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INNSandOUTS of Abbey Medical Practice
Practice Newsletter Spring 2009 Issue 20
INNSandOUTS, our quarterly newsletter is designed to inform you of developments within the Practice, local and national health issues and other information to help you get the best from the services we offer.
Hot news
The partners have decided that from Friday 1st May the practice will be known as the Abbey Medical Practice.
We are pleased to announce that we have published our own web-site, which has details of all the services we offer, current personnel and latest news. Please visit us at: www.abbeymedicalpractice.uk.com/
We are also pleased to advise that an updated on-line appointments booking facility is also now available. Please ask our receptionists for details of how to register and access this "convenience" service for you. Every individual must be registered separately as appointments can only be booked in the name of the person who is "logged on" and only doctor and nurse practitioners appointments are bookable on-line.
Easter closures
Please note that our surgeries will be closed on Good Friday (10th April) and Easter Monday 13th April).
Afternoon Closures
The surgery will be closed on the following afternoons for ongoing development training for all doctors and staff: Tuesday 12th May, Wednesday 3rd June and Thursday 2nd July. If you require a doctor on these afternoons, telephone the surgery in the usual way and you will be put in touch with the doctor on call service. If you want general medical advice at any time, telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
Opening Times (Gold Street)
Surgery opening times are:
Monday to Friday - 08.00am to 6.30pm
We are also offer 2 ‘extended hours' surgeries on Tuesday evening, 6.30 - 8.00pm and Saturday mornings 8.00 - 9.45am
Opening Times (Earls Barton Surgery)
The opening times at the branch surgery are:
Mondays to Thursdays - 8:30am and 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.00pm
Fridays - 8.30am until 12.30pm.
Out of hours
Out of hours cover (from 6:30pm-8:00am) and at weekends, bank holidays etc. is provided for urgent medical problems. The practice is served by an out of hours service called Nights, Evenings and Weekends Doctors on Call (NEWDOC), incorporating Keydoc, which is based within the Hospital grounds at Kettering. The telephone number for advice is 01536 522955. Alternatively you can telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for immediate health advice at any time of the day or night.
Attendance for Appointments
It is the policy of the Practice that patients who arrive late by twenty minutes or more for their appointment cannot be assured of being seen as previously arranged. Two choices may be offered; a) to wait until the doctor with whom the appointment had been made has finished his/her surgery to be seen at the end, or b) to arrange another appointment through the receptionist.
Smoking Cessation clinics
We are pleased to announce that we continue to hold regular smoking cessation advice clinics at Gold Street on Wednesdays with our own specially trained advisers who have achieved much success in helping patients to stop smoking since this service was introduced. To access this service you must be seen by one of our clinicians who will then refer you to our smoking cessation team.
Repeat Prescribing
Repeat prescriptions can be requested either by using one of the two ‘post boxes' that are situated outside the main doors (for use when the surgery is closed) or in the entrance hall or, of course, by post. If an s.a.e. is enclosed your new prescription will be sent back to you. Please note, that there is no requirement to see your doctor to arrange for repeat medication. However, when a review date is shown, this is purely for internal purposes and does not signify that an appointment is needed. If a ‘review appointment' is required, you will be notified by letter or by a message on your next repeat prescription slip.
Travel Advice Clinics
This travel clinic is only held at our Gold Street surgery one afternoon each week. Appointments are booked though our receptionists in the usual way and travellers must allow at least 6 weeks notice prior to travel. Some aspects of this service is outside the scope of the NHS and fees are charged as displayed in the waiting room. In addition, please note that a non-refundable deposit of £10 per person is payable upon making a ‘travel appointment' in respect of the necessary ‘risks to health' research by our travel specialist and administration incurred.
Hayfever
Summer's is nearly here, and with it, for some, hayfever! Now might be a good time to check that your inhalers or medication is available and in date. Most hayfever treatments are available from your chemist as ‘over the counter' medicines, which for those who are liable to prescription charges, often cheaper too!
Patient Participation Group
The patient participation group meets regularly on a quarterly basis to discuss and represent patients' views to the Practice. If you are interested in participating in this active group please contact the Practice Manager or Assistant Practice Manager for further details. We are seeking representation across the whole age-range of our patients.
Volunteer Car Service
If you have an hospital outpatient appointment and have no transport the Wellingborough Volunteer Bureau now offer the "Volunteer Medical Car Service" Telephone 01933 272735 or ask at reception for further details.
Volunteer Car Service (Earls Barton)
If you have a hospital outpatient or Doctors appointment and have no transport and live in the Earls Barton/Mears Ashby area the Earls Barton Help Scheme, supported by "Churches Together" may be able to assist. Telephone 01604 812526.
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