Carolside Medical Centre

Current Newsletter: November / December 08

STAFF NEWS
We are very sorry to inform you that Staff Nurse Christina Campbell is leaving to take up a new post in Diabetes Care. Christina will be very sadly missed, but we wish her well for the future.

We welcome a new staff member to our team – Brenda Thomson will commence on 17 November 08 as our new Treatment Room Nurse. We are sure you will make Brenda very welcome.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS
If you change your address, please fill in a change of address form and hand this into reception. Please make sure you fill in all sections and include a post code and telephone number.

If you have moved outwith the area and we have no forwarding address for you, we may require to remove you from our list, as per Health Board regulations.

CHECKING IN AT RECEPTION
Please note a recent system change – we are now asking every patient to check in at reception when they attend for appointments. This helps with the smooth running of surgeries.

NEW PATIENTS
Please ensure you have filled in a new patient health form and registration form (or handed in your medical card). You can also make a 'new patient medical' nurse appointment if you wish.

OUT OF HOURS EMERGENCIES
The practice is open from 8.30 am – 6.00 pm, Mon to Fri (excluding public holidays). Out of hours emergency treatment is covered by NHS24. Their telephone number is 08454 242424.

HPV VACCINE
There is a government initiative this year to vaccinate teenage females at school against the HPV (human papilloma virus), a cause of cervical cancer. Vaccinations will be offered at school. This practice will not be participating in the vaccination catch-up programme, therefore, we will be unable to provide any advice regarding this programme.

‘FLU VACCINE
If you fall into the ‘at risk group’ (if unsure, please ask a member of staff for clarification) and have not yet made an appointment to have a ‘flu vaccine administered, please do so as soon as possible.

YOUTH HEALTH SCREENING SERVICE
We are now offering a health screening service to 16-24 year olds. Appointments can be booked with Sister MacDonald or Sister Reekie, who will provide health promotion advice and carry out a routine health check (BP screening, etc). Please ask at reception if you wish to make an appointment.

ALCOHOL SCREENING
Due to the problem of increased alcohol consumption in Scotland/UK, a new health promotion service is being provided to carrying out alcohol screening and offer advice on the safe consumption of alcohol to patients. You may be asked to fill out a screening questionnaire when you attend an appointment. Please do not be offended by this.

PRIVATE FEES
Doctors are often asked to fill in forms/write reports or letters for patients, ie for insurance forms, holiday cancellations etc. This is non-NHS work and a fee is charged (fee list displayed at reception).

We have noticed that a small number of patients have had private letters/reports issued, but have failed to pay fees. We feel this is discourteous to the doctors/nurses who have spent time reviewing patient records and undertaking the work. It also has an impact on our secretarial and admin time, which is an added cost to the practice.

Patients who have failed to pay fees in the past may be refused any future requests. We would appreciate your co-operation.

TRAVEL VACCINATIONS
If you require travel vaccinations, please ask for a ‘travel form’ (available from reception or our website: carolsidemc.co.uk). Please fill in and return form to reception. A practice nurse will go through your form, obtain information and contact you to arrange an appointment for vaccinations, if necessary. We require 6 weeks’ notice. If you cannot provide adequate notice, we cannot provide travel advice/vaccinations for you. Contact numbers for alternative clinics are available on our ‘travel form’.

SAMPLES
Please ensure all samples are handed to a staff member (not left on reception) so that they can check that the appropriate paperwork is filled in. Thank you.

NURSE APPOINTMENTS
Our nursing staff offer different types of appointment. Details available at reception, however, for quick guidance:
Bloods – Nikki O’Hara (please check with reception for times) or Christina Campbell (Mon, Tue, Fri PMs).
Dressings/ear syringing - Christina Campbell.
Chronic disease clinic appointments, ie asthma, heart disease etc, well woman appointments - Anne MacDonald/Jenny Reekie. Anne can also prescribe contraception. If you are unsure who to book with, please check with reception staff.

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT (HCA) APPOINTMENTS
We are pleased to say that Nikki O’Hara, our HCA, is available for appointments. Nikki will be mainly taking blood samples from patients. To book an appointment, please contact reception.

TEMPORARY RESIDENTS
You can be treated at this practice as a temporary resident (T/R) if you require urgent medical attention while staying, for a short period, with a relative or friend who is registered with us. If you request a prescription, we may need to contact the doctor your are permanently registered and obtain authorisation from them before the prescription is issued.

It is important to note the following:
You should only be seen as a T/R if you require urgent medical attention. Any long-term conditions should be dealt with by the GP with whom you are registered. If you are registered with a GP in the near vicinity, we cannot treat you as a T/R, you should visit your own GP. NB: If hospital referral is required, you should consult the GP with whom you are registered – we can only refer patients registered with this practice. You can be treated as a T/R for a maximum of three months, after which time you will require to register fully with the practice, if you wish to continue to receive medical treatment here. If you do not wish to register with this practice after three months, your details will be removed.

APPOINTMENTS SYSTEM
We have participated in the Scottish Primary Care Collaborative (SPCC) Project, and have achieved/sustained 'advanced access', ie routine appointments can be offered within one day. When you ask for an appointment, you will be offered a range of different types of appointment. We offer face-to-face appointments with doctors/nurses, telephone consultation appointments with doctors/nurses and phone advice calls.

Appropriate telephone consultations:
medication review, discussion of results, continuation sick line (not first line).
Inappropriate telephone consultations:
anything which requires examination, ie, rashes, chest infections, repeat prescription requests - these must be submitted in writing either over the counter, by post, fax or email (see section about Website).

LATE FOR AN APPOINTMENT?
Late attendance for GP/nurse appointments is becoming an increasing problem and is the commonest cause of our surgeries running late. Please do not book an appointment if you know you might struggle to arrive on time.

If you are late for an appointment, we cannot guarantee that you will be seen – this will be a decision made by the doctor/nurse your appointment is with. You may be asked to re-appoint or wait until the end of the surgery. Please ensure you check in when you attend for an appointment.

INCREASE IN FAILURE TO KEEP APPOINTMENTS
We have noticed a marked increase in patients failing to keep appointments made. Over the past two months, 36 appointments were made and not kept.

If you find you no longer wish an appointment you have made, please inform us immediately. An appointment you no longer wish could be re-allocated to another patient.

DIABETIC CLINIC
The Diabetic Annual Review Clinic takes place on the second and third Thursday of the month. This clinic offers a review with our practice nurse, and the community podiatrist and dietician. It is quite a task administratively to arrange these appointments, therefore, we would appreciate it if you avoid cancelling and attend at the time allocated to you.

PHYSIOTHERAPY / PODIATRY SELF-REFERRAL
A Podiatry self -referral system is in place at Clarkston Clinic. Tel: 0141 636 8421

NB: the Physio Self-referral Telephone line is no longer available. Self-referral forms can be obtained at reception and submitted by patients to Clarkston Clinic.
Physiotherapy home visit requests still require GP referral.

PRACTICE WEBSITE
Our new practice website is now available at carolsidemc.co.uk

The website supplies useful information and allows patients to request repeat prescriptions. NB: please don't expect a reply to your requests for prescriptions. Processing time for repeats is 48 hrs.

The web-based prescription request system should only be used for requesting prescriptions.