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WEBSITE
NEWS UPDATE – 20th
JULY 2010
NHS NUMBER
Everyone has one but do you know yours ? The
NHS number is already the National Unique Identifier and is used as part of safe
practice to link together the correct records to a particular patient. The
National Patient Safety Agency recommend the use of your NHS number to greatly
reduce the risks to individuals safety arising from lost records and
inaccessibility of records across organisational boundaries. Of course within
the Medical Centre, it can reduce errors arising from similarities and
complexities in individuals names and other personal data.
This
practice encourages all our patients to use the NHS number and we will always
endeavour to quote your NHS number in all correspondence to you or to other NHS
organisations. If you do not know your NHS Number and would like this, please
ask at reception next time you visit the practice or contact the Primary Care
Support Service on 020 8335 1400.
NURSE
PRACTITIONER & SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS
To deal with the growing demand for
same day appointments, we operate a Nurse Practitioner Service at the Medical
Centre. Any patient wishing to see a Doctor on a same day basis,
will be telephoned by the Nurse Practitioner to discuss the problem. For a wide
range of medical conditions, it is not always necessary to see a Doctor, as many
can be managed at home with medical advice. For many patients, this can save you
a trip to the surgery. Should you subsequently need to see a Doctor, we will
make the necessary arrangements with you on the phone.
SUMMARY
CARE RECORDS
You should have received a letter recently concerning the Summary Care Record
Scheme. Unless you tell us otherwise, this scheme will create a
national summary record for you. The Summary Care Record’s purpose is
to ensure that anyone treating you has basic but important information about you
- especially when care is unplanned, urgent or during evenings and weekends. At
first this would be limited to your current medications, known allergies and any
bad reactions to medicines in the past. Important information about conditions
such as asthma or diabetes could be added if you agree. Over time, other
significant information such as referrals, discharges, and test results will be
added. The information in your Summary Care Record could save you and the NHS
time, but could also one day be lifesaving. If
you do not want a summary care record to be set up for you and information
uploaded from your existing medical records, you can opt out by completing the
form enclosed with your letter.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the NHS Care Records
Service Information Line on 0845
603 8510.
TRAVELING
ABROAD
Travelling is fun and something most of us
look forward to each year, but it can also be full of pitfalls. Many travel to
remote and distant lands but forget to think about the health risks associated
with many destinations around the world. Don’t leave it to the last minute to
make arrangements. We run travel clinics and provide the very advice you need,
but we need you to contact us 6 to 8 weeks in advance of your trip.
PRESCRIPTION
REQUESTS
There
are a number of ways you can request your repeat prescription, and we are
presently investigating online bookings
- By completing
a request form at reception or dropping in your
repeat slip
- By fax to 01252 837908
- By email to
dispensary.frimleygreen@nhs.net
Please
note that for safety reasons we are unable to accept any requests by telephone
REQUESTS
FROM SCHOOLS FOR SICKNESS CERTIFICATION
Illness
and examinations - advice for students
The
Acting Chief Executive of the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations
Regular (Ofqual) has now confirmed in writing to the General Practitioners
Committee (GPC) that awarding organisations do not require medical proof to
support students’ claims for special consideration in such circumstances.
A medical certificate is not necessary when making an application for special
consideration where a candidate misses an exam or their performance in an exam
is affected as a result of a temporary illness/injury. As long as the school or
college supports the application for special consideration this is considered
sufficient evidence.
As a result of this guidance, GPs will not provide sick notes in support of
special consideration applications.
INFLUENZA
VACCINATIONS - TARGET GROUPS FOR 2010 / 2011
1.
Pregnant women who are NOT in a clinical at risk group and have
NOT previously received the H1Ni swine flu
vaccine.
2.
All those aged 65 years and over.
3.
All those aged 6 months or over in one of the following clinical
at risk groups.
- Chronic
respiratory disease and Asthma (requiring continuous use of inhaled or
systemic steroids).
- Chronic
heart disease.
- Chronic
renal disease.
- Chronic
liver disease.
- Chronic
neurological disease.
- Diabetes.
- Immunosuppression.
4.
Those living in long term residential care homes.
5.
Those in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the
main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk of the
carer falls ill.
6.
AT THE GPs DISCRETION patients with multiple sclerosis / similar
neurological conditions or hereditary and degenerative diseases of the central
nervous system.
7.
Poultry workers.
YOUNG
PERSONS GUIDE
We have produced a guide specifically for our
younger patients, explaining our confidentiality policy and giving details of
the medical services available to them. The guide also explains where else to
seek advice other than your GP and includes a number of helplines that may be of
interest. Copies are available from Reception. Comments and suggestions for
improvement are always very welcome – please speak to the Practice Manager
PATIENT
UK
- www.patient.co.uk
A
free Web site giving you access to Patient Information Leaflets. Users can
browse the site by medical subject. This site is a directory of
UK
health, disease, illness and related medical websites
that provide patient information. It contains details of over 2000 self help
groups, patient groups and similar organisations, fully cross referenced and
details checked annually.
Training
Information for Patients
This
practice has been accredited as being suitable for the training of those doctors
intending to become general practitioners. This
means that the practice and doctors have had to achieve a number of standards
which have been assessed by the GP Deanery for Kent, Surrey and Sussex, acting
on behalf of the national organisation (the Postgraduate Medical Education
Board).
These
are some points for your information: -
1) Those doctors training to become GPs are called
GP registrars. They are employed by one of the doctors here, who will
be their trainer.
2) The GP registrar is a fully qualified doctor who
is likely to have a lot of experience of hospital medicine.
3) Sometimes other doctors are also trained and
supported in the practice.
4) If you are seeing this doctor you can expect to
receive the quality of service you would from your own GP. If you
have any concerns
please mention this to a member of staff.
5) In order for the GP registrars to successfully
complete their training they need to be assessed on their consulting skills.
This
is done by the appointed assessors viewing a video of the registrar’s
consultations. You may be asked for your permission to have your consultation
recorded in this way. If you agree, you will need to give your written
permission and there is a consent form available at the desk, which you will be
offered. If the doctor appears to be recording your consultation and
you have not signed a consent form, then you should indicate this to him or her
immediately. The recording will be used for educational purposes only.
Further information about this process and the confidentiality of it, can be
obtained from the reception staff.
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Repeat
Prescriptions
For those requiring
regular medication, our repeat prescriptions system is designed to be
convenient and safe. It allows you to obtain treatments for up to one year
before needing to be reviewed by the Doctor.
The Doctor will
give you the repeat prescription form to re-order treatments. We need your
request two working days before you plan to collect the
prescription. Please note that, for safety reasons, we are unable to
accept requests for treatment over the phone. If the required medicine is
not on your re-order form, a form to complete is available at the
reception desk. Written requests by post,
email and fax are also accepted. Our
Dispensers, Jill Ward & Linda Hadden, are able to deal with many
general medication enquiries.
Test
Results
Please
phone
the surgery after 2 pm for test results. When a test is taken, the
Doctor or Nurse usually indicates how long it will take for the result to
come back. In general terms :
| Test
: |
Result
available after : |
| Standard
bloods tests |
3
working days |
| Specialised
blood tests |
Up
to 3 -4 weeks |
| Samples
and swabs |
4
working days |
| X
Rays |
2
- 3 weeks |
| Smears |
8
- 10 weeks |
Please
note - the results are seen by the Doctor and available to you within 24
hours of receipt by the surgery. These are the times that it takes for the
test to be performed and then the result to be sent to the surgery by the
hospital.
Medical
Certificates
You are not
required to see the Doctor for a certificate for periods of illness
lasting less than seven working days or one week. For
periods between four and seven days, the form required is Form SC2 which
can be collected from Reception. NHS
certificates will not be given out for illness periods under one week. If
your employer insists on documentation, there is a standard letter that
you can collect from Reception. The Doctor is able to issue a Private
Certificate. There is currently a fee of £13.00 for Private Certificates.
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Complaints
We are
all aware that things do sometimes go wrong or that you may be
dissatisfied in other ways with your care. If you have comments or
questions about any aspect if your care or treatment at FGMC, then we are
happy to discuss these with you. In the first instance, we suggest that
you contact our Practice Manager Ian Friend, by phone
or in writing. We have a written complaints policy and there are
copies of this available at the reception desk.
Advice
for Young People
We are
well aware how difficult it can be for younger patients to get discreet,
confidential advice, particularly if the problem concerns sex advice or
contraception. Respecting your right to confidential help is as important
to us as it is to you. Your problems are never discussed with
others. People under 16 years will always be given totally confidential
advice.
Emergency
contraception works best if taken within 24 hours of sex. It can be
given up to 3 days later and other methods can be used up to several days
after sex. Even when we are short of appointments, please make it clear to
the receptionist if you need to discuss emergency contraception and we
will always see you the same day.
Please
do not be afraid to ask - if you cannot come to see us, the doctors
and nurses can give initial advice over the phone. All young people can
also get advice from the local Family Planning Clinics (01483 576208) or
the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic at Frimley Park Hospital (01276 604604)
Meningitis
Are you aged under 24?
Have you missed out on meningitis vaccination?
Please contact the surgery to arrange this vital vaccination
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Practice
Charter
Our Commitment
To You
We aim to provide
you with a helpful, efficient and professional service. We will seek to
meet your health needs as they arise to the best of our ability. We aim to
provide routine access to a GP within 2 working days and work hard to
ensure that you have same day access to an appointment if this is
appropriate. You can expect to be treated with respect and courtesy. Your
rights to confidentiality will be respected at all times. You are entitled
to access to your medical records as laid out in the Data Protection Act.
You can expect to be offered explanations and information about your
health, illnesses and treatments.
Your
Responsibilities To Us
We expect you to
treat the Doctor's and Staff with the same respect and courtesy that we
show to you. You have a responsibility to attend appointments that you
have made or to notify the practice if you are unable to attend. You have
a responsibility only to request a home visit from the GP if you are
unable to attend the surgery for medical reasons. You have a
responsibility to use the service out of hours in case of emergencies
only. Misuse of the services we provide will ultimately be to the
detriment of all in our community. You should notify us promptly of any
changes in your personal details, especially of a change in telephone
number.
Opening Times
Normal practice opening hours with effect from 1st
January 2009 are:
| Monday |
08:15 - 13:00 |
14:00 - 18:30 |
| Tuesday |
08:15 - 13:00 |
14:00 - 18:30 |
| Wednesday |
08:15 - 13:00 |
14:00 - 18:30 |
| Thursday |
08:15 - 13:00 |
14:00 - 18:30 |
| Friday |
08:15 - 13:00 |
14:00 - 18:00 |
Sat / Sun Closed
With effect from
January 1st 2009, the Doctors will be offering Extended Hours Surgeries on
a Monday, Wednesday & Thursday evening from 18.30hrs until 20.00hrs
each week, and one Saturday morning per month from 08.30hrs until
10.00hrs. Please note : these surgeries will be pre-bookable ONLY. Any
patient who needs to consult with a Doctor after 18.30hrs or at the
weekend will still need to access the Out of Hours Service (see below).
Out of Hours Service
www.frimleypcs.org.uk
From 18.30 to
08.30 during the week and throughout the weekend, the Doctors provide
an emergency service through Frimley Primary Care Service who are based at
Frimley Park Hospital. If you do become ill during these times, such that
you cannot wait until the surgery re-opens, you can phone the service on 0118
936 5649 or
alternatively you can the Medical Centre on 01252
835016 and
listen to the message.
A call handler will
ask you for some brief details about yourself and the nature of your
problem. One of the doctors or nurses will then phone you back and discuss
your problem. You may be given advice on how to manage your problem or if
you need to be seen you may be invited to attend the Primary Care Centre
based at Frimley Park Hospital. If there is a medical reason why you
cannot attend the centre, you may be visited at home.
Please note that all
calls are recorded for patient safety. The telephones in the Primary Care
Centre are all withheld numbers and if your telephone does not accept such
calls, we may have difficulties in contacting you. Please be prepared to
offer an alternative number if this is the case. Please be patient, the
line may be engaged during busy periods.
If you require health
information and advice, you cam also phone NHSDirect on 0845 4647 or visit
their website www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
You can also ask your
local pharmacist for help and advice on common ailments and problems.
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Freedom of Information Act Under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, all public authorities are required to have and
operate a publication scheme approved by the Information Commissioner. Doctors
providing medical services under most contracts within the NHS are public
authorities in respect of information relating to those services. The
scheme is only for information held as a public authority and does not include
any information that is not held, is held for other purposes or would be exempt
from release. For
copies of the publication scheme or the accompanying guide to the information
that is available, please contact the Practice Manager at ian.friend@nhs.net
or telephone 01252 835016. Alternatively
you can download the publication scheme and information guide by clicking the
links below :- Model
Publication Scheme Click
Here Information
Guide
Click Here |