Newsletter No.12 Autumn 2009
FLU JAB DATES
Thursday 8th October 1.30 - 4.00pm for surnames A-L
Wednesday 14th October 1.30 - 4.00pm for surnames M-Z
at Staunton and Corse Village Hall
Car parking will be the same as last year, please follow signs for entrance and exit.
There will be disabled parking near the door.
These sessions do not include Swine Flu vaccine. This may be offered at a later date.
UPDATE ON PHONE LINES
The surgery will be trying out different methods to maximise phone resources until government proposals on NHS phone numbers are published. The surgery already has a texting facility to cancel booked appointments. The dispensary line is open from 8.30am to 11.30am and 3pm to 4pm and can also take faxes around the clock.
Further initiatives on maximising the existing phone capacity are currently in the pipeline. We will keep you informed in future newsletters.
SURGERY STAFF CHANGES - August 2009
Trainee doctors. Sarah McGeehan for 12 months
Austin Smithies for 4 months on rotation training from hospital work.
PATIENT GROUP ANNUAL REVIEW
September 2008 to 2009
We have held 10 meetings during the year, 5 group committee meetings and 5 joint meetings with surgery staff.
Numbers of our quarterly newsletters have been increased from 50/60 to 100 with extra copies going to schools, village notice boards, post offices and village halls. We also reserve some copies for distribution by the community nurses to house-bound patients. Photocopies of issues are included with the Staunton and Corse Parish Magazines and each issue is also posted on the surgery website. This year we have publicised the Surgery's general health initiatives on diet and exercise particularly the Forest of Dean's Healthy Lifestyles exercise recommendation scheme which we managed to get extended to include all surgery patients not just those in areas covered by the Forest of Dean District Council.
In October we invited Kay James, the co-ordinator of the Gloucestershire Expert Patient Programme, to inform us about this scheme and it is hoped that she will extend the classes to patients and carers in our area later this year.
Reacting to requests from our suggestion box, the surgery has rejoined the Message in a Bottle Scheme for vulnerable and housebound patients and organised a very successful Free Heartstart course in August.
We now display a list of actions taken by the surgery in response to suggestions on the Patient Group Notice Board, updating this twice a year.
Group Changes
Sadly, our Vice Chairman, Bob Crockett, died suddenly in March. Also our minutes secretary, Jane Morton, resigned. Two new members have joined the committee, but we still need more men and volunteers in the 16-45 age group for a wider representation of the practice population.
Anyone interested please leave you name and contact number at the Surgery or post it in our Suggestion Box.
Contact numbers of the Committee Members are posted on the website.
Rachel's Tips for Autumn
Handwashing
A topical subject at present due to the swine flu epidemic and recent reports of the dangers to children of contracting E-coli infection from farm animals.
During the day you can accumulate many germs on your hands from surfaces, especially bathrooms, toilets, food and animals. Infectious diseases like diarrhoea, vomiting and respiratory illnesses are spread by hand to hand contact. Children, older adults and those with chronic illnesses are more at risk from these problems. Good hand washing technique is therefore very important at all times by using soap and hot water and drying hands well. When out and about carry sanitizer gel or wet wipes. Remember to cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof dressings. At this present time children should be taught good hand washing technique. Make this fun by cutting up a hand washing poster into a jigsaw*.
Medicines
Those patients on routine medication will now be offered a medicine use review annually. This will take the form of you completing a form while waiting for your appointment at the surgery and then taking it to the GP or nurse. Or the GP or Nurse will discuss your medication during a consultation. Any medicines you are not taking will be deleted after consultation or any changes necessary will be considered. Routine blood tests/investigations will also be discussed.
The purpose of this review is to help you understand why you are taking the medication and any problems you have with the medicines and if necessary a change to another type of brand may be more suitable, ie capsules may be better than tablet form. Another purpose of this review is to reduce unnecessary waste of medicines as often boxes of unused medicines are returned to the surgery and have to be destroyed.
If you are having problems remembering to take your medicines please discuss this with your doctor or nurse at you next routine appointment.
* Handwashing posters will be available on the Patient Group table in the lobby.
SUGGESTION BOX
Q: May I suggest hand gel in the Surgery entrance?
A: This is positioned next to the booking-in screen.
Q: Very satisfied with automatic check-in but not happy that my DOB (the year in particular) is displayed to the occupants of the waiting room.
A: the year of birth is no longer required.
Q: to facilitate patient compliance why not produce one sheet with all the telephone numbers and times, in timetable form, with copies for everyone to pick up.
A: The Surgery has produced a pickup leaflet containing all such useful information. It will be available from the Surgery in October.
INFORMATION ON LOCAL SERVICES
VILLAGE AGENTS
If you do not know your village agent call 01452 426868. They provide high quality information and will put you in direct contact with the agencies whose services you need. There are 162 parishes covered in Gloucestershire but the areas of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in our Practice at present do not receive this service.
DISTRICT NURSES AND HEALTH VISITORS
Self referral. Base telephone contact 01452 840680. District nurses keep some equipment available, eg commodes and can obtain other items quickly.
PALS
Now combines with GUIDE for help with and problems with the NHS. Telephone 08000 151548
SOCIAL SERVICES
Help line can direct you to the area/service you require. Gloucester - 01452 426000
Forest of Dean - 01594 820500
TEWKESBURY MINOR INJURIES UNIT
Open 365 days a year 8am - 8pm. No telephone contact number
Marie Curie Nurses and Macmillan Nurses
Patient will be referred by District Nurses or GP. Check for leaflets in Surgery.
Telephone Numbers
Staunton Surgery - General Enquiries - 01452 840228 Appointments - 01452 840555,
Dispensary - 01452 840688 Community Nursing Team - 01452 840680
Cheltenham & Gloucester Hospital - 0845 422 2222
Tewkesbury Hospital - 01684 293303
Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Bureau 01452 528 017
Gloucestershire Age Concern 01452 422 660
NHS Direct (for general 24hr medical advice) - 08 45 46 47