Northbourne Surgery

Patients Newsletter #4

Northbourne Surgery Patients Newsletter 4    February 2010

 

1.  Address and telephone number – please advise us if you change your address or telephone number.  In some cases we may need to contact you urgently.  If we do not have an up to date address or telephone number this could cause serious problems if we are trying to contact you for an urgent result or regarding medication.

 

2.  Urgent prescriptions.  We advise patients to allow 48 hours for repeat prescriptions if being collected, or 72 hours if being sent to a pharmacist.  In some cases people run out of medication or forget to order.  From April onwards, unless there is an urgent medical reason for medication to be rushed through, patients will have to wait the full 48 hours for their prescription.  This may cause some inconvenience to some patients, but it should help to remind those patients to order repeat medication in plenty of time.

 

3.  Diabetes Clinics – From April 2010 we will be making the recall of patients with Diabetes easier.  We will ask you to make an appointment during the month of your birthday.  This will make it easier to remember when to book in for your annual review.

 

3.  Summary Care Records – our patients will shortly be getting letters advising them of this scheme.  Patients details such as recent prescriptions, allergies/ adverse reactions and contact information will be available to NHS clinicians in Out of Hours and Accident and Emergency Units for the purposes of medical care unless patients give written notification of refusal.  If you wish to withdraw from this scheme please inform the Practice Manager in writing.

 

4.  We have removed the wooden bookcase to create more light and to help encourage patients not to crowd others at the Reception desk – please respect other people’s right to confidentiality.

 

5.   Are you a Carer? – Do you care for a close family member with a chronic medical condition or a neighbour on an unpaid basis?  If so please advise us – and complete a form.  You may be entitled to help and support if you wish.  It allows the GPs/Nurses to be aware that there is someone who relies on you for care and this may be important in their clinical decision making.

 

6.  A reminder that you can order repeat prescriptions by email. Our email address is  bp-pct.northbourneprescriptions@nhs.net.  Ask the receptionists for a guidance leaflet.  Why not browse our website at www.northbournesurgery.co.uk. 

 

Thank you.

 

Stewart Clinton

Practice Manager

Last updated on 29 March 2012.

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