LAURENCEKIRK MEDICAL CENTRE – Spring Newsletter

Inside this issue:Headlines:Staff NewsPatient CharterTravel VaccinesResults of Patient Participation Group SurveyChanges to Repeat Prescriptions systemOn line booking service

Staff News

We are pleased to announce that Dr Emma Wilson has completed her GP training and is working as a salaried GP in the practice for 2 sessions.

We were all sad to see Maureen Lamont, from the Admin team leave the practice and I'm sure you'll join us in wishing her well for the future.

Wasted Appointments

If you ‘Do Not Attend’ your appointment you may have delayed or prevented someone else seeing their GP when it was convenient for them.

If you cannot attend please let us know so we can release your appointment to someone else.

The Patient Charter

The practice has developed a patient charter – a copy of the charter is documented below and can be found on the waiting room notice board.

“You will be treated as an individual and will be given courtesy and respect at all times. You will receive the most appropriate care, given by suitably qualified people, and no care or treatment will be given without your informed consent.

In return we would ask you to treat all doctors and staff with courtesy and respect. We would also ask that you try to follow the medical advice offered, and take any medication as advised.”

A copy of our Patients' Rights and Responsibilities leaflet is on the practice’s website

Removal of Patients from our List

We are committed to removing patients from the practice list only in exceptional circumstances, for example when the

patient's behaviour has led to a complete breakdown in the relationship between the practice and the patient.

If a decision is taken to remove a patient from the list, they will be formally advised by letter giving the reasons for the decision to remove. The patient will then be officially notified by Practitioner Services in Aberdeen of their date of removal from our list and given information on how to register with another doctor.

Practice Closure

The practice will be closed for statutory staff training from 1.30 pm on the following date:

Wednesday 26th June, 2015

If you have a medical emergency when the surgery is closed please call NHS 24 on 111

Tr avel Vaccines Holiday time is now upon us. If you are lucky enough to be travelling further afield please make sure you collect a leaflet from the practice.

As from 1st May 2015 the practice is changing how we provide travel advice.

An information leaflet on the practice’s website provides links to external websites and will advise you which vaccinations are mandatory, which ones

LAURENCEKIRK MEDICAL CENTRE – Spring Newsletterare strongly recommended and which ones you may wish to consider.  If you have had travel vaccines at the Medical Centre previously we will be able to give you the dates they were administered. 

The Medical Centre will still provide free NHS vaccinations if you require diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid and hepatitis A.  Please let us know if you require prescriptions for any of these and this can be redeemed from the pharmacy.  Only these vaccines will be given by the practice nurse free of charge.  You will require to make an appointment and bring the vaccinations along with your masta vaccine checker when you come to this appointment.  If vaccines are picked up before your appointment, please keep your vaccine refrigerated.

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible  - at least 6 weeks before you travel. 

We anticipate that the new changes to travel vaccine service will allow more time for the nurses for face to face patient care.

Results of Patient Participation Group Survey

During the second week in February the PPG did a survey regarding the ease of arranging medical appointments. The results were most encouraging and demonstrated that waiting times for appointments were more than acceptable, as was time spent in the waiting room. Most patients were happy with the friendliness and efficiency of the receptionists, and found the environment very pleasant.

Suggestions were made regarding more evening surgeries, and the possibility of a reminder texting service. These suggestions and others will be discussed at a future date. It was further suggested that greater use might be made of the On Line appointments service of which many people

seem to be unaware.On the whole the survey proved to be extremely worth while, and a number of points will be taken on board. The PPG wish to thank the Laurencekirk Medical Centre staff and patients for their assistance with this survey.

Text Messaging Service.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve communication with patients, we are introducing a text messaging service. It would be helpful if you could provide to the practice details of your mobile phone number and Email address if possible.

New Service Book your GP appointments and order Repeat Prescriptions on Line

We are pleased to announce our online repeat prescription and appointment booking system is now live.  This is

available via our website – www.laurencekirkhealthcarecentre.co.uk

We are now inviting people to register

for this service by downloading and

printing the form below and handing

it into the practice.  Please note each

family member will need their own

form and over 16's will need to fill out

their own form with their own email

address. 

When booking, confirmation of the appointment will be sent to the registered email address- please bear

LAURENCEKIRK MEDICAL CENTRE – Spring Newsletterthis in mind if anyone other than the patient involved has access to that email - they may also see this confirmation email for your appointment.  

Changes to Repeat     Prescribing as from 1.6.15   - Patient Information Leaflet

Due to the increasing number of patients on our repeat prescribing system, and the importance of ensuring that the system is safe, efficient and effective, we will be introducing a new repeat prescribing procedure with effect from 1st June, 2015. 

The most efficient way to order your

repeat prescriptions are:-

1. Online by downloading the vision on line services form from this website.  Please note that only usual repeat prescriptions that you have had before can be ordered this way by completing the form from the practice web site.

2. If the doctor has decided that you can have your medication on repeat, you will be issued with a computer slip giving details of your drugs.  Please use this slip to request repeat prescriptions by posting in the repeat prescription box on front desk reception at the practice.

3. You can order your repeat medication by phoning the dedicated answering machine number on 01561 376426

Please note that only medication shown on the request repeat slip will be issued.  If you require any other medication, or you are ordering too early, this will need checked with the doctor.  The receptionist will arrange this. 

Please allow 48 working hours before collection and 72 hours if you are using a local pharmacy to collect the prescription.

If you have arranged for one of the local pharmacies to collect your prescription we must have a signed authorisation to this effect in your records.

Practice website address:-

www.laurencekirkheatlhcarecentre.co.uk

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