Surgery Newsletter April 2022

Posted on March 16th, 2022

We have increased the number of telephone and online appointments available for patients to book themselves. If you have not got online access and would like to benefit from this feature, please contact Reception. We have increased the number of face-to-face appointments to help with the high demand.

Over the past few months the range of services available, both in house and via our Primary Care Network have increased.

First Contact Physio Ben is our physiotherapist that works for our PCN. His role is to assess patients with the below conditions and decide on the most appropriate management pathway. All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries, arthritis, problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone e.g. tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal pain including back and neck pain, spinal related pain in arms or legs including nerve symptoms. If you have any of the above, please contact reception who can arrange an appointment with a physiotherapist

Clinical Pharmacist. Jigar is able to deal with all prescription queries and undertake structured medication reviews for our patients.

Social Prescriber Pekka is at the practice one day a week speaking to patients who have been referred by other members of the practice team. Social prescribing is a non-medical programme that has been designed to help with a range of social, emotional or practical need such as, caring for someone who cannot manage without this help, living with a long-term health condition, wanting to change their lifestyle e.g. giving up smoking or losing weight and feeling socially isolated. If you feel you may benefit from an appointment with Pekka, please ask at reception.

Whether your appointment is over the telephone, via an online video consultation, or face-to-face, patients will always receive the same high quality standard of care from our practice team.

While restrictions have lifted for the general public regarding Covid-19, we would like to take this opportunity to remind patients to please take an LFT before coming into the Surgery and Pharmacy, wear a mask whilst on our premises, and do not come into the building if you are Covid positive. We thank those patients who continue to support us by following the guidance.

Staff in healthcare settings are required to follow stricter guidance than the general public, and have to test and isolate before coming to work if we have had any Covid exposures. This continues to affect staffing levels, especially with high numbers of local cases.

Stay safe, and please be kind to staff who are working under challenging circumstances.

Goodbye…

Sadly we said goodbye to Julie, our Pharmacy counter assistant. She has been with us for 2 years being the first port of call for the Pharmacy. Julie is taking a different career path and we wish her all the best.

 Welcome….

Jane replaces Julie. Jane has come from a very similar role and has lots of Pharmacy experience. I’m sure you will all meet her on the door of the Pharmacy.

Covid-19 Boosters…

These are still available in the Pharmacy, to book an appointment please visit the national booking website.

Easter Holiday closures…

The Surgery and Pharmacy will be closed on:

Friday 15^th April

Monday 18^th April

We will be operating normal opening hours on all other days.

If you require urgent medical attention, or advice, when the surgery is closed please call:

Out of Hours service on 111 or 999 if you have a life threatening emergency

Please remember to order your medications in plenty of time for Easter!

Amber Webster

Administrator

Over Surgery