Download Newsletter Winter 2014 - Lawley Medical Practice

LAWLEY MEDICAL PRACTICE
T
Telephone 01952 560011
Fax 01952 501502
www.lawleymedical.co.uk
Winter Newsletter
Edition
Welcome to Lawley Medical Practice’s Newsletter. These will be released quarterly to try
and provide patient’s of Lawley Medical Practice with information about changes and
anything new happening at the practice.
Building and Car Park Update
Patient Online Services
No further news on when building to be extended.
This practice currently offers patients’ facilities
The Practice has planning permission for this,
to book, view, amend, cancel and print
however currently awaiting approval for the purchase appointments online. It also offers the facility
of land to extend car park, and extension cannot be
for all patients to order repeat medication
built until this is done. The other businesses in the
online, and we plan for patients’ to be able to
building (Pharmacy/Dentist) are also fully aware of
view and print a list of their repeat
the car park problems, especially since the building
prescriptions on line.
of the Extra Care Home over the road has been
completed this summer.
Our plan by April 2015 is for patients to be able
Giving a reason when booking an Appointment
The practice now routinely asks all patients the
reason for any appointment to aid the clinical staff in
their workload, and also to ensure that any work that
could be done by other staff is directed appropriately.
All staff regard patient information as confidential, so
please share the reason for your appointment
request with them.
Ebola: The practice has put up various notices
regarding this infection for patients for their
information. Should a patient have come back from
Africa and have a fever, the practice would hope to
prevent them from coming into surgery at the
booking of the appointment stage, and then make
the appropriate arrangement to provide care at the
home, rather than the risk of passing on the infection
to other patients.
Friends and Family Test
All surgeries in the UK are asking patients to
complete a Friends and Family Test. This asks
whether you would recommend our service to your
friends and family, and gives you the opportunity to
make other comments (anonymously if you wish). At
the end of each month we collate all the results and
display them in reception. The tests are available on
the reception desk and will be on-line.
to view on line, export or print any summary
information from their record, relating to
medications, allergies, and adverse reactions.
We will continue to publicise and promote our
online services to our practice patients through
the practice website, practice waiting room
leaflets, posters and the Patient Participation
Group.
Practice News
Since Practice Nurse Maggie retired from
nursing in November, we have now recruited
two part time nurses. Christine Smith is an
experienced nurse and will be running clincs
shortly, and Lara Harris has joined us from the
hospital and will run clinics once she is trained.
Debbie Taylor has now joined us permanently.
Debbie is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner,
who can effectively work the same way as a
GP, and can review patients, prescribe and
prepare referral letters etc.
Christmas and New Year
The practice will be closed Christmas Day,
Boxing day and New Years Day, and will be
open as normal otherwise.
LAWLEY MEDICAL PRACTICE
T
Telephone 01952 560011
Fax 01952 501502
www.lawleymedical.co.uk
From everybody at Lawley Medical Practice, we would like to wish you all a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Antibiotics and the common cold
Some people refer to a bad cold as flu; although a bad cold can make someone feel very ill, flu is a
different condition and different viruses cause flu and cold.
One or more of the following symptoms for a cold are present:
 Sneezing and Blocked nose (congestion)
 Runny nose (rhinorrhoea); beginning with watery fluid (mucus), then often changing to a thicker
yellowish discharge.
 Sore throat.
 Pain on swallowing.
 Mild fever or temperature.
 Tiredness.
 Headache
 Coughing
Antibiotics are not prescribed for the common cold because antibiotics do not work against viruses.
Exceptions to this may be if the cold leads on to sinusitis, ear infection, tonsillitis, or develops into a
chest infection.
To relieve the symptoms the following may help:
 Drinking plenty of fluids is important.
 It is important to avoid smoking as this irritates the nose and throat.
 It may be helpful to sleep with more pillows.
Other self help aids are decongestants, paracetamol or aspirin, vitamin c and or steam inhalations.
Information on Temperatures
Under 5’s average temperature is 36-36.8c – A high temperature is 37.5c and over
Over 5’s and Adults average temperature is 36-37c – A high temperature is 38c and over.
Most high temperatures will last 2 to 3 days.
Drink 8 to 12 glasses of clear fluid a day (water is best) unless not recommended.
Ice lollies or iced drinks may be soothing.
Wear lightweight clothing to help reduce your temperature. Avoid using blankets and duvets in
bed as this may make you too hot and increase your temperature.
 Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and make sure that fresh air is circulating.
 Rest and avoid heavy activity until your symptoms go away.
 Smoking or breathing in other people’s smoke can make symptoms worse.
Sponging down a person with water is not recommended.
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Patient Group
Please let us know if you are interested or would like more information on becoming a patient
champion.