NEWSLETTER
www.riversidemedicalpractice.co.uk /
Riverside
Medical Practice
/ Musselburgh Primary Care CentreInveresk Road
Musselburgh
East Lothian
EH21 7BP
Tel: 0131-446-4171
Fax: 0131-446-4063
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. Cancellation Telephone Line
2. KNOW WHO TO TURN TO
3. WRVS Transport Service
4. Opening Times & Emergency Telephone Numbers
5. Appointment Non-Attendance / Cancellation Telephone Line
0131 446 4168
This is a new telephone line that we have opened, to make it easier for our patients to contact the practice, with the sole purpose of cancelling any unwanted booked appointment that they may have with a Doctor or Nurse in our GP practice.
This is a dedicated telephone line for appointment CANCELLATIONS ONLY
No other requests will be accepted by our Receptionist answering this telephone.
Know Who to Turn To
Sometimes other NHS Services should be tried, before contacting your GP practice.
Going directly to the NHS Service with the appropriate skills is important. This can help you to a speedier recovery and makes sure all NHS services are run efficiently.
Pharmacist:
When you need healthcare advice or help with medicines
General Practitioner [GP]:
When you have an illness or injury that won’t go away
Dentist:
When your mouth or teeth need urgent attention
NHS Out-of-Hours Service:
When your GP and local Pharmacy are closed
Minor Injuries Unit:
When you need urgent care for a minor injury, burn or fracture
999 / Accident and Emergency [A&E]:
When an illness or injury is serious or life-threatening
Contd…
WRVS Transport Service
The WRVS, one of the nation’s leading charities, provide support to older people living in the community.
In East Lothian, the WRVS now provide a travel service for people over the age of 75yrs, who are unable to travel on their own to attend their GP practice for booked appointments.
If you are aged over 75yrs and unable to use Public Transport or a Taxi on your own, you can contact Reception at your GP practice, and enquire if it would be possible for a WRVS volunteer to bring you to the practice for your booked appointment, and also take you on your return journey home.
There are leaflets displayed in patient areas in the practice, with further details about how the WRVS can support older people who live in the community.
The Emergency line
is for emergencies only,
you cannot book appointments
or request prescriptions on it
Remember to use:
NHS24 [111]
when the surgery is closed / Opening Times
& Emergency Telephone Numbers
Our Main Tel Line = 0131 446 4171
Our Emergency Tel Line = 0131 446 4061
Cancellation Tel Line = 0131 446 4168The Emergency line is for emergencies only, you cannot book appointments on it
Opening Times
Please Note: The surgery DOES NOT offer a Walk-In ServiceTimes
Monday / 08:00 - 18:00
Tuesday / 08:00 - 18:00
Wednesday / 08:00 - 18:00
Thursday / 08:00 - 18:00
Friday / 08:00 - 18:00
Weekend / closed
Extended hours
There are also some appointments available each week before 8am and after 6pm. Check with the Receptionist for these times as they vary from week to week.
When We Are Closed
When the surgery is closedduring the working week, i.e. overnight - from 6.00 p.m – 8.00 am Monday to Friday, and at weekends -from 6.00pm Friday to 8.00 am Monday, you can callNHS24 [111] to speak to a triage Nurse.
Your needs will be assessed and advice offered, or arrangements will be made for you to see a Doctor.
Please do not ask to see a Doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.
Call 999 in a serious emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.
On the following dates, the practice will be closed. This calendar runs up to the end of March 2015.
Public Holidays
The Practice will be closed on the following Public Holidays:
· Monday 02 May 2016
· Monday 19 September 2016
· Monday 26 December 2016 [Boxing Day
· Tuesday 27 December 2016 [in lieu of Christmas Day]
· Monday 02 January 2017
· Tuesday 03 January 2017 [in lieu of New Years Day]
Protected Learning Afternoons
Six times a year, the practice closes on a Wednesday afternoon to allow for staff, both clinical and clerical, to update their skills. The following dates have been scheduled for Protected Learning:
· 07/09/16
· 05/10/16
WHEN I AM BORN
PLEASE REMEMBER
TO
REGISTER ME
AT
RIVERSIDE MEDICAL PRACTICE
OR
I WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO HAVE
MY CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATIONS
DNAs in last 6 months atRiverside Medical Practice
OCTOBER 2015 / 219
NOVEMBER 2015 / 250
DECEMBER 2015 / 252
JANUARY 2016 / 174
FEBRUARY 2016 / 167
MARCH 2016 / 170
Total = / 1,232
/ Appointment Non-Attendance
§ Non-attendance for GP & Nurse appointments has increasingly become a serious problem
§ The monthly figures for 2016 show that DNAs (Did Not Attend) are in excess of 205 per month
§ This is a huge waste of resources for Doctors & Practice Nurses
§ This means many patients have been declined an appointment, when they could have been seen
§ This causes understandable frustration for our patients
§ Riverside Medical Practice have instigated MJOG, an E-mail, Text & Voicemail appointment reminder system
§ MJOG Emails, Texts & Voicemails are sent to our patients 48hrs before their booked appointment
§ Sadly, MJOG reminders have not prevented this problem growing
The practice are going to review all cases of non-attendance where a patient
A. failed to turn up for their booked appointment at the surgery
B. failed to notify the surgery in advance of their non-attendance
§ Repeated non-attendance will be monitored for all patients
§ When a patient has three DNAs in a 6-month period, their registration status will be reviewed
§ Removal from the practice list may be considered
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS
CONTACT THE SURGERY
IF YOUR ARE GOING TO BE UNABLE
TO ATTEND YOUR APPOINTMENT
OR YOU WILL BE
REGISTERED AS A DNA
Date: Thursday, 14 April 2016