The Abbotsbury Patient Participation Group (PPG) NEWSLETTER
Eastcote Health Centre, Abbotsbury Gardens, Pinner, HA5 1TG
Telephone: 020 8866 0121 or 020 8866 8382. Fax: 020 8426 1028.
Practice Website:
*PPG EMAIL ADDRESS: *
*NB messages to this email address do not go to the practice but are dealt with by PPG members.*
ISSUE NO 17 SPRING 2016
Welcome to the seventeenth newsletter, produced by the Abbotsbury PatientParticipation Group (PPG) in conjunction with the Abbotsbury Practice.
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Abbotsbury Practice Inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
“CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ABBOTSBURY PRACTICE”
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an inspection of the Abbotsbury Practice on 6th October 2015 and gave it a “GOOD” rating overall. The doctors and nurses arepleased to receive above average ratings on the national GP survey and thank all the staff and patients who provided feedback on the day.
The full report is published on the CQC website: and also on the practice website:
Prescription Queries:
Notice to Patients
Pharmacies and Patients are to be informed that prescription clerks can only take calls or talk to patients between:
11amto 12noon, or 5pm to 6pmunless urgent.
Patients should note that if they have been asked to come in and see a doctor following a prescription query, they should wait until that appointment and not ask for explanations from receptionists or prescription clerks. These are medical matters and can only be dealt with by a doctor. If it is urgent the doctor will contact you.
Thank you
My Experience of a Cataract Operation
I recently visited my Optician and after aneye test I was told that I needed a cataract operation on my right eye. I was given a letter for my GP at the Abbotsbury Practice, whichrecommended that I should see an Ophthalmologist.My GP gave me the contact detailsof the Moorfields Unit at Northwick Park Hospital.Iphoned Moorfields and my appointment was arranged for ten weeks’time.
My first visit went smoothly; I had drops put into my eyeand I met the Consultant Ophthalmologist. She looked into my eyes and then asked two unexpected questions: – could I remain prone for at least 30 minutes (the length of surgery) and did I suffer from panic attacks? I then met the Admissions Manager who said:“19 days to ‘pre-op’ and then 17 days to surgery” From Optician to Surgeon within about 16 weeks! Not long to wait.
The ‘pre-op’ session went well.It was a sort of medical “MOT” and everything was recorded in the notes. Moorfields has a great reputation for their surgery. You are left in no doubt about anything.
On the day of surgery I was asked to be at Moorfields by 07.30. There were just six of us patients for surgery.The nurses took us into the pre-op waiting room, where we were identified together with our medical files and the surgery we were expecting.Next, I met the surgeon, who told me what he planned to do. I was then taken to the operating theatre where I met the anaesthetist, who I chatted to, while the anaesthetic drops numbed my eye.
In the operating theatreall I remember were the whispers between the surgeon and the
Anaesthetist, the flashing of black and red lights and total silence, apart from hearingthe beating of my heart via the gadget attached to my finger! Then the covering was taken from my face and the surgeon announced “Yes, it’s all gone well. You have been a good patient.”No pain, no discomfort - just a plastic guard taped over my eye. It was quite an experience. I was given details of my post op visit and details of the application of the drops.I was told to use the plastic guard at night for a couple of weeks. Then I was allowed home.
Monday 2ndNovember was to be my last visit to Moorfields. I was soon ushered into a consulting room where my eyes were tested. This seemed to go OK and, as expected, more drops were put into the eye.
I then saw a more senior person, who also examined my eyes. He explained in some detail that the operation had been a success and that one eye was slightly short sighted and the other slightly long sighted. This would be corrected with a new pair of glasses.As I am diabetic there was yet another test and more drops. Finally all was OK and I was discharged.
Moorfields is brilliant – I would return at any time should I need to.
Mr J Pearson, a Patient
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Telephoning the
Surgery
Patients may have noticed that the telephone messages they hear when calling the surgery are changed from time to time to convey important information.
Some patients have expressed concern at “having” to listen to a longer message. However, the message does not dictate whenthe phone is answered because the receptionists will answer as soon as they are able to do so.
The message is there in case the patients who are in the queue might be saved from waiting if their query cannot be resolved by us, but by the Health Centre whose number is given in the message.
Information about
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotics treat infections by killing bacteria, but now the bacteria are fighting back. There are many reasons why antibiotics lose their effectiveness but here are two key ones:
- We take medicines that we don’t need for colds and coughs when they can get better without antibiotics
- We make things worse when we don’t take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, for instance, missing doses. Never save antibiotics for future use or give them to someone else.
Protect yourself, your family and friends against the spread of antibiotic resistance by becoming an:
ANTIBIOTIC GUARDIAN
This information is extracted from an article issued by Public Health England and can be seen in full at:
PARKING AT DEVONSHIRE LODGE
CAR PARK – Update
In the Autumn Newsletter 2015, the PPG notified patients that we were approaching Hillingdon Council to request the installation of a parking meter ticket machine close to the Health Centre. This they refused.
Since then we have joined with the Devonshire Lodge Practice PPG and the staff of the Eastcote Health Centre to send a joint formal request asking again for the extra parking meter and also for some Brown Badge bays for the use of patients over the age of 65 years. We will let you know the outcome in due course.
New Wheelchair Service
The Hillingdon NHS, Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), report that wheelchair services across Harrow and Hillingdon are changing thanks to a new, improved service.
The new service will be very different. Renamed as the “Posture and Mobility Service”it is run by Opcare and you can find out more about this company at their website:
The biggest changes in service will be:
- Shorter waiting times as the referral, assessment, equipment provision and repairs service will be seamless.
- Therapists and rehabilitation staff will visit at home, at work or at school – in order to make the service more convenient for users.
- A returns and repairs drop-off point for equipment with an on-site workshop which stocks spares.
The service will also offer community-based clinics on a weekly or fortnightly basis to bring services closer to you.
Patients must be referred to this service by their GP or Specialist.
Harrow and Hillingdon Posture and Mobility Services
Unit 11
The Waverley Industrial Estate
Hailsham Drive, Harrow
HA1 4TR
TRAVEL HEALTH
If you are planning a trip abroad you may need additional vaccinations or malaria tablets depending on where you intend to travel.
You can get initial advice and information by visiting:
If you need additional vaccinations and medication, please complete the “Travel Vaccination Form”which is available from the reception desk and also on the Practice website at:
Please return the form to reception and the nurses will check your records and advise you of any further injections or medications you may need.
ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN
Very occasionally accidents such as slips and trips can happen to patients when visiting a Doctor’s surgery.
Should you be unfortunate enough to suffer an accident when you are visiting the Abbotsbury Practice please tell one of the reception staff immediately. If, however, you are visiting the Eastcote Health Centre services (with whom we share the building) when the accident happens then please report to their reception desk immediately.
A MESSAGE TO PATIENTS FROM THE LONDON FIRE BRIGADE
If you are interested in or require advice on fire safety issues in the home please call:
0800 028 4428.
We will arrange a date/time to conduct a home visit that is convenient to you. If you do not have a working smoke alarm we will supply and fit one for you. We will give you advice on how best to protect yourself and your property from the risk of fire, how to reduce the risk of fire starting and what to do if a fire is discovered in your home.
This is a totally free service provided by the London Fire Brigade
CHANGE OF TELEPHONE NUMBERS AT MOUNT VERNON HOSPTIAL
The Cancer Centre Switchboard number has changed to: 020 3826 2020
The Main Hospital Switchboard number remains as: 01923 826111
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