Study shows lack of GP services not reason for A&E pressure
More patients aren’t attending A&E because they can’t get a GP appointment but because they have long term health conditions, according to a new study. Pulse magazine reports that researchers at Queen Mary University have analysed appointment data in east London which has debunked the myth that difficulty accessing a GP was to blame for longer queues at emergency departments.
GP committee deputy chair Dr Mark Sanford-Wood welcomed the findings. He said: “In the past some politicians have sought to blame overcrowding in A&Es on general practice, so it is positive to see further evidence showing that this is not the case.”
Private Referrals
Some of our patients choose to be seen privately and are sometimes fortunate enough to secure an appointment with their chosen consultant or provider within a few days. The providers, understandably, require referral letters from the GP and patients will contact the surgery asking us to send the referral to the consultant or hospital the next or even the same day. Whilst we will always do our best to expedite the dictation, typing and faxing of a referral letter, we are not always able to meet the expectations of either the private hospital or the patient to do this within a day or so. Please give us as much notice as possible if you need a referral on to a private consultant.
Dispensary News
From 1st April 2018 the prescription fee will rise to £8.80 per item. We accept cheques or cash. Please can we remind patients that they cannot order their repeat medications over the telephone. Please ask at Dispensary about reordering your repeat medications for the following month when you collect from us or about signing up for the Patient Access scheme, so that you can make appointments and order medications online.
NO SHOWS
There were 42No shows for appointments in February. This equates to 7 hours consulting time that could have been used by others. Please call if you don’t need your appointment
Dr. Patsy’s Medical Mishap
By the time this edition of the magazine is published we hope that Dr. Patsy’s cast is off her broken wrist and she will be a whizz on the keyboard once more!
Hay fever Medication/ Gap Year Immunisations/ Travel vaccinations
Please order your hay fever medication in plenty of time, especially if you are affected by tree pollen as this starts in April. If the allergy is to grass pollen this will be a little later. Every season is different and it depends on three things, the temperature, humidity and rain, which tends to clear the air. There are lots of handy hints to reduce symptoms and Dr. Patsy would be happy to help.
It is never too early to ask our nurses for their expert travel vaccination advice. Please collect a form from the surgery or download one from our website, simply fill it in and our nurses will do all the research on the country or countries you are visiting and check what immunisations/vaccinations are required against your record. Please give them one week to do this before calling us to find out what their advice is. It is important that you give us plenty of notice before your holiday or travels so that we can research this information and start any immunisations or vaccinations you may need so that they are effective when you are abroad.
Microsuction Clinics
Our new ear microsuction service is getting better and better. Ultimately this will replace ear syringing as the procedure of choice. It is what they do in the ENT Department at hospital and considered a better technique. As always, patients need to soften the ear wax for a minimum of two weeks prior to their appointment. We have found that bicarbonate drops are best for this and we can prescribe this or you may purchase them from any chemist. We have a very useful Ear Care Leaflet at the surgery; please ask reception for a copy.
Extreme Weather
The cold snap in March is hopefully a dim and distant memory by the time this magazine comes out. If we do have extreme weather, it helps us manage the situation if you phone in to cancel and rearrange your appointment, rather than just not coming. Additionally our staff may experience problems getting to the surgery themselves and, regrettably, in these circumstances, we do sometimes have to cancel clinics; please do call us to check whether we are able to see you. Please remember that if you can’t get to us to see a doctor, then our doctors will not be able to get to you either but will always offer what support and advice we can over the telephone.
Second Defibrillator for Cradley Village
We are excited to pass on information from the Cradley Defibrillator Group, the team responsible for the fundraising for the second community defibrillator, that they will soon have raised enough to apply for a match-funded grant from The Community Heartbeat Trust. If they are successful the CHT will bear all costs associated with the installation of the defibrillator and the equipment will be bought through the Parish Council who have agreed to be responsible for the annual maintenance. We will, therefore, be sending the Parish Council the monies raised in last year’s quiz in the very near future.
Contact Details
Please keep us up to date with your contact details, address, telephone number(s) and email addresses and how you would prefer us to contact you.
If you would like to nominate someone to speak with the surgery on your behalf, for instance to check on blood test results, then we do need to have your permission to do this in writing. We take our responsibility regarding patient confidentiality very seriously.
Website
We are constantly updating our website and you may find this a useful first port of call for information relating to opening times and the services we provide etc.