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October 2013
August 2013
NEWS
Flu Vaccinations Programme
We hope to commence our flu campaign towards the end of September. Following the continual success of our Saturday morning flu clinics, we shall again be running our flu clinics on various Saturday mornings throughout October at both Nettleham and Cherry Willingham surgeries. We will be providing limited Thursday evening clinics at Nettleham for those patients who genuinely can not attend on a Saturday. Vaccination is available for patients who fit one of the criteria listed below:
Aged 65 or over
Have Chronic Heart Disease
Have Chronic Respiratory Disease (including Asthma when regularly using an inhaled steroid)
Have Chronic Liver Disease
Have Chronic Renal Disease
Have Diabetes
Have Suppressed Immune Systems
Are a Carer
Have Multiple Sclerosis
Currently pregnant
Please contact either surgery from the beginning of September to book an appointment in one of the flu clinics .
There is no need to wait until you receive a letter. If you fit into one of the criteria listed above, please contact the surgery to make an appointment.
New Shingles Vaccine Coming To A Surgery Near You!
From September 2013, there will be a new national shingles immunisation programme, for people aged 70 years old, and a ‘catch-up’ programme will commence.
This year’s ‘catch up’ will include anyone who is 79 years old (born September 1933 – September 1934 inclusive).
It is not currently recommended for adults aged 80 years and above, as the efficiency of the vaccine is reduced in this age group.
Singles is caused by the re-activation of the chicken-pox (varicella) virus, sometimes decades after the initial infection. It can occur at any age, but is most common in older people. The severity also increases with age, and it can lead to on going nerve pain (post hepetic neuralgia).
The vaccine helps to prevent shingles and reduces the painful after effects. It is a one dose injection, usually given in the upper arm. It can be given regardless of having had shingles before.
If you are entitled to this vaccine, this year, you will be sent an invitation from the surgery. Due to limited vaccine supply, you will not yet be able to have the vaccine if you are not in the current age groups (above). However, the ‘catch up’ will be rolled out, eventually to include all 70-79 year olds.
Some people may not be able to have the vaccine, due to it being a ‘live’ vaccine. This will include people who have reduced immunity due to certain medical conditions or specific medications. Your doctor can advise you if you should not have the vaccine.
We are hoping to provide short weekly shingles vaccine sessions at both Cherry Willingham and Nettleham surgeries, and some Saturday morning clinics. We will not be able to give this vaccine at the same time as your annual flu jab.
April 2013
NEWS
Retirements
Dr John Craven will be retiring from the practice at the end of July 2013 after 36 years.
He will be sorely missed by everyone at the practice and by many patients. We wish him
the very best in his new ventures.
Janet Holland, our Health Visitor is also retiring. She will be leaving us in the middle of April. On behalf of everyone at the practice and all of the patients that have seen Janet over the years, we wish her well in her retirement.
Baby Clinics
The Health Visiting team would like to notify all parents and carers that due to recent changes the ‘Well Baby Clinic’ previously held at Nettleham Surgery has ceased as of 1st April 2013. The nearest ‘Well Baby Clinics’ are either on a Monday at Welton Children’s Centre from 1pm – 3pm or at Cherry Willingham Children’s Centre on a Wednesday between 2pm – 4pm.
CQC Registration
The practice is pleased to announce that it has successfully become registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as of 1st April 2013.
Monthly Early Closures for Training
In order to enable our doctors and staff to be kept up to date Nettleham surgery will be closed for training from 1pm on the following afternoons. Emergency help is still available by calling 111.
Tuesday 21st May Tuesday 18th June
Tuesday 16th July Tuesday 20th August
Tuesday 17th September
Patient Participation Group and Voluntary Driver Scheme
We are still welcoming patients who wish to join our Virtual Patient Reference Group (PRG). The purpose of this is to have a large group of patients that the practice will contact by email a couple of times each year to ask for their opinion on its services etc.
If you are interested then please complete one of the join up forms at reception or contact Sarah Liron at the practice for more details.
Our second local patient participation report is now available to read on our website. The report displays the results of the survey which was undertaken by our PPG in the waiting rooms at the practice and also by member of our PRG.
Meg Rawden – PPG Chairperson
At the present moment we have sufficient cover in most villages we serve but are in need of volunteer drivers at Nettleham.
If you are interested, please leave your contact details with one of the receptionists at either surgery and I will make contact with you and discuss some of the finer points of the scheme.
Alan Price – VDS Co-ordinator
February 2013
AAA Screening
We are delighted to inform patients that the practice has been selected as
one of the sites in Lincolnshire which patients can attend for their Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening.
This is a new screening service in Lincolnshire for men who are entering
their 65th year. Screening invites are sent by the screening team at Pilgrim Hospital Boston. More information is at: http://aaa.screening.nhs.uk
Monthly Early Closures for Training 2013
In order to enable our doctors and staff to be kept up to date Nettleham Surgery will be closed for training at 1pm on the following afternoons.
Emergency help is still available by calling 111.
Tuesday 18 June
Tuesday 16 July
Tuesday 20 August
When the practice is closed ring freephone 111
Patient Participation Group
We are still welcoming patients who wish to join our virtual Patient Reference
Group. The purpose of this is to have a large group of patients that the practice will contact by email a couple of times each year to ask for their opinion on its services etc.
If you are interested then please complete one of the join up forms at reception or contact Sarah Liron at the practice for more details.
Meg Rawden – PPG Chairperson
Voluntary Drivers Scheme
At the present moment we have sufficient cover in most of the villages we serve but are in need of volunteer drivers in Nettleham.
If you are interested, please leave your contact details with one of the Receptionists at either surgery and I will make contact with you and discuss some of the finer points of the scheme.
Alan Price - VDS Co-ordinator
April 2012
New Clinical Computer System
The date of the move to the new clinical computer system is now fast approaching – 23rd May 2012. Due to the volume of data that needs transferring and to ensure that everything is fully functioning the practice will close at 1.00pm on 23rd May. Should you need to be seen urgently on that afternoon, still telephone the practice and the appropriate contact numbers will be on the answer machine.
Some of the practice’s services will experience some unavoidable interruptions whilst we are in the transitional period:
Results line – the results line will not be available from 16th May until 22nd May.
Repeat prescriptions – please where possible allow longer for repeat prescriptions which are ordered between 23rd May - 8th June.
Whilst we shall try and make the migration as smooth as possible, there will inevitably be some disruption whilst staff and GPs become fully trained in the new system. Please be patient with all departments and staff during the first few weeks as they become totally familiar with the new system.
Green Issues
The practice has been enthusiastically looking at ways to increase recycling and therefore reduce its carbon footprint. We already have in place a company that securely shreds all of our waste paper and then recycles it. However, from April 2012, we are now also recycling as much of our other waste as we can.
You may have seen our sun tubes in use in the waiting room at Nettleham and, to complment these, we have also installed solar panels which produce electricity which is used by the practice during the week and any residual electricity is sent to the National Grid.
Contact Details – Nettleham 01522 751717
When the surgery is closed ring freephone 111
Website – www.nettlehammedical.co.uk (this link will open in a new window - popups must be allowed)
Practice manager – Helen Lunn
October 2011
Cherry Willingham
We are aware that it has been difficult at times to obtain a convenient appointment at our branch surgery at Cherry Willingham. We are committed to maintaining a branch surgery at Cherry Willingham, although many other rural practices now have closed their branch surgeries. The number of appointments at this site is limited and we would encourage all patients who have their own transport to attend our Nettleham Surgery wherever possible to leave more appointments available to those Cherry Willingham patients without easy transport.
Medication Reviews
Over the last few months, we have been changing the way in which medication reviews are undertaken in the practice. Historically all patients on repeat medication have had a review date printed on their repeat prescription slip and would be expected to make an appointment with a doctor around that date in order for the medication to be reviewed. Now, the doctors review the clinical records of patients with medication reviews about to expire, and then patients are contacted by a receptionist by telephone or letter to make an appointment for any blood test or other monitoring required prior to the medication review. This will ensure that all tests are carried out in advance of the appointment and should ensure that your review is fully comprehensive. For some patients it may be decided by your doctor that all the monitoring has been completed for that year and the medication can be updated without the need for a face to face appointment, saving you time.
Monthly Early Closures for Training 2011
In order to enable our doctors and staff to be kept up to date Nettleham surgery will be closed for training at 1pm on the following afternoons. Emergency help is still available by calling 111.
- Tuesday 15th November 2011
- Tuesday 13th December 2011
Patient Participation Group & Voluntary Driver Scheme
We would still like to encourage more patients to join our virtual Patient Reference Group. The purpose of this is to have a large group of patients that the practice will contact by email a couple of times each year to ask for their opinion on its services etc.
If you are interested then please complete one of the join up forms at reception or contact Nicola Lamming at the practice for more details.
The Voluntary Drivers Scheme continues as a well liked service to those patients who have difficulty in getting in for their appointments either due to mobility problems or no transport of their own.
We are starting to go through the renewal of CRB checks as we are approaching the end of our first 3 year badges.
If there is anyone out there who feels that they would like to become involved in working within the scheme, who have access to a 4 door (minimum) vehicle, could make themselves available for a minimum of one regular day a week (holidays excepted) and who have a reasonable knowledge of the area that we cover, we would be interested in hearing from you. Please leave your contact details with one of the receptionists at either surgery and I will make contact with you and discuss some of the finer points of the scheme. Also bear in mind that all drivers have to be cleared for an Enhanced CRB check.
Meg Rawden – PPG Chairperson
Alan Price – VDS Co-ordinator
July 2011
New Phone System
The new phone system has now been installed and is working very well. We experienced the expected ‘teething problems’ in the first couple of weeks so thanks for your patience during this time.
We are noticing that a lot of phone calls are received at the practice between 8:00 am and 8:30 am. I would like to remind patients that the appointment lines for all routine appointments don’t open until 8:30 am, and only emergency calls are accepted from 8.00 am.
Private Forms & Reports
Fees for insurance forms, “fitness to participate” letters and other non-NHS work are available from reception. Please hand these forms to reception (not one of the GPs) and also ensure that you have completed all of the claimant’s section of the form including the consent and declaration sections, as failure to complete these parts will result in the GP being unable to complete the form and an unnecessary delay. We ask for a minimum of 7 working days for completion of private forms (although at busy times of year we may need longer). The practice will contact you when the paperwork is completed and ready for collection. The fee must be paid by cheque or cash upon collection of the completed form.
Monthly Early Closure For Training 2011
In order to enable our doctors and staff to be kept up to date Nettleham surgery will be closed for training at 1.00 pm on the following afternoons. Emergency help is still available by calling 111.
Tuesday 19th July 2011
Tuesday 16th August 2011
Tuesday 20th September 2011
Tuesday 18th October 2011
Tuesday 15th November 2011
Tuesday 13th November 2011
Flu Vaccinations Programme
We hope to commence our flu campaign towards the end of September. Following the success of our Saturday morning flu clinics, we shall again be running our flu clinics on various Saturday mornings throughout October at both Nettleham and Cherry Willingham surgeries. We will be providing limited Thursday evening clinics at Nettleham for those patients who genuinely can not attend on a Saturday. Vaccination is available for patients who fit one of the criteria listed below:
Aged 65 or over Have
Chronic Heart Disease
Have Chronic Respiratory Disease (including Asthma when regularly using an inhaled steroid
Have Chronic Liver Disease
Have Chronic Renal Disease
Have Diabetes
Have Suppressed Immune Systems
Are a Carer
Have Multiple Sclerosis
Currently Pregnant
Please contact either surgery from the middle of September to book an appointment in one of the flu clinics. There is no need to wait until you receive a letter. If you fit into one of the criteria listed above, please contact the surgery to make an appointment.
Helen Lunn
Practice manager
________________________________________________________
Patient Participation Group/Volunatry Drivers Scheme
Would you like to help us develop the services we provide? If so, we would like to hear your views. We are in the process of forming a 'virtual patient reference group’ in order to find out the views of a cross section of our practice.
If you give us your email details (or contact details if you have no email address) we will contact you a few times each year to ask your opinion on a number of matters.
If you are interested then please complete one of the join up forms at reception or contact Nicola Lamming at the practice for more details.
The voluntary driver scheme carries on being used extensively by many grateful patients, so much so that on Wednesday 15th June we set a new record for the number of patients carried to and from the surgery in one day, when there were a total of 14 clients transported.
We would like to thank all our loyal clients.
Meg Rawden – PPG Chairperson
Alan Price - VDS Co-ordinator
________________________________________________________
April 2011
GP Changes
We are pleased to announce that Dr Philip Williams who is currently one of our GP Registrars will being staying with the practice as a Partner from August 2011 to replace Dr Ian Lacy who retires at the end of June. Dr Lacy will continue to work some sessions for the practice each year so will still be around. He has recently been elected onto the board of our local shadow GP consortium so will spend most of his time in this new role.
Phone Number Changes
The practice is currently in the process of having a new telephone system installed which is due to ‘go live’ on 10th May 2011. The new system will improve the telephone access for the patients at our Cherry Willingham surgery as we shall move to one single number which covers both sites. This number will be available all day from 8:00am until 6:30pm. The number will be 01522 751717. The prescription ordering line at Cherry Willingham will also change to 01522 754649. We expect that the changeover will go smoothly to plan but would ask that patients bear with us for the first few days.
From the 1st April 2011, the out of hours telephone number is also changing to 111 which is a freephone number. All calls will be handled by staff at 111 and then directed to the most appropriate clinician.
Online Appointment Booking
Following some very favourable feedback regarding our online appointment booking system, we have increased the number of appointments which can be booked this way. If you would be interested in using this service you will need to register for online access by coming into the practice and bringing a form of photo ID (passport or driving licence). After two working days you can collect your unique username and PIN for this service. If you are already registered to order repeat prescriptions online, you do not need to register again and can book appointments online with your current PIN.
Training Dates 2011
The practice at Nettleham will be closed from 1.00 pm on the following afternoons for GP and staff training.
Tuesday 10 May 2011 – please note the change of date
Tuesday 21 June 2011
_______________________________________________________________________
Patient Participation Group/Voluntary Driver Scheme
The voluntary driver car scheme has now been operating for two years, (our first patient was on 9th March 2009). We are continuing to operate with no price increases even though the price of petrol/diesel continues to rise. We will continue to try and keep the costs of the journeys at the same level and we thank those of you who feel able to give the driver extra for the service we provide and anything that is donated in this way goes toward the funds of the Patient Support/Participation Group and allows us to purchase equipment for the surgeries. We recently purchased the new bench which sits out the front of Nettleham Surgery and there are other things that we are planning to purchase soon
Meg Rawden – PPG Chairperson
Alan Price – VDS Co-ordinator
January 2011
Nettleham and Cherry Willingham Surgeries - GP Changes
Dr Ian Lacy will be retiring from the practice at the end of June 2011 after 24 years. He will be sorely missed by everyone at the practice and by many patients. We wish him the very best in his new ventures.
Online Appointment Booking
If you have visited our website recently you may have noticed that you can now book some routine appointments online. We have only just added this facility and at the moment have only permitted a small number of appointments to be booked this way until we have chance to monitor the uptake and receive feedback from patients.
If you would be interested in using this service, you will need to register for online access by coming into the practice and bringing a form of photo ID (passport or driving licence). After two working days you can collect your unique username and PIN for this service. If you are already registered to order repeat prescriptions online, you do not need to register again and can start to book appointments online.
Green Issues
The practice has been looking at ways to reduce its carbon footprint. During the last year we have moved to a company which securely shreds all of our paper waste and then recycles it. We also had two sun tubes installed in the new waiting room at Nettleham. To complement these, we have chosen to have solar panels installed on the roof at Nettleham to produce electricity which can be used by the practice during the week and then any residual sent to the National grid.
Helen Lunn
Practice manager
Patient Participation Group
During 2010, the Patient Participation Group has raised funds that have enabled the practice to purchase a TV and DVD player for the waiting rooms at Cherry Willingham and a TV for the Nettleham waiting room. Thanks to all patients for their continued support.
Meg Rawden – Chairperson
Voluntary Driver Scheme
2010 was another successful year for the scheme with a 250% increase from the 10 months of 2009 in the amount of appointments we covered where transport was required by patients. Due to its popularity in 2010, we have been able to reduce the price of the fares. We hope to continue with this level of service throughout 2011.
Alan Price - Co-Ordinator
December 2010
111 - Urgent Care Telephone Number
Call 111 - When it's less urgent than 999
What is 111?
NHS 111 is a new telephone service being introduced to help make it easier for you to access local health services.
If you live in Lincolnshire, you can now call 111 when you need help fast, but it isn’t a 999 emergency.
You can ring 111, 365 days a year, to reach a full range of local health services, including out of hours, doctors, community nurses, emergency dental care and late opening chemists.
Calls from landlines and mobile phones are free – just like 999.
Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
The NHS Bowel Caner Screening programme for people aged between 60 and 69 was launched by NHS Lincolnshire at the end of December 2009. This means that within the next two years everyone in the county in this age bracket will be invited to undergo bowel cancer screening.
Those people that wish to take part will be sent an easy-to-use testing kit directly to their homes which they then post back to a laboratory for testing. Anyone who has an abnormal test result will be given an appointment to see a specialist nurse in the endoscopy units at one of the local hospitals to discuss further tests.
For more information about the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, log on to: www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel or ring the freephone helpline 0800 707 60 60.
Helen Lunn
Practice manager