Dr Marshall & Partners
Dr Ruth Marshall MBCHB,FRCGP,DRCOG, reg 1979
Dr Stewart McFarlane MBCHB,FRCGP,DRCOG,reg1980
Dr Keith Hopcroft MBBS,FRCGP,DRCOG, DGM, reg 1985
Dr Jane Moore, MSc, MBBS, Cert.Ed., reg 1982
Dr Anita Pereira MBBS,MD,MRCGP,MFPHM,DFSRH reg 1995
Dr Sunita Dhanjal MBBS,MRCS, MRCGP reg 2004
PRACTICE MANAGER
Mrs Sheila Mclean MA Ed, BSc[Hons], AdvDipEd
WELCOME TO LAINDON HEALTH CENTRE
The Doctors work with Nurses, Receptionists, Health Visitors, Chiropodistsand as aPrimary Health Care Team.
We provide a personal service and quality care for around 13,000 people in Laindon, Langdon Hills and surrounding areas.
More information regarding the Practice can be obtained on our Website -
Our Reception staff are here to help you at any time during opening hours –Reception opening hours
Monday to Thursday08.00am -7.15pm
Friday 08.00 am – 6.30pm
Saturday 8.45am – 12.45pm
and from 8.00am Monday – Saturday by telephone.
HOW TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR
Your doctor will see you by appointment, which can be made by telephone [01268] 546411Telephone lines open Monday toThursday8am-7.15pm Friday8am-6.30pm
or in person at the Health Centre.
Urgentmedical problems will always be seen on the same day. If you think that your problem is medically urgent, please make this clear to the Receptionist.
Surgeries are held throughout most of the day between the hours of 08.50 am to 12.20pm and from 3.00pm to 5.50pm, and on Saturday mornings 9.05am – 11.55am.
There are also four bookable evening surgeries per week, between 6.30pm and 7.10pm. (These are intendedfor patients who may have difficulty getting to normal surgeries because of work commitments.)
Many appointments are wasted because patients fail to turn up and do not let us know beforehand.
If you cannot keep your appointment please tell us so that it can be given to another patient.
THE NURSING TEAM
The nurses offer the following services:
TREATMENT ROOM - This is an open access service open on each day to all patients.
- Wound Care Management
- Assessment of minor injuries
- Removal of sutures/clips
- Ear Syringing
- Flu/Pneumococcal vaccinations
- Childhood/Adult immunisations
- Travel advice and vaccinations (not on short notice-form must be completed at least 3 working days prior to seeing the nurse)
- Administration of long term injections prescribed by GP or hospital
- Cryotherapy (freezing of certain skin problems) – Tuesdays and Wednesdays ONLY
SURGERIES- Bookable in advance at reception
- Diabetic clinic
- Asthma Checks
- Advice on contraception
- Insertion/Removal of ring pessaries
SERVICES AVAILABLE WHEN REFERRED BY THE GP
- ECGs
- 24 hour BP/ECGs
- Doppler testing
- Lung function tests/Spirometry
PUNCTUALITY
We try our best to see our patients within 15 minutes of the appointment time, so please arrive on time.If you arrive late, you may have to wait a long time to be seen – plus you will make the whole surgery run late for those who are to be seen after you. That’s why it’s important to arrive on time - or even a little early for your appointment.
Sometimes we will run late because a patient has a particularlytime-consumingproblem. Please be tolerant if this happens – we always try to give patients the time they need, and, next time, it could be you!
TEST RESULTS
You can obtain your test results by telephoning the surgery after 1.30pm and speaking to the Receptionist.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTACT US FOR YOUR TEST RESULTS
HOME VISITS
If you are too ill to come to the surgery, or are housebound and need a home visit, please telephone the surgery before 10.30am. Please only ask for visits after this time if it is an emergency (an urgent medical problem, or a sudden change in your condition thatcannot wait until the next day).
Please make every effort to get to the surgery if you can – the facilities are better for examination and any necessary treatment, and you’ll usually be seen more quickly.
The Receptionist will need some information about the problem so that the Doctor can arrange the visits in order of priority. You may be telephoned back by the Doctor – sometimes, problems
can be sorted out with some advice over the telephone, without the need for a visit.
TELEPHONE ADVICE
Your Doctor will be pleased to advise you over the telephone. In order to avoid interrupting consultations, your Doctor will ring you back after surgery–usually after 11.45am. The Nurses in the Treatment Room can also give advice over the telephone about minor illnesses or health worries during normal opening hours.
If you are expecting a doctor to call you,please ensure that you are available all day on the number you have given and that calls are not directed to voicemail.
WHEN THE SURGERY IS CLOSED
From 1st April 2013 if you need medical advice when the Health Centre is closed you should ring the usual Health Centre number – 01268 546411 and follow the instructions in the recorded message.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
Patients who need to take medicines regularly will be given arepeat prescription slip to get their prescriptions.Please use this slip as it makes prescribing safer and easier.
When you need a repeat prescription, put your slip in the prescription box near Reception,or post it to the Health Centre enclosing a stamped/addressed envelope if you wish us to post it back to you.
Please give at least 48 hours notice. After this time you can collect your prescription from the Health Centre, or direct from the Pharmacy of your choice.
Requests can also be made through the practice Website –
orby telephone by calling 01268 413400
CONSULTING and PRESCRIBING
We try to take time to explain the nature of your illness and the reasons for our actions. We will always examine youif necessary and arrange any appropriate tests.
We also think it is very important to be honestwith our patients, so we do not pretend to have magic cures for illnesses such as simple colds or tummy upsets – that’s why we usually don’t prescribe anything for these minor illnesses.
Medicines can occasionally do more harm than good, so we will only prescribe treatment if we really think it will help you.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All of our staff, both medical and administrative, are committed to patient confidentiality.
Also,all members of staff are bound by theData Protection Act, and adhere strictly to government recommendations and regulations.
The Practice has a written statement about the Freedom of Information Act.
If you need more information regarding this, please contact our Practice Manager who will be pleased to help you.
TEACHING
The Practice is involved with a lot of teaching. Qualified Doctors and Nurses may be attached to the Health Centre to learn about general practice and the community. If they are ‘sitting in’ with a Doctor or a Nurse, you will be asked for your consent to them being in the room.
If you wish to see the Doctor or Nurse alone please say so, - we understand and would, of course,respect your wishes.
Occasionally, we may also wish to video a consultation for training purposes only. You will always be advised of this when booking an appointment – but if you would rather your consultation was not recorded, once again, please say so and we will respect your wishes.
If you have agreed to have your consultation videoed, please report to the Reception desk when you arrive for your appointment. That way we can confirm that you are happy for the consultation to be recorded, and arrange for you to sign the necessary consent form.,
QUALITY and PATIENT OPINION
We regularly review the quality of our services and take any necessary action to improve them. We also conduct patient satisfaction surveys and do take notice of your opinions. Please tell us if you have any ideas for improvements.
COMPLAINTS
We hope you will be satisfied with the care you receive from us, however, should you do feel that the service has fallen below the standards you (and we) would wish, we do have a complaints procedure.
If you would like to discuss this, or any aspect of the service, please ask to speak to our Practice Manager,
Mrs Sheila Mclean.
PREVENTION
We believe that it is important to prevent infectious diseases by vaccination andencourage all parents to have their children fully vaccinated.
It is also important that adults ensure that they are also fully vaccinated -if you wish check if you need any vaccinations, please speak with our Nurses.
If you are planning to travel abroad please complete a travel vaccination form available from Reception – Please plan well in advance as it can take 3 months prior to travel to get full protection from vaccination.
Our other prevention services include dietary advice, cervical screening and blood pressure checks, but the most important preventative measures you can make are to have a healthy lifestyle.
KEEPING FIT AND HEALTHY
Leading a healthy lifestyle is as important to your long-term health as having advice and treatment for illnesses you may have.
REGULAR EXERCISE makes you feel better, burns off food and so helps keep your weight down. If you exercise at least three times a week for 20 minutes at a time, and do enough to make you mildly breathless, you will reduce your risk of having a heart attack.
ALCOHOL taken in moderation is fine, but keep your weekly intake to below21 units ( the equivalent of 10 pints of ordinary strength beer) per week for a man, and 14 units per week or a woman – and avoid binge drinking.
DIET AND WEIGHT.
Keeping your weight within the normal range and reducing the amount of fat in your diet can prevent many serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes.
Eat more fish, bread, cereal, pasta, fruit and vegetables rather thanfat. Of the fat that you do eat, more should be polyunsaturated, iesoya margarine,Flora,corn oil, sunflower oil – or even better, olive oil.
If you want advice on diet orlosing weight, speak with one of our Nurses who will be happy to help.
SMOKING
- Yes, we are sure that you have heard it all before, but we have to remind you…smoking will increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and chronic bronchitis.
If you are a pregnant mother, your baby may be smaller and your pregnancy more troublesome.
Children in homes where there are smokers are more likely to suffer from coughs, colds, deafness due to glue ear, and asthma.
Smoking near other people can increase their risk of cancer and heart disease.
If you want to try to stop smoking, try nicotine patches or chewing gum.
If you would like more advice regarding a healthy lifestyle you can get further help from our Nurses or your Doctor.Also, further help and advice is available through Vitality, the South West Essex Health and wellbeing service on 0800 077 8000or at
THIS IS OUR CONTRACT WITH YOU
Wewill help you –
BUT Pleasehelp us to help you too
WE WILL…
Advise you how to keep yourself healthy
Give you the best service that we can.
Treat you with courtesy and respect
Discuss your care with you
Try not to keep you waiting for appointments
Provide the services of nurses and other staff
Not prescribe medicines unless they are necessary
Respond quickly to emergencies
Keep your records confidential
Listen to your complaints and take appropriate action.
WE EXPECT YOU TO…
Never be rude or discourteous to us or our staff
Tell us if you cannot keep an appointment
Give us 48 hours notice when you ask for a repeat prescription
Only ask for a home visit if you are too ill to get to the surgery
Only telephone for advice or ask for a visit outside of our normal opening hours, if it is unavoidable.