Summer Newsletter 2016
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
The surgeries at Connel, Taynuilt and Dalmally will be closed on Monday 11th July and Monday 26th September for Public Holidays.
Also on Wednesday 14th September all surgeries will be closed at 1.00pm for Staff Training.
In an emergency please contact NHS 24 on 111
STAFF CHANGES
Sadly, Dr Martin Flynn who has been a partner with the practice for the last three years has resigned fromTMP and returned to Ireland due to family commitments. We are sorry to see him go andI am sure his patients will be too. We wish him well in the future and success in his career.
Our new partner, Dr Dave Harden, will be starting with us at the beginning of August. He will be working four days a week and is moving with his young family to Taynuilt. I am sure you will join us in welcoming him to the practice.
Dr Cath McElroy will also be starting with us at the beginning of October, working 4 days a week.
Lottie Holloway, from the district nurse team, will be retiring at the end of August.
We have welcomedLyndsayStrettle back toConnel surgery after her maternity leave. It is good to have her back.
The Health Visitor service has being undergoing some changes and is now part of the Children and Families service, amalgamating with social work. Andrea Lines, our Health Visitor is now working full time in Oban. Sally McGonigle will be taking over her workload and will be with us on a Wednesday/Thursday/Friday. She can be contacted on 01866 822 521 or 07580 304 021.
NEW APPOINTMENT SYSTEM IN CONNEL
We are currentlytrialling a new appointment system atConnel surgery which we hope will helpmanage our available appointments and be moreuser friendly for our staff and patients. It allows for one GP to be nominated the "duty doctor", with that doctor being responsible for any urgent appointments/telephone requests, acute prescriptions, queries/requests from admin staff and the arranging and allocation of house visits. We have been running this during the month of June and, with a few tweaks,it seems to be going well. We will continue to monitor this and would be pleased to receive feedback from our patients.
And can we remind patients to let us know if they no longer need an appointment they have booked so that it may be freed up for someone else.
RECEPTION STAFF – ASKING WHY YOU NEED AN APPOINTMENT
Essentially, our reception team ask for the reason why you need specific appointments to make sure you get the right appointment with the right person at the right time, to make sure you get the correct length of appointment for your requirements and to make sure you get the correct clinician. Most of all, the receptionists are doing exactly as they are instructedto do by the GP Partners - not because they are being 'nosy'! Please help them to help you by giving them the information they request.
HEALTH VISITOR DROP IN CLINIC
On the last Thursday of each month, Sally McGonigle, Health Visitor is running a drop in clinic at all 3 sites – no appointment necessary. It is for all children under 5 and it is for any general advice regarding your child, baby weighing etc. The dates are:
28th July 25th August 29th September 27th October
Dalmally Surgery – 10.00am t0 11.00am
Taynuilt Surgery – 12.00pm – 1.00pm
Connel Surgery – 2.30pm – 3.30pm
JACOB’S WELL
Jacobs Well is a charity which was set up in 1982 and is based in Beverley, Yorkshire. They have 3 shops, a warehouse and office. Each year they send several 40 ft containers full of valuable medical supplies to hospitals throughout the third world. Containers include a combination of medicines, medical equipment and other medical items, such as bandages, dressings, colostomy bags, blood pressure monitors, theatre items and much more. These can be out of date as long as they are sterile. Most third world hospitals struggle to afford items like these and patients often have to manage without or buy the items themselves at western prices.
Here in the Connel, Taynuilt and Dalmally surgeries we support the charity by collecting any of the above and posting off to the charity. We have done this for the past 3 years and now have the help of Lorn Medical Centre also. Unfortunately due to a European ruling we can no longer take medicines. Please get in touch with Denise at the Connel surgery should you wish to contribute anything to the charity or have any questions.
CHARITABLE TRUST
The Taynuilt Medical Practice Charitable Trust met recently. Grants were awarded tothree local boys selected to represent Argyll at a rugby training camp taking place in Perpignan, France,Ardchattan Community Council to purchase adefibrillator and help towardscosts of a trip to Malawi to teachEnglish in a primary school. For more information on the charitable trust, please see our website or contact Janice McGhee at Connel surgery.
SUMMER HEALTH - TICKS
The Practice Nurses have asked that we remind our patients not to panic if you have been bitten by a tick. Wait until you get home or return to your holiday accommodation and calmly remove the tick as soon as possible.
o The only safe way to remove a tick is with a tick removal tool which will get underneath the tick and lift it off.
o Fine tweezers can be used with caution. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward slowly and firmly, as mouthparts left in the skin can cause a local irritation. Do not attempt to remove the tick with your fingers; you risk squeezing the tick and injecting Lyme disease bacteria into your blood.
o Once removed, apply antiseptic to the bite areas and monitor the area for several weeks for any changes. Take a photograph of the bite site to help highlight any changes.
o Contact your GP if you begin to feel unwell. Tick bites may not hurt and you don’t always notice you’ve been bitten. Remember to tell your GP if you’ve recently spent time outdoors and could have been bitten by a tick.
Tick Removal Tools are available from local Pharmacies and Village Shops.