Download Newsletter Winter 2014

Hollyoaks Medical Centre
Winter 2014/2015 Edition
Christmas & New Year 2014
Listed below are the dates and times the surgery will be open over
the Christmas & New Year period
Holiday Opening Times
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Wednesday 24 December
Thursday 25 December
Friday 26 December
Saturday 27 December
Sunday 28 December
Monday 29 December
Tuesday 30 December
Wednesday 31 December
Thursday 1 January
Friday 2 January
Normal opening hours
Normal opening hours
Normal opening hours
SURGERY CLOSED
SURGERY CLOSED
SURGERY CLOSED
SURGERY CLOSED
Normal opening hours
Normal opening hours
Normal opening hours
SURGERY CLOSED
Normal opening hours
When we are closed and you are in need of urgent medical advice, please phone the
The Out of Hours Service on 111
If you experience chest pain or difficulty in breathing-dial 999.
Walk in Centres in Solihull Hospital and Katie Road Selly Oak are open 8am-8pm daily
Christmas Eve & New Years Eve-normal opening times at Hollyoaks
Ordering Repeat Prescriptions over the Christmas Period
There is always a surge in repeat prescription requests before Christmas, so if you know
that you will require medication during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, could
you please request your repeat prescription by Friday 19th December.
On line booking of appointments
On line booking has been available to our patients from 17 March 2014. Patients are able
to book a clinical appointment through our website www.Hollyoaksmedicalpractice.nhs.uk,
which hopefully will be convenient for patients without having to contact the surgery
especially at busy times.
Friends and Family
How likely are you to recommend our surgery to your friends and family?
NHS England is running a survey from December asking patients how likely they are to
recommend our surgery to their friends and family.
After seeing the GP or nurse, patients will be given a card to complete regarding your
experience, which is of course optional. This can also be undertaken via our touch screen
in reception.
This will improve the patient experience of our service, a mechanism for us to be shown to
be doing things right and areas requiring improvement.
Child Immunisations
Nasal flu immunisation is available here at the surgery for children aged 2, 3 & 4 years of
age. Please enquire at reception regarding the criteria.
If you cannot bring your child for immunisation, please ensure that a consent letter stating
the immunisations due for the child and the named person bringing your child is signed and
sent along with the person bringing your child to surgery for their immunisations.
Influenza Vaccination
This is still available for ‘at risk groups’-sufferers from chest problems (asthmabronchitis-emphysema), heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, if you have
had a stroke or TIA, if you have a weak immune system, or spleen problems or have had
your spleen removed or if you are pregnant. For over 65’s and carers.
EBOLA
Symptoms of Ebola.
The illness usually begins with a fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat and
intense weakness. Stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting may occur. Some may develop
a rash, red eyes, hiccups and bleeding (eg from nose or mouth, blood in diarrhoea or vomit).
In severe cases, patients may develop failure of the liver and kidneys.
People infected with Ebola can only spread the virus to other people once they have
developed symptoms. Once symptomatic, all body fluids such as blood, urine, stool, vomit,
saliva and semen are infectious.
If you have returned from West Africa, especially Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone or
cared for an individual with Ebola in the past 21 days and develop symptoms, please phone
the practice or 111 Out of Hours. DO NOT ATTEND THE PRACTICE until you have
spoken with medical staff.
One appointment-one problem
Please book a double appointment if you have more than one problem to discuss with your
doctor. Discussing multiple problems in one consultation can cause your doctor to run
behind in surgery which is not fair to other patients.
Sutures
If you have undergone suturing of a wound at hospital and have been advised to have the
stitches removed at the surgery, please call to book in advance to ensure they can be
removed on the appropriate day. Please remember to bring your discharge letter with you.
Dr Leitch
After seven years working as a GP at Hollyoaks, Dr Tim Leitch will be leaving the surgery
at Christmas. We thank him for all his care whilst at Hollyoaks and wish him well on his
future path.
On behalf of the Doctors and all the staff we should like to take
this opportunity to wish you all a “Very Merry Christmas and a
happy, healthy and peaceful New Year”.
And Finally!
If you have any ideas or suggestions that you would like to make, please contact the
Practice Manager – Mr Eliya Michael telephone 01564 823182