Summer Edition 2012 Website:
As you may all be aware there are going to be fundamental changes within the NHS effective from next April 2013. St Melor Surgery will belong to a local group consisting of several practices in South Wiltshire which will be part of a much larger group in Wiltshire. This large group will have total financial control and responsibility for providing services to our patients.
One of the areas that has been identified to practices is the inappropriate use of the Accident and Emergency Department at SalisburyHospital. This is an area that all practices have agreed to try to reduce the numbers of patients who attend and educate patients that there are alternatives to the A and E Department. Each time a patient attends A and E the basic cost can range from £56 - £195.!
Please think about how you access A and E. This facility is for real emergencies, not toothache or a sore throat or because it is more convenient.
There are other options:
The Walk in Centre is open 8.00 am – 8.00 pm every day including weekends and bank holidays. Telephone Number is 01722 331191
Out of Hours (when the surgery is closed) 0300 111 5717
NHS Direct 0845 4647
Our surgery is open 8.00 am – 6.30 pm – if your symptoms are not life threatening, then please contact the surgery first.
If you attend A and E during surgery opening hours or without accessing Out of Hours, and the doctors feel that your attendance was inappropriate then the surgery will write to you advising that you should have considered other options.
All practices are going to have to work within strict budgets and patients who attend A and E frequently and inappropriately are using money that could be spent more effectively elsewhere.
SMOKE STOP
On a much more positive note, St Melor Surgery has again for the second year running, been in the top 3 in Wiltshire for achieving the most amount of quitters. Bev provides good support to our patients and anyone who wants to quit smoking please contact the surgery and Bev will offer you an appointment. She has appointments on alternate Mondays and Tuesdays and can offer later appointments.
Website
As mentioned in our Spring Edition we do have a surgery website. The address is Any feedback is welcome regarding the website.
August 2012
We are a training practice and over the last couple of years have had some very good doctors working here at the surgery. At the beginning of August another doctor will join the practice - Dr Bridget Vatcher. She is a qualified doctor who is training to be a GP. After her induction here at the practice you might find that you are offered an appointment with Dr Vatcher. She will be working under the supervision of Dr Amita Dureja.
This newsletter is called the summer edition, let’s hope for some good weather soon!!