St Johns Medical PracticeNewsletter
SUMMER -2015
Enjoy the summer weather
Stay safe in the heat
BBQ Food safely
Useful links
(signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke)
(advice on avoiding food poisoning)
Please visit our website .co.uk.
for all information about the practice
.
Welcome to our summer newsletter – as always we hope this will be useful to you. Please contact us with any useful suggestions or questions. We aim to keep you informed and to provide the best service that we can.
What is New in the Practice?
Departures and Arrivals
Dr Keren Hull retired at the end of March. We are still missing her as do her patients. She was a partner her for 31 years, so a big gap to fill. She wishes to thank everyone for all good wishes for her retirement. Her collection which was given to the local charity Sevenoaks MIND raised £1400. They were delighted with this. Thank you also for the endless cards and messages that were sent to her.
Dr Hull is busy exploring the countryside and making the most of the good weather, but is a frequent visitor to us and keeps us well supplied with cakes.
New GP s have joined us. Dr Djahla Hewazy Dr Emma Dale and Dr Luke Yahanpath.
Dr Toothill will retire at the end of September. She and Dr Hull have been replaced by the three new GPs . We also anticipate some additional locum help during the coming winter months.
Currently there is a book for messages for Dr Toothill on the reception desk and if you would like to write in this and send her a card we are collecting these now. She has a great following of patients and will be much missed too. Any donations are for the Practice Equipment Fund and any cheques can be made payable to St Johns Medical Practice . We are planning to fund a second ECG machine for patients to improve the service .
We also bid farewell to our Nurse Hun Yoong Ferns at the end of September as she also retires .
Our Nursing team will then be Mandy Murrell, Brigid Lenanton and HCA Sue Quittenden.
Day to day Working
New Patients are welcome
You can download the registration form at – just click on the new patients in the top left hand corner and then come into the practice and register .
On- Line Access - we now offer you on line prescription ordering ,on-line appointment booking facility and now the ability to view your medical records . If you already are registered to make online appointments and order prescriptions you will need to come in to us with ID ( Photo ID & proof of residence –utility bill ) for a new token number in order to be able to access your medical records .
Your named GP
All patients are now allocated to a GP by name. This is an internal exercise .It makes no difference to the GP of choice that you may wish to see as we do not operate personal lists. We are not writing to patients individually on this, but do ask at your next consultation.
Access to the Appointments System – Morning Open Access Clinic
We have made some changes and we have conducted a small sample survey of the new open access system . The results were good and we will for the present continue with this system. Read about it here. This document is also available as a separate download on our website.
Electronic Prescribing
Please be aware that the transmission of your prescription to your chosen pharmacy may take a few hours. Pharmacies may not receive your prescription instantly as groups of prescriptions leave our system after an electronic sign off by a GP. Pharmacies also download at different times of the day. It is best to leave a few hours rather than going to the pharmacy immediately. Also if you know you are on a batch prescription system it may be worth mentioning this to the pharmacist upon collection. Some pharmacies have been experiencing some problems in locating the electronic downloads.
NHS 111
Patients can ring 111 at anytime of the day including out of hours for advice of a non Urgent Nature
Out Of hours the number to ring is 111.
Trained operators will connect you to the out of Hours GP service (IC 24) if your problem requires GP input
Our Opening Times
Monday – Friday
Telephones 8am – 6.30 pm
Doors Open 8.15am – 6.30pm – (closed between 1-2 pm Mon and Friday only )
Phones off 12.30-2.30pm each day (Ring 01732 747200 for an emergency )
Late Evening Surgery by appointment Only - Wednesday 6.30pm -8.45pm
ORDERING YOUR REPEAT MEDICATION
PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT TAKE TELEPHONE CALLS FOR THIS SERVICE.
Please ensure you give us 5 clear working days for the process – from drop off with us – to being bagged and ready at the pharmacy .
FLU CLINICS
We will soon be sending letters of invitation for this year .This will be for the over 65’s and for those at risk due to other medical factors . We generally offer three Saturdays of availability. You will be advised on which one to attend , we divide surnames alphabetically, if you cannot come on your weekend you can pick one of the others. Appointments are not made – it is a walk thru system and very efficient. There is no real waiting involved.
SHINGLES VACCINATIONS
This vaccination is now available for people aged 70,71, 78 & 79 . See dates of birth below
Last chance for those who will become 80 from 31st August onwards
From 1st September the group for vaccination is as flows
Age 70 – Born 02/09/1943-01/09/1944
Age 71 - Born 02/09/1942-01/09/1943
Age 78 - Born 02/09/1935 -01/09/1936
Age 79- Born 02/09/1934-01/09/1935
PERTUSSIS VACCINATION
This is being offered to pregnant Mums for protection against whooping cough in the unborn baby
Letters are sent out for this when they are due. If you are unsure you should contact the surgery
New Times at the Phlebotomy Clinic Sevenoaks Hospital
From 29thJune 2015
Our timeslots are now defined
Tuesdays – 8am -12 noon
Wednesdays 8am – 12Noon
Thursday 1.30pm -4pm
Minor Injuries/ Minor Illness - Sevenoaks Hospital Service OPEN 8am - 8pm
7 days a week
Please use the minor ailments service at SevenoaksHospital for any new acute minor illness problem. No under 5’s and no ongoing conditions. 8am – 8pm 7 days a week.
They deal with Minor injuries and minor ailments:
Infections, bites, stings, minor burns, scalds, minor cuts, sprains and strains Fractures of shoulder arms and lower legs. Dislocations of fingers, thumbs and toes.
Minor eye conditions – including conjunctivitis and foreign bodies. Minor nose bleeds (not warfarin patients). Minor head injuries (no loss of consciousness, or alcohol/drug related) Coughs Colds sore throats and sinusitis, Urinary tract infections Skin Infections
Also Emergency Contraception., but only when there is no pharmacy open.
ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY USAGE.
A Plea to use this appropriately
Many patients use A & E for very minor matters. This creates long waits and is very wasteful on this special resource. Every day we receive reports for cases that should never have been to A & E. The charges are made by the hospital for each attendance no matter how in appropriate. Valuablecommissioning funds are lost this way that could be spent on other NHS services. Please consider carefully before you go.
Remember your local pharmacist can give advice without a wait or appointment.
Also minor injuries at SevenoaksHospitalcan give treatment and advice.
During GP hours please contact us first if unsure whether to go to AE
THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TEST
Please fill out the friends and family survey sheet , this will be given to you at reception
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR CONTACT DETAILS
Make sure that you Keep us posted
Please contact us if you have changed address or your phone number to make sure you update your details with us. Forms are available at the desk, or you can do this online at the Website.
Patient Participation Group - come and join us !
We would love to have some more members for the committee.
If you are interested in this please complete a form at reception. Our next meeting will be on November 2nd at 7pm. This is a group to connect patients to the services at the surgery and help organize something additional for the patient list. Educational events – awareness of services. Surveys and helping to champion your GP practice and make suggestions for future improvements
Our chairman is now Caroline Aldridge and secretary is John Harris.
Look out for news from the PPG on the PPG notice board in reception. We are planning a sponsored practice walk on October 17th. We will post details of the start time and meeting place soon. We hope to get a crowd together – funds raised will in in aid of the practice equipment fund for the ECG machine we need. You don’t need to find sponsors (unless you want to) we will ask patients to sponsor us as a group and collect donations in the surgery . We will put up posters soon .
We are also planning a patient educational session in the autumn on spotting pre diabetes. It will take place in the practice and patients who may be at risk will be contacted. It will be run by Dr Dale and Nurse Brigid. - our diabetic leads .
We thank the PPG for conducting the patient survey and for collating the results . Published at the start of this newsletter .See the embeddeddocument earlier in this document and to download on the website link .
YOUR BIGGEST MOANS We Do listen and Consider
WAITING TIME
Last year we had many complaints about waiting too long for timed appointments. This year in response we have implemented the open access morning surgery, this has improved access and we feel it is a better system. Your responses show that this has been better for patients. Sadly we cannot solve the waiting completely and on occasions it will be inevitable that GPs run late and youwill get held up . We will endeavor to do better at keeping you informed.
GPs are available for telephone consultations on request if it helps you.
Remember you can prebook for routine appointments 6 weeks in advance .This will generally now be in the afternoons. If you need to have a follow up and need a morning slot we can arrange this Many people ask why we don’t make all appointments for 20 minutes or a mixture,and then waiting times would not be so bad.
Answer – We would love to ,but with nearly 10.000 patients we still would not be able to offer enough slots to book – in fact only half the amount and then many people would not take 20 minutes and still we would have no shows and inappropriate appointments . We would actually be a worse predicament
MORE SOUND BITES
Talking Therapies – Available in West Kent: - .org.uk
Log on for a list of free NHS funded therapists in West Kent
Mental Health Problems. Support is available with Reach out. To find out about the programme for meetings and activities you can contact TaraGibson – 07989 219185 or 01892 676285. Confidential friendly self help groups Also MENTAL HEALTHHELPLINE 08001070160 Available 24/7
Dementia Café at the Stag Theatre on 1st – 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Healthy Minds Service – available here on Monday afternoons –
You can see Jenny to discuss – Healthy Eating, Quitting Smoking, and Exercise, Alcohol /Drug abuse Stress Emotional wellbeing . Using local services Sexual Health
Call 0300 790 0245 or ask your GP to refer you
Sevenoaks Mind-
Words in Mind Creative Writing Group - Contact 01732 744950 or
MIND ALSO NEED BEFRIENDERS- If you have one or two hours to spare please call Ruth 01732 744950. full training and Expenses will be provided
Sevenoaks Friendship Centre – Club for over 50’s. For current programme - Ring Alan 01732 453522
Complaints – We would prefer to initially deal with all complaints in house and you should ask for the practice manager Julia Gilliat- Smith
You can also contact the patient liaison service PALS at
WKCCG. 01732 376101
If local resolution is not possible please contact
NHS England
P O box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT
Stop Smoking Clinic -you can self-refer–
0300 123 1220 or text QUIT to 87023
Or ask the GP /Nurse/HCA to refer you
Orchid Male Cancer Helpline – Worried about testicular, prostate or penile cancer
0808 802 0010
Alzheimer’s – If you are affected by dementia or worried about your memory or that of someone close to you call the Alzheimer’s Society national Helpline 0300 222 1122
24hour dementia Helpline – 0800 500 3014
Carers First- Kent & Medway service – Giving support and information to carers in our community Contact 0300 303 1555.
Age UK
Stepping OutWeekly Social club for over 50s.
Sessions vary- for more information call 01732 454108
Age UK Alarms – Enquiries for a home alarm – 08000304379
Brighter Futures Also for Older people in Sevenoaks –- helping you stay independent in your own home. 01732 469000. A range of help available at a small charge
We have a Blood Pressure Machine in the waiting room. Do take advantage of this, especially if you have not had a BP in the last 5 years. Easy and convenient for you – no appointment required. Your reading will print off for you. The receptionist can then check this with the nurse.
Suggestions / Helpful comments
We are always happy to receive your constructive suggestions to improve our service, contact the practice manager or complete a slip and place in the box on reception. You can also complete a comment/suggestions form on the new website –see contact us section or email us on
Be Clear On Cancer- Bowel Screening
Patients of 60 years and over will be included in a National Cancer Campaign. A screening toolkit will be sent out to patients. Please don’t ignore the screening kit. It’s free and may help you get an early diagnosis for a better outlook. Always tell you GP about changes in your bowel habit and evidence of bleeding
Private Fees
We do ask patients to be aware that not all services are covered under the NHS. We have a comprehensive list of charges for private services available at reception. This includes some travel vaccines such as Rabies, Yellow Fever and Hepatitis B. . These vaccines cannot be given until they have been paid for . Also all paperwork that relates to private matters incur a fee. E.g. Holiday cancellations, To Whom it May Concern letters etc.
TRAVEL
Travel appointments require the completion of a form . This must be done before your appointment and can be downloaded from the website.
Hearing Aid Service
HI Kent . Free Hearing aid aftercare ,advice and battery supply .
At Hollybush Day Centre -
Next Dates
Aug 21st 18th Sept 20th Oct 20th November 18th Dec
Time 1.15pm -2.45pm
Are you a Carer- Carers First support adult and young carers who look after a person with ill health, frailty, and mental health issues or substances misuse who are unable to manage for themselves. Young carers age 5-18 are also supported. You can call 01732 357555 for advice. Mon – Thurs 9am -5pm Fri 9am – 4.30 pm
Online email info@carersfirst .org.uk
BE Clear on Cancer - information on early signs and symptoms of cancers can be found on
Also a range of leaflets available in the waiting room.
Beating eating disorders– – for more information
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SENSIBLE TRUSTWORTHY MEDICAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE – We recommend
Thanks for reading