Newsletter No.5 Winter 2008

Suggestion Box

Update on queries on medication and repeat prescriptions

Take unwanted medicines back

Don't share medicines with family or friends
Return any medicines that are no longer needed or past expiry date to the dispensary who can safely dispose of them
Waste medicines must be incinerated and must not be disposed of any other way. Do not put unwanted medicines down toilets or drains. The contents of some medicines can damage the environment. It is not safe to put them with the household rubbish as children could find them
Waste medicines cannot be reused for another patient.

Do you know…….

Why you are taking your medicine?
How to take your medicine?
What side-effects to look out for?
How to get more if it runs out?

If you need to know any of the above talk to your pharmacist, practice nurse or doctor. They will be happy to discuss your medicines with you.

Think before you order more medicines

Check your medicine before ordering
Only order the medicines you need
If you are not taking your medicines please tell your doctor and don't order them again
Make sure you collect any medicines you are owed from the dispensary before ordering more
There is less waste dispensing only 1 month's prescriptions

Tell your doctor or nurse if you are no longer taking a medicine

Make an appointment to see your doctor
Tell your doctor why you want to stop taking your medication
Discuss the options

Medicines and safety

Keep all medicines safely locked away from children
Medicines should not be kept in the bathroom
Always read the label before taking your medication

Currently West Gloucester alone spends about £30 million on medicines each year, of which approx. 3% or £900,000 worth of medicines are never used by patients. For this your local health service could pay for

100 heart by-pass operations or
1650 kidney dialysis sessions or
214 hip replacements or
25 children's kidney transplants or
30 full time senior nurses.

Why the dispensary has to remain closed between 1pm and 2 pm

To dispense medicines correctly the law requires two people, one to dispense and one to check that the correct prescription has been issued. This process should be done without interruptions so as not to distract the dispensers' concentration. The suggestion has been made that the lunch time hour should be covered by the dispensing staff working in shifts, but this quiet hour enables the dispensary team to concentrate on the making up of prescriptions. The team handle up to 400 items per day.

Dispensary closure 1pm - 2pm and reception telephone quiet period 12noon to 1pm. The Patient Group requested that the surgery looked at the harmonisation of these times. The practice manager points out the two areas of work have differing needs and staffing requirements. Staff changeovers fit these particular requirements. We would not wish to make any amendments at the present time but will keep it in mind for the future.

Appointments for Phlebotomy

The Practice Manager is please to confirm that the surgery has been able to rearrange the setting up of the appointments so that they can be made up to 6 weeks in advance. This revision is operational with immediate effect. This only applies to phlebotomy and should be helpful to those patients on regular tests.

Telephone Queries

The review of the telephone system is still on-going. More flexible systems are being looked at, including an 0845 system. More information will be available soon. So please continue to make non-urgent calls to the surgery in the afternoon.

Missed Appointments

The number of missed appointments went up from 409 in 2006 to 444 in 2007! If you know that you are not going to be able to keep an appointment please ring beforehand preferably when you are much more likely to get through eg early afternoon when the phone lines are quiet.

Travel to Hospitals, Surgery and Shopping

Our village Agent has given us some registration forms for the Newent 'Dial-a-Ride' Scheme. If there was enough interest she thinks they would be able to run a bus to Newent from Staunton, maybe once a fortnight. For other travel, subscription for Newent 'Dial-a Ride' is £3 annually. If interested phone 01531 821227 for a registration form or contact Liz Davies, the Village Agent on 07810 630224. Tirley also run a community bus. For further information and a registration form contact Derrick Swan, Conifers, Ledbury Road, Tirley, Glos,GL19 4EU

Medical Equipment Loan Service

Transit and Self Propelled Wheelchairs

Commodes

3 wheeled walkers

4 wheeled rollators

Tea Trolleys

Walking Frames

Raised toilet seats

Various sundry items

All are available for short term hire. For rates and further information please contact R W Collins 01531 650210

Rachel's Tips for Winter

Coughs and colds

These usually start with a sore throat, runny nose, cough, temperature and aches. They are caused by viruses, therefore antibiotics do not help as they cannot kill viruses. You should take the recommended dose of paracetamol for your raised temperature and aches. Drink plenty of fluids and don't worry if you are off food for a couple of days. Children and babies tend to catch many colds to which they will gradually build up a resistance;. This resistance is important in making them more healthy later on. Coughs are usually caused by catarrah from a cold irritating the throat. When the cold settles, the cough will also settle. The best treatment for a cough is steam inhalation. Expectorants may help in clearing the mucus but cough suppressants should be avoided. Raising the head of the bed or adding pillow/s may help ease the troublesome night-time cough. A baby is best put to sleep on his back. The doctor or NHS Direct should be consulted if any of the following occur:

The cough persists for two/three weeks after the cold has settled.
If breathing is accompanied by shortness of breath
If the cough produces blood
If a child has a persistent night-time cough

Indigestion

Indigestion causes a feeling of nausea, bloating and heartburn and acid will often come up into the mouth. Usually it is caused by excessive consumption of food, especially if it is too rich or highly spiced, or by drinking too much alcohol. A little warm water or milk may soothe the discomfort and indigestion tablets or mixtures will also help. If frequent bouts of indigestion occur or pains are severe and do not settle quickly the doctor should be consulted.

Profile - Senior Receptionist - Wendy Rann

Wendy has been with the practice for 28 years. Starting as a filing clerk her job has grown and changed with the practice, living through the revolution from paper to computerised records.

28 years ago the reception area was manned by 3 people who knew nearly everyone who came to the surgery. Because of the growth of patient numbers, today's team of 12 or more are lucky if they recognise more than half the people who attend. Wendy sees the job of receptionist as a key position as they are the first contact new patients experience of the services the practice has to offer.

As well as administrative work Wendy oversees basic computer training for new staff and ongoing training required by the NHS. This includes fire safety together with general health and safety and basic resuscitation. This is provided for staff at the practice's Clinical Governance sessions. Worries about new registrations and dealing with queries are also discussed at these sessions which provide support and feedback for newer members of staff.

Wendy has lived in the local area for most of her life. Her parents came from Berrow and Pendock and she now lives in Bromsberrow with her husband and sons. Her main hobby is gardening which her husband doesn't do so she has a free hand to create the perfect garden on her own!

She says that the nicest part of her job is the face to face contacts that it provides. The less enjoyable aspects, the increasing regulation, targets and government bureaucracy, which to a certain extent have taken away some of the personal touch.