Winter/Spring 2010
The John Kelso Practice Newsletter
February 2010
Inside This Issue
Swine Flu
Staff News
New Booking in System
Prescriptions
Patient Participation Group
Other NHS Services
Notice Board
Travel
Website
Swine Flu
The Department of Health has ordered enough vaccines for the whole population, and in time it will be offered to everyone. The most vulnerable to serious illness from swine flu are being offered the vaccine first:-
All
Patients over 6 months with any of the following:-
Chronic Respiratory Disease (must have used a steroid inhaler in the last 6 months),
Chronic Heart Disease,
Chronic Kidney Disease,
Chronic Liver Disease,
Chronic Neurological Disease,
Diabetes,
Weakened Immune System,
ALSO
All pregnant women,
All children aged 6 months to 5 years,
Household contact of someone who is immunocompromised,
Frontline health or social care worker.
Anyone who is entitled to a seasonal flu vaccination.
We have specific clinics set up for the administering the vaccines. All patients who are eligible will be contacted by the practice either by telephone or letter. If you are in the specific areas mentioned above and you have not been contacted then please ask at reception, and they will be able to offer you an appointment.
Thanks
Sharon Snape, Manager
Staff News
We are sad to announce that Joy Burke our Medical Secretary has decided to leave us at the end of February after over 8 years of service to the practice. We wish Joy all the best.
We would like to welcome our new Junior Clerk Charlotte McCleery to our team. Charlotte will be working alongside our admin team.
We would also like to announce that our salaried GP Dr Yuvaraj, has now joined the practice as a Partner from October 2009 and will continue to job share with Dr Mark Porcheret.
New Booking in System
We have an excellent new booking in system for our patients in the waiting room. This has been put in to ease the queues and the waiting for our patients at our most busiest times – Its quick and easy to use, but if you are unsure then please ask a receptionist who would be more than happy to come around and show you how to use this new system.
Thanks
Susan Rowe
Office Manager
Prescriptions
The John Kelso prescription line is open from 12 o’clock daily. The reason for this time is to enable the receptionists to deal with the high volume of calls in a morning for patients wanting to book an appointment.
You can order your repeat medication in the following ways:-
By Telephone,
By Post,
Hand in your re-order Slip at reception,
Order on line electronically.
Ordering on line is very simple and is easy to do. If you are interested in finding further information on this, then please ask a receptionist who would be happy to explain to you how to access this service.
We are unable to deal with prescriptions requests in less than 2 working days so please allow plenty time when requesting your medication. The reason for this timescale is to enable the GP to review your medication.
Patients Participation Group News
Hi to all Patients,
We just thought that we would let you know about what the group has been doing during the last year.
The website has been reconfigured and hopefully now it is more user friendly. Please have a look at it and let us know what you think! Also, if you are not aware already, you can book appointments and prescriptions through the website. To be able to book appointments online, all you need to do is to ask at the surgery – you just need to prove who you are with photo ID (i.e. Passport or Photo Driving Licence etc.,).
Why not visit http://www.johnkelso.co.uk and take a look around.
The elephant information terminal is now in place which provides information on support groups and NHS information etc., (please when visiting the surgery have a go). If you feel that some information is missing or have any comments to make please let us know by contacting the surgery.
We completed a survey in October on Physio Direct and what you would like to see at the surgery. Thank you very much for spending time completing these surveys as they do help us and the surgery to put together new ideas or change things.
The Physio Direct information has been passed on to a team member of Physio Direct at a recent Cluster Meeting. Hopefully we will have some feedback from them soon. (A Cluster meeting is where the PPGs in Leek and Werrington, plus surgery members, meet together with the PCT or other NHS groups to put forward new ideas or improvements or even ask for more information on certain conditions etc.,) We also receive information on what the PCT is either currently working on or what they plan to do in the next year.
Another one of the items mentioned on the survey for the surgery was that at times it was difficult to get an appointment when ringing up. We feel that, perhaps we as patients could help one another in this matter:-
Did you realise Over a 3 month period last year we missed attending 247 appointments! This adds up to 2470 minutes which is 41 hours and 10 minutes in lost appointment time over that period.
So we can only ask, please cancel your appointment if you are not going to attend the surgery as another patient maybe waiting for one.
We are still looking at the other items that were mentioned on the survey.
As soon as we can, we will be putting information on the notice boards about various issues and support groups. So please have a look!
I hope that this has given you an insight into what we are trying to achieve with the help of the surgery staff and we are always looking for new ways of improving things. So please let us know if you have an idea (all ideas welcome). Or if you would like to join us on the group please do not hesitate to contact us via the surgery. New Members Always Welcome!
Kind regards – Members of the John Kelso PPG.
Out of hours services available to patients
Leek Moorlands Hospital – Minor Injuries is open 8am – 8pm 7 days a week the telephone number is 01538 487100
The Haywood NHS walk in centre, High Lane Burslem Tel Number 01782 581112
For more information return to the website and follow the "Out of Hours" link on the left hand side.
|
Notice Boards
Please check these when you visit the surgery. |
|
Do it Online
Why not book your appointment or repeat prescription on line by visiting our website on:- |
Travel
Hopefully, after all this cold and miserable weather, there is better weather on the way, many of us are also fortunate enough to travel abroad to warmer climates. When we are travelling abroad this may bring you into contact with diseases that are not found in the UK, so it is very important to visit our Practice nurse 2 months before your travel date. The practice nurse will be able to offer you up to date advice on whether any immunisations may be required and also advise on other important issues like your skin care, food and drink and many other safety issues. Pick up one of our travel leaflets available in the waiting room.