Download NETHERGATE MEDICAL CENTRE

NETHERGATE MEDICAL CENTRE
NEWSLETTER
DR COULL DR DORWARD DR RUTHVEN
DR LA HAY DR KILLICK DR THARAYIL
DR HUSSAIN
Tel: 01382 221527
FLU VACCINE
If you have not had this yet please speak to our reception staff who
can book you an appointment to have this done.
GP RETAINER
We would like to welcome Dr Hussain who has been appointed our new GP
retainer. Dr Hussain will be working two days a week Tuesday and
Wednesday.
UPDATING RECORDS
Do we have your correct address and/or telephone number?
If we don’t, how can we contact you?
Reception staff are asking patient’s for up to date telephone numbers so
that we have all your details recorded correctly on your medical record. If
you change address or telephone number please let us know.
APPOINTMENT SYSTEM
Cancelling appointments
Each month the Practice audits the number of appointments that patients
fail to attend. We try to meet patients’ requirements and this does not
help as these are wasted appointments that could have been used by
another patient requesting to be seen. If you are unable to attend an
appointment please contact the surgery asap to cancel.
If patients fail to attend their appointment on more than one occasion a
letter will be sent to the patient warning them that they may be removed
from our Practice list if this continues.
Below is a record of the number of appointments that patients failed to
attend during July – Sep 12
Weekly average number
of failed to attend
appointments for GPs
Aug 12
Sep 12
Oct 12
19
21
23
Weekly average amount
of GP time wasted that
could have been used by
other patients
Just over 3 hours
3.5 hours
Just under 4 hours
Booking appointments
We have a percentage of our appointments that are bookable on the day
and a percentage that can be pre booked. To book an appointment on the
day you need to call the surgery at 8am. If you would prefer to pre book
then you can call the appointment line anytime and book an appointment in
advance.
We can pre book an appointment up to 4 weeks in advance. Sometimes
patients may find that they are having difficulty booking on the day or pre
booking for a particular doctor. This maybe because the GP you are
requesting only works part time. Sometimes it is important that you see the
same GP for a follow up appointment to help provide continuity of care, but
if it is not a follow up problem then you can book to see any of our GPs.
Occasionally, all our appointments maybe booked up and if you feel it is
something that cannot wait then please inform our reception staff who can
arrange for our Practice Nurse to call you back for advice.
To help with our appointment demand there is one GP consulting one evening
a week and one GP consulting on a Saturday morning. Please check with our
reception staff which evening/Saturday morning we are open. These
appointments are pre bookable and are for people who work or have other
commitments and cannot attend the surgery during the day. The surgery
will not be dealing with any enquiries as the telephone will be connected to
the Out of Hours Service. You will not be seen unless you have an
appointment.
Advice
If you feel you require medical advice you can speak with our trained
Practice Nurses. They are available in the morning and afternoon and will
be able to offer you advice and answer questions about your health. We
are trying to improve our services to patients and are aware of increased
demand for appointments and medical advice and hope that this system will
offer patients the chance to speak to a Nurse promptly and reduce the
unnecessary wait to see a GP. When you call, the reception staff will pass
your message to a Practice Nurse who will call you back. Patients will be
appropriately referred to a GP if this is required.
Time spent at GP Appointment
Our GP appointments are usually for 10minutes only. The GP appointments
are booked at 10 minute intervals to allow the GPs to see as many patients
as possible without any intervals. Sometimes if a problem is complicated
and urgent then the GPs may need to run over and this makes the GP run
late and holding up other patients waiting to be seen by the GP (good for
traffic wardens on South Tay Street!!)
Please can you try and not bring “lists” of non urgent problems, the GPs try
their best but it is usually impossible to deal with more than one issue in a
10 minute appointment.
Please help the GP’s to help you and your fellow patients by keeping this in
mind when you book your GP appointment.
Late for appointments
Patients who are 10 minutes late for their appointment will be asked to
make another appointment. This decision will be at the doctor’s discretion.
If you know you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances
please telephone the Medical Centre. The practice has made this decision
to be fair to patients that do arrive on time.
Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances the GPs or Practice Nurses
appointments may run late. Please try to be patient but if you are waiting
for more than 30 minutes please report to reception.
PRACTICE TRAINING DAYS
The Practice will be closed from 12.30pm on the following days. This is to
allow for staff training.
Wednesday 6th February and Wednesday 6th March
If you require medical advice please telephone NHS24- 08454 24 24 24.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
The Practice will be closed on the following days
Monday 1st April and Monday 8th April
If you require medical advice please telephone NHS24- 08454 24 24 24.
KEEP WELL CLINICS
Our Practice Nurse runs these clinics by appointment. Patients aged
between 40-64 years of age will receive a letter asking you to attend the
Practice. If the appointment time is inconvenient then an alternative can
be arranged please ask at reception.
The nurse will simply carry out a small health check. The results will be
explained to you and advice given on diet, exercising etc.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
There are different options that you can use for ordering your repeat
prescriptions. These are explained below.
You can order your repeat prescription by email. Our email address is
[email protected]
Medication ordered too early may result in your prescription not being
issued.
Any medicine that is not listed on your repeat slip may not be
automatically generated.
Please leave your name; date of birth, contact number and clearly list the
medication you require. Only repeat prescription requests will be dealt
with. Queries will not be dealt with by email you must telephone and speak
with a receptionist.
You can also visit our website at www.nethergatemedicalcentre.co.uk where
you can obtain a repeat prescription, by registering your details, by email.
You can also telephone the surgery with your order or hand your repeat slip
into the surgery or post this into the surgery.
Repeat prescriptions will be ready for collection 2 days after request is
received. Please allow an extra day if using the chemist collection service.
Please also ensure that you leave enough time for ordering your repeat
medication.
Repeat prescriptions will not be given at routine appointments.
Please telephone after 10.30am, choosing option 2, if you wish to speak to a
member of staff regarding prescription queries.
Patients on repeat medication may be invited to make an appointment for
annual review.
INFORMATION IN PRACTICE WAITING AREA
There are leaflets placed in the reception area please take time to read
over these. If you would like a copy of any of these leaflets then please
ask reception staff. Confidentiality – it’s your right, Consent – it’s your
decision and Emergency Care Summary – what does it mean to you?
ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS
Patients have a right of access to all computerised and manual records.
If you would like further information please ask at reception.
ARE YOU A CARER OR BEING CARED FOR?
The practice is currently trying to offer support to patients of any age who
have caring responsibilities for someone who is ill, disabled or elderly. If
you are a carer please let the Practice know so that we can update our
records. Reception staff will provide you with a form.
STUDENTS
If you are off sick up to and including 7 days you should self-certificate
either using the university’s on line form or ask at reception for a selfcertification medical form. Should your university department require
medical certification for less than 7 days sickness then please ask the
department to write to us requesting this information. There is a charge
for this and if we do not have contact from the university you will be liable
for payment.
PRIVACY AT THE RECEPTION DESK
Please remember and try to respect patients’ privacy at the reception desk.
If you wish to discuss anything in private please let the receptionist know.
PATIENTS RESPONSIBILITIES
Be polite with reception staff. The practice does not tolerate violence
against any member of staff. Please arrive a couple of minutes early for
appointments. Let us know if you cannot make an appointment. Try to
attend when we invite you for health check ups. Inform reception staff if
you have a change of address or telephone number.
As always, if you have any queries, comments or concerns about any of
our services please do not hesitate to speak to one of the Receptionists
or the Practice Manager.
We welcome your comments and hope to use them to continually offer
further improvements in the future.
WHY ANTIBIOTICS ARE NOT ALWAYS NEEDED
MANAGEMENT OF A SORE THROAT

Majority of patients presenting with a sore throat do not require antibiotic
treatment

The average duration of symptoms is 7 days whether you take antibiotics or not

Evidence shows that regular painkillers are more likely to help your symptoms than
antibiotics
OTHER HELPFUL TIPS:

Drink plenty of fluids and suck on throat lozenges or similar to stop your throat
becoming dry

Rest if you feel tired

Avoid foods that cause pain when you swallow

Try to avoid smoking or smoky atmospheres
MANAGEMENT OF EAR ACHE

Most common in children less than 10 years of age

In 80% of children it was found that this can resolved without antibiotics in
around 3-4 days

The average duration of symptoms is 4 days

Regular analgesia, such as paracetamol and or ibuprofen, will help the immediate
pain more quickly than an antibiotic
MANAGEMENT OF A “CHEST INFECTION”

Cough usually lasts for 7-10 days but can persist for 3 weeks with or without
antibiotics

An antibiotic will not be given after clinical examination confirms there are no
chest signs

Sputum alone is not an indication for antibiotics if you have been previously well
and have no chest signs
HELPFUL TIPS:

Try to avoid smoking or smoky atmospheres

Drink plenty fluids and rest if you feel tired
WHEN THE GP WILL CONSIDER ANTIBIOTICS

When the patient has symptoms and signs of serious complications

When the patient is at a high risk as they have other conditions such as diabetes,
asthma, coronary heart disease etc

When the patient is aged 65 or older

When the patient is aged less than 3 months
IF ANTIBIOTICS ARE GIVEN TAKE THEM REGULARLY
AND COMPLETE THE TREATMENT
ANALGESIA MAY STILL BE REQUIRED IN THE FIRST
FEW DAYS OF TREATMENT