ALRESFORD SUGERY - PATIENT FORUM
MEETING HELD ON
Tuesday 23rd March 2010 at 2pm
NOTES OF MEETING
- The meeting was hosted by Dr Peter Stokes and Sue Lees.
- Prescribing Medications.
Dr Stokes described the process for prescribing medications including one-off prescriptions and prescriptions for medicines which are required for a longer term. Long term or ‘repeat’ medications can be requested by patients in a number of ways:
- By fax
- By returning the slip provided with prescriptions
- By filling in a form at the surgery
- Via the surgery website
We are unable to accept requests via the telephone due to the fact that more errors can occur and because this can clog up the telephone lines.
Why do prescriptions take 48 hours?
Patients are advised that prescription requests take 48hours as there are a number of checks to be made to ensure that the correct medication is prescribed and to make sure that all requested medications are authorised.
What can go wrong?
Occasionally the request is complicated by the fact that the medications can only be prescribed by a hospital consultant or clarification of dosage may need to be sought from the hospital.
We have been informed by a patient that sometimes the repeat request form is missing from his prescriptions.
Repeat Dispensing
This is a scheme whereby six months worth of prescriptions can be sent to one of the local chemists. Patients can then collect their medications directly from the chemist each month. Patients should discuss this with their doctor.
- Doctor changes at Alresford Surgery
It has recently been announced that Drs Green and Cassidy will be retiring from General Practice on 1st October 2010. Dr Green is currently on long term sick leave and will not be returning to work before his retirement.
Dr Green’s surgeries are currently being undertaken by a locum GP, Dr Katie D’Arcy. We are delighted to have Dr D’Arcy with us for the time being.
Dr Tara Kidd is working with us as a GP Registrar which means that she is completing all her training to become a fully qualified GP.
- Publicising Alresford Surgery and the Patient Forum
The surgery publishes a newsletter each month. This can be found in ‘Whats on in Alresford’, Alresford Forum and various parish magazines as well as the surgery website.
- Date of Next Meeting
The next Alresford Surgery Patient Forum will take place on Tuesday 7th September