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Ashby Turn Primary Care
Centre Newsletter
May 2017
Welcome to the May edition of our practice newsletter!
If you have any suggestions on any other information you would like to see in our newsletter, please let us know!
There are comment/suggestion cards available in reception or you can also advise one of our
receptionists who will pass your comments on!
We welcome comments and feedback from our patients on all aspects of the services that we offer!
Help us to help you!
Staff News!!
Congratulations to two of our admin assistants Kirstie and
Lindsey who have both achieved their Level 3 Management
Qualification!
We welcome Kay, Shaun and Kerry to our reception team.
Charity Events
Ashby Turn Primary Care Centre are proud to have supported
Comic Relief on Friday 24th March 2017.
Staff paid a minimum donation of £1 to wear non-uniform.
We managed to raise £27 For Comic Relief.
Patient Participation Group
The PPG is a group of patients that contribute their time to the
development and improvement of the practice and its services.
Meetings are held at the surgery every three months and not only provide patients with a
chance to have their say but also give them a good insight into the running of the surgery.
If you are interested in joining please feel free to come along to the next meeting which will
take place on Tuesday 1st August at 6:30pm at the surgery.
All patients over 16 are welcome and there is no obligation to attend every meeting.
Alternatively, you can complete a form which is available from reception and we will keep
you updated with information and events.
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Patient Survey 2017 results
Below are a selection of the responses we received during our recent
patient survey which was conducted during the weeks commencing
13/02/17 and 20/02/17
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The full range of responses to the 2017 survey are available on our
practice website.
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Travel Vaccinations
We are able to provide most types of vaccination cover for travel abroad.
However for the vaccination to be effective it has to be given in advance of the
departure date.
Where possible, patients should complete a Pre Travel Risk Assessment Form a
minimum of 6 weeks prior to departure date. This allows time for the form to be safely
processed by the Practice Nurse, who will then contact you with recommendations for
vaccinations and make an appointment that will ensure maximum effectiveness of the
vaccination.
Please note that some vaccinations may need to be ordered from a supplier (any costs for
special orders will need to be paid in advance)
Forms can be collected from reception and are also available on our website.
Please consider what your travel vaccination requirements particularly when making a late
booking.
Hayfever
Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to one in five people at some point
in their life.
Symptoms of hay fever include: sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. The symptoms of
hay fever are caused when a person has an allergic reaction to pollen.
There is currently no cure for hay fever but most people are able to relieve
symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent. Many people find that their symptoms
improve as they get older.
Treatment options for hay fever include antihistamines, which can help prevent an allergic
reaction from happening, and corticosteroids which help reduce levels of
inflammation and swelling.
Many cases of hay fever can be controlled using over the counter medication available from
your pharmacist.
If you are affected by hay fever then a good tip is keeping an eye on the pollen count on the
weather forecast and if high levels are predicted then taking an
anti-histamine before your symptoms start).
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Please note when providing samples…..
All samples must be personally handed to the receptionist at the
front desk who may ask you to complete a short form.
We are unable to accept any samples that have not been requested
by a clinician.
We are also unable to accept urine samples after 3:30pm.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Free NHS Health Check
The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for well adults in England aged 40-74.
It is designed to identify early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2
diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of
these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.
If you're in the 40-74 age group without a pre-existing condition, you are eligible for a
free NHS Health Check every five years.
If you are unsure about your eligibility please contact the surgery.
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Friends and Family Test
The Friends and Family Test gives patients the opportunity to provide quick feedback on their care
and treatment. It is already in use in many parts of the NHS and is expanding even more!
You can comment on what is going well and what could be improved, so that people who make
decisions about local healthcare can take your views into account. It doesn't take long and
feedback is anonymous!
If we have your mobile number you will be sent a Friends and Family text after each appointment
asking for feedback.
You can also ask a member of staff about other ways you can take part or find out more online at
www.nhs.uk/friendsandfamily.
Shingles Vaccination
A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease is available on the NHS to
certain people in their 70s. Shingles can be very painful and uncomfortable.
Some people are left with pain lasting for years after the initial rash has healed. And shingles is
fatal for around 1 in 1,000 over-70s who develop it.
Unlike the flu vaccination, you will only need to have the vaccination once and you can have it
at any time of the year.
If you are interested in having the shingles vaccination, please contact the surgery for more
details regarding eligibility.
Pneumovax
A pneumococcal infection can affect anyone. However, some people are at higher risk of serious
illness and can be given the pneumococcal vaccination on the NHS. These include:
Babies as part of their routine vaccination programme.
Adults aged 65 or over
Children and adults with certain long-term health conditions
People over 65 only need a single pneumococcal vaccination, which will protect for life.
It is not given annually like the flu vaccination
If you are interested, please contact the surgery for more details regarding eligibility.
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Carers
We are interested in identifying carers, especially those who may be caring without
help or support.
We know that carers are often “hidden” looking after a family member or helping a
friend or neighbour with day to day tasks and may not see themselves as a carer.
Who are Carers?
A carer is a person of any age, adult or child, who provides unpaid support to a
partner, child, relative or friend who couldn‟t manage to live independently or whose
health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help.
This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health condition, mental ill health or
substance misuse.
Carers need and deserve support in order to:
Care well and safely
Look after their own health and wellbeing
Realise their education and employment potential
Not feel isolated or unable to cope
Have a life of their own alongside caring responsibilities
Did you know….?
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All Carers are entitled to a free annual influenza vaccination
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All Carers are entitled to an annual Carers Health Check (your health and wellbeing is
important too!)
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As a Carer you are also entitled to have your needs assessed by Adult Care Services.
A Carer‟s assessment is a chance to talk about your needs as a carer and the possible
ways help could be given. It also looks at the needs of the person you care for.
If you are a carer, even if the person you care for is not registered at this practice, please
ask at Reception for a Carer‟s Guide or Carers Support Centre booklet.
Both of these booklets contain a lot of useful information about the support, help and
services that are available to you as a carer.
There is also a Carer Registration Form included which you can complete to let us know
about your caring responsibilities, with the option of being referred to the Carers Support
Centre.
Help us to help you
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Emergency Clinic
Our Emergency Clinic becomes available when all of our routine appointments have
been allocated for the day.
This allows patients who feel that they cannot wait until the next working day or for
the next pre-bookable appointment to be seen.
Patients can register at the desk any time between 3pm and 4pm and will be asked to
provide brief details regarding the reason for attendance.
Patients will be seen in order of clinical need and not necessarily in the order of arrival
Waiting times will vary on a daily basis depending on the demand on the day.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CLINIC IS FOR URGENT PROBLEMS ONLY!!
You may be asked to book another appointment for non-urgent problems.
All patients are advised to telephone as usual to try and get a routine appointment
before attending the emergency clinic.
There will be a message on the appointments line indicating when the routine
appointments have all been allocated.
Remember…..A&E is only for Accidents and Emergencies
If your problem is not urgent please do not attend A&E.
Remember that you can consult the pharmacist for advice and
treatment for a number of minor ailments
(see page 9 for more details)
Pick up a „What Should I Do‟ booklet from reception for advice and
information on how to manage a range of commonly
occurring medical problems and when to consult your doctor.
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Repeat Prescriptions
Please allow 2 working days before collecting your repeat prescription after 2pm.
Please note, prescription requests cannot be taken over the telephone but…...
If you register for our online services you will be able to access your personal repeat prescription list
and order directly!
Please see reception for an application pack
Get the most out of the NHS: Consult your local pharmacist.
Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that a local pharmacist could
give advice and treatment for.
If you are suffering with one of the minor ailments listed below, you may not need to book an
appointment at the GP surgery for treatment. No appointment is necessary to consult with a
pharmacist, meaning that you can visit your local community pharmacy at your convenience.
The pharmacist will always offer advice, and if appropriate will supply medications or treatment.
If your problem is more serious and needs the attention of a GP, your pharmacist will recognise this
and advise you to see your GP instead.
If the pharmacist considers that the supply of a medicine is appropriate , and you are exempt from
paying prescription charges – because you're under 16 or over 60, for example, or you have a
prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) – you won't pay for the medicine. Just ask at your local
pharmacy (you will have to show proof of exemption).
Patients who have to pay for prescriptions will pay the current prescription charge. However if a
medicine costs less than the prescription charge, the patient will be informed of this so they can
purchase it instead.
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skin conditions, such as mild acne and mild eczema
coughs and colds, including nasal congestion and sore throat
constipation and haemorrhoids (piles)
hay fever and allergies
aches and pains, such as headaches, earache and back pain
indigestion, diarrhoea and threadworms
period pain, cystitis and thrush
warts and verrucas, mouth ulcers and cold sores
athlete's foot
nappy rash and teething
Conjunctivitis
Head lice
Insect bites and stings
What should I do if the hospital make changes to my medication?
If your medication has been changed by the hospital, you should have been given enough supply by
them to last until we have received the information and have been able to safely produce a new
prescription.
If the hospital has given you a letter, you can bring this in to the desk and the receptionist can copy the
letter and pass it through for processing.
Please note that any requests for prescriptions will take at least two working days to be safely
processed.
If the hospital have written to us informing us about the change, this will also be processed and your
medication will be updated.
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Why do the receptionists need to know what my appointment is for?
When you contact the surgery to make an appointment, the Receptionist will ask you to give
brief details of the reason for the appointment. This is under the instruction of the GPs and helps
to make sure that each patient is dealt with in the most appropriate manner and is seen by the
clinician who is able to deal with the appointment most effectively. It is also helpful for the clinician to have a prior indication of why you are coming to see them.
If you do not wish to disclose the nature of the problem that is fine!
Simply tell the receptionist that it is of a “personal nature” and they will record this on your
appointment slot.
The receptionists, like all other members of the practice team are bound by confidentiality rules.
What can the Nurse Practitioners Deal with?
Nurse practitioners are trained specialist nurses. They have undertaken training in order to develop
a knowledge base and clinical competencies to manage both acute and chronic
medical conditions within their scope of practice.
The Nurse Practitioners can assess and examine you, make a diagnosis and provide advice and
treatment including a prescription if required. They can make referrals to hospital doctors or other
health care professionals, and admit patients into hospital when necessary.
Nurse practitioners can provide treatment and advice for many problems including:
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Acute back pain, joint sprains
Coughs/Chest infections
Sore throat/Tonsillitis
Cystitis/Urinary Tract Infections
Diarrhoea, constipation, piles
Oral thrush
Dizziness, Giddiness, Headache
Earache/Ear Infections
Vomiting
Sinus infections
Colds and flu-like illnesses
Depression
Persistent Raised temperature
Shingles
Wounds, scalds, burns, rashes
Vaginal thrush, soreness, lump or discharge
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Our Practice Nurses are able to deal with:
Cervical smears
Contraceptive Advice
Health Checks
Travel Advice and Vaccinations
Management
Wound Dressings
Stitch/Staple Removal
Childhood Immunisations
Medication Reviews
Chlamydia Testing
Ear Syringing
Contraceptive Pill Checks
Weight Management
Dietary/Lifestyle AdviceWeight
Injections
Our Healthcare Assistants are able to deal with:
Blood Tests
Suture/Stitches/Clip Removal
Assistance in GP Implanon/Coil clinics
Annual Review Appointments
Blood Pressure
Dressings (follow up only)
NHS Health Checks
Over 65 s flu vaccinations
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ECG testing
New Patient Appointments
Diabetic Foot Screening
Online Services!!
What are the benefits of registering for an online account?
When you register for an online account you will be able to choose which services you
wish to have access to. These include: booking and cancelling appointments,
requesting repeat prescriptions and access to questionnaires. You can also request to
have access to your summary care record, your coded medical record and test results!
I have a representative (family member/friend/carer) who usually orders my
medication. Are they able to do this online?
It is your decision whether you wish to share your username and password with another
person. However, it is important to remember that, depending on which services you have
chosen to have access to, they may also have access to other aspects of your medical
record.
However, if your representative has their own online account (either here or with
another surgery), you can choose for them to have „proxy access‟ to your account. This
will enable to them to log into your online account via their own, however you will also be
able to limit the information and services that they have access to.
Can I set up an online account for my child?
Parents/Guardians can set up an online account for their child and have proxy
access through their own account. However, proxy access to a child‟s online
records will automatically be disabled when the child reaches the age of 13.
Re-application is then required and patients aged 13-15 can choose whether to
allow or remove parental access (competency assessment required).
Online Services application packs can be collected from the reception desk. If you
require any further information please telephone the surgery or speak to one of our
receptionists in person at the reception desk.
We are now offering a number of GP, Nurse Practitioner and Practice Nurse
appointments which can be booked via your online account.
There are appointments available for pre-booking (up to four weeks in advance).
There are now also appointments which are released once the phone lines open at
8:00am, meaning that you may be able to book an appointment online without
having to ring the surgery!
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You can find lots of information about the surgery and the services
that we offer on our website:
www.ashbyturnprimarycarecentre.nhs.uk
Upcoming Closures For
Training - Closed from 1pm
Wednesday 14th June
Wednesday 12th July
Wednesday 9th August
Wednesday 13th September
Out of hours
If you require urgent medical help which is not life
threatening, please call 111 who will be able to
offer advice or direct you to the most
appropriate source of help.
This number is free from landlines and mobiles.
Missed Appointments
During April we had 108 patients who did not attend for their appointment. We would like
to take this opportunity to remind patients to cancel any appointments that they
cannot attend to allow other patients to have access to them.
Thank you.
HYMS Training
We are an approved training practice with a number of our
GPs involved in training Year 4 & 5 medical students
who you may see during your appointments!
Do you have any particular communication preferences?
For example, do you have impaired sight and therefore need us to write to
you in large print?
The practice is committed to providing its patients with effective and clear
communication. This includes telephone, letters, emails and other written
materials.
If you do have any communication preferences please ask at reception for an
Accessible Information Request form so that we can make a note in your
medical record and comply with your request.
Ashby Turn Primary Care Centre
The Link
Ashby
Scunthorpe
North Lincolnshire
DN16 2UT
Tel: 01724 842051
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