The Abbotsbury Patient Participation Group (PPG) NEWSLETTER
Eastcote Health Centre, Abbotsbury Gardens, Pinner, HA5 1TG
Telephone: 020 8866 0121 or 020 8866 8382. Fax: 020 8426 1028.
PRACTICE WEBSITE: www.abbotsburypractice.nhs.uk
*PPG EMAIL ADDRESS: *
*NB messages to this email address do not go to the practice but are dealt with by PPG members.*
ISSUE NO 11 AUTUMN 2014
Welcome to the eleventh newsletter prepared by the Abbotsbury Patient Participation Group (PPG) in conjunction with the Abbotsbury Practice.
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Useful information about
X-rays and Scans
Our previous Newsletter (No 10) gave important information about NHS screening services in the UK. The following article, first published in Issue No 5, gives details that patients might find helpful when attending for a scan or X-ray.
It is not always necessary to undress and change into a hospital gown for an x-ray or a scan – including the MRI or CT scans.
If you wear NO METAL OBJECTS – no zips, buckles, clasps, buttons, body-piercings etc., - but wear only elasticated or cotton clothing, (including bras and belts without metal fittings), you can have your x-ray or scan while fully clothed and without changing into a gown.
There are exceptions to this of course, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, but the Radiographer will explain this before your procedure.
It does no harm to go dressed for the occasion – without metals – just in case!
While it is very convenient for patients not to have to undress, it has the added benefit of saving the NHS time as well as the costs of supplying and laundering the gowns.
D. Reile
Article endorsed by the Royal College of Radiologists
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Earlier copies of the Newsletter can be downloaded from the Practice website:
www.abbotsburypractice.nhs.uk
An Account of our NHS Prescriptions
Our prescriptions are provided and authorised by our GP to treat our illnesses. We may have the prescription issued to us:
· personally from our GP
· by filling in the repeat request form, handing it in to the surgery and later collecting it from the receptionist to be handed to the pharmacist,
· delivered straight to the pharmacist from the surgery by a computer via the electronic prescribing service (EPS),
· or, for regular medicines only, we may choose to re-order them ourselves by going online and registering with:
https://patient.emisaccess.co.uk
Local pharmacists are experts in medicines and will use their expertise to ensure the safe supply and use of medicines by the public.
Q. Who pays the pharmacist for the prescribed drugs?
A: The payment is made by the local Commissioning Care Group (CCG), in our case Hillingdon CCG, from the prescribing budget via the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Payment is processed by a computer called EPACT.
Q. How is the pharmacist paid if you visit a pharmacy in a different area?
A: If this is in the UK by the electronic prescription service (EPS); the payment is made to the “new” pharmacist as they would inform the NHSBSA that they had dispensed the prescription. There is a tracker that is intended for use by all staff working at prescribing and dispensing sites to provide the status of a prescription.
Q. Does each individual drug or medicine cost the same price throughout the country?
A: Yes, if it is in the “Drug Tariff”. This is what will be paid to pharmacy contractors for NHS services provided.
Q. Is the drug supplied to the pharmacist from a central supplies department of the NHS?
A: NO
Q: Does the pharmacist buy his stock of medicines from a pharmaceutical company and then get reimbursed by the NHS as each individual item on the prescription is dispensed to the patient?
A: YES
Q: Is the GP’s annual budget reduced by the cost of each drug every time it is prescribed?
A: Yes, it is tracked from June onwards until the end of the financial year.
Q. Are old prescriptions kept for future reference?
A: Yes, the NHS Prescription Services retain prescriptions for 18 months after which they are securely destroyed on a rolling monthly basis.
Prescription Charges in England:
From 1st April 2014: £8.05 per item or
Three months Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC): £29.10;
Twelve months Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC): £104.00.
Free Prescriptions
Some patients qualify for free medicines and drugs and an explanation of who is eligible can be found on the back of the prescription form. More detailed information is available on the NHS Choices website:
www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/healthcosts
D. Reile August 2014
Sources:
The North West London Commissioning Support Unit,
Freedom of Information Office,
email:
NHS Choices: www.nhs.uk/nhsengland
NHS Business Services Authority: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk
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Peter Wright
has retired as Vice Chair of the PPG
Peter was a founder member of the Group in 2011 and as Senior Member brought with him an “Old School” form of professionalism ensuring that everything was done properly and correctly.
It was Peter, who insisted from the very start that the Group required a properly written form of Constitution, which was acceptable to, and agreed by all Members. This sent the Secretary back to his law books!
Peter brought with him a calm assurance and the steadying affect that nothing “would rock the boat” - a very useful and essential talent on those rare occasions when opinions differed.
J. Pearson, July 2014
NEWS FROM THE PPG
Following the retirement of our Vice Chairman, Peter Wright and our Secretary, John Pearson, we are pleased to report that two patients, Mr Tom Barclay and Mr Raj Khona, have recently joined the PPG.
Current Members:
Nalini Chandarana (Chair)
Verena Clark (Treasurer)
Barbara Merrick, David Payne,
Dorothy Reile, Elaine O’Sullivan,
Gill Richiardi, Janice Fitton,
Marion Myers, Raj Khona,
Tom Barclay
Contact us at:
A reminder about how to make appointments and order prescriptions online
The Emis Access Facility allows currently registered patients to make appointments online and send repeat prescription requests. The patient can choose to register for either online appointments or both services but please note that photographic ID will be required for online prescription requests.
Online Appointments
Registered patients can request this service using the following methods:
· You can do this by coming to the practice where you will be given the relevant paperwork to enable access.
· Alternatively, you can log on to: https://www.patient.emisaccess.co.uk scroll to the bottom of the screen and click “Register now.”
· You can also register online from the practice website:
www.abbotsburypractice.nhs.uk
You will then be able to access a number of appointments available for the following week. However, if there are no online appointments available you can still telephone the practice to make an appointment.
Online Prescription Requests
This facility can only be enabled for patients over the age of 16 and must be requested in person at the practice.
You must provide a photographic ID when you register for this service. Parents cannot use this system for their children’s repeat prescriptions which they must continue to request in the normal way.
Please ask at reception for the relevant paperwork to enable access to the service.
STAFF CHANGES AT THE
ABBOTSBURY PRACTICE
We welcome Dr Manpreet Bains, who has recently joined the Abbotsbury Practice as our Registrar. Like previous Registrars she will be with us for twelve months as she continues her training to become a GP.
We are very pleased that, Dr Anisha Patel, our previous registrar who is now fully qualified, will remain with the practice for another year while Dr Siddiqui is on maternity leave. Congratulations to Dr Siddiqui who has given birth to a healthy baby girl. Mother and daughter are both doing well.
The 2014 Flu Campaign started on
23rd September.
There are extra sessions planned for Saturdays to make it easier for people to attend. Those dates are:
Saturday 27th September
Saturday 11th October
Saturday 1st November
The following people are eligible for the vaccine:
People over the age of 65
Very young children
All pregnant women
Patients with chronic illnesses
If you have any queries, please ask a member of the practice team.
If you no longer need your appointment, please remember to let the surgery know and give as much notice as possible. This is very important for hospital appointments too. Please inform the hospital/clinic directly.
HAVE YOU GOT THE MESSAGE?
For anyone with a medical condition
Emergency Information Scheme
Have you noticed, at the surgery reception desk, the LION CLUBS’ charity have devised another means of alerting people of your details in case of emergency?
You may remember the “Message in a Bottle” in which your details are stored in the fridge, now it is a “Message in your wallet” equally important when you are out and about.
This little green booklet fits snugly into a wallet or purse, or even a pocket, and contains no personal information only phone numbers; also included are:
· Your blood group.
· Details of any condition, illness or allergies.
· Medication.
· GP details.
· Carer/ Health Visitor details.
· Next of Kin or Contact person.
· Details of someone who may rely on you.
· Information about a pet that may need to be cared for.
· A page for other information that may be relevant.
These little green booklets are free of charge and are also available from Libraries, Citizens Advice Bureau, Hillingdon Carers and Age UK.
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