
It is recommended you havea flu jab if you:-· are65 years of age or over
· are pregnant (see below)
· have a serious medical condition
· are livingin a long-stay residential care home orotherlong-stay care facility(not including prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence)
· are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
Pregnant women
As was the case last year,this winter (2012/13) it is recommended that all pregnant womenshould have the seasonal fluvaccine irrespective of their stage of pregnancy.This is because there is good evidence to suggestthat pregnant womenhave an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly the H1N1 strain.
Studies have also shown that the inactivated flu vaccine can be safely and effectively administered during any trimester of pregnancy. The vaccineitselfdoes not present anincreased riskof complications toeither the mother or baby.
If you are the parent of a child (over six months) with a long-term condition, speak to your GP about the flu vaccine. Your child's condition may get worse if they catch flu.
Please start thinking about making an appointment (in October) with reception for your flu vaccination we will be holding our first flu vaccination clinic at the beginning of October.
Bank Holiday Opening Times
The Surgery will be CLOSED on Monday 27th August 2012 for Summer Bank Holiday.
Out of Hours
If you require a doctor outside of the normal surgery hours your call will be redirected automatically to LCR OUT OF HOURS SERVICE on 0845 045 0411
For information or advice you can telephone: NHS Direct 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
What a Waste!
Between 1st July and 31st July 2012 a total of 177 Appointments were wasted as patients FAILED to attend the surgery for a pre-booked appointment with a doctor or nurse. This is a loss of clinician time and prevents the appointment being offered to someone else and extends the booking period for others who need to be seen. Please let us know in advance if you cannot make your appointment.
Comments & Suggestions
Any comments and suggestions are welcome and can be left in the Suggestion Box in the entrance lobby (Red Box). The Practice Manager will be pleased to speak with you regarding any issues you wish to raise.
Should you have any comments and suggestions about the triage service, you can place your comment in the box provided on the reception desk.
Practice News
Remember if you have any suggestions or would like to see something added to the newsletter, please inform reception or put it in writing in the suggestion box.
Thank You
www.theoldschoolsurgery.com August 2012