News

Summer 2009 Newsletter

THE BEECHES MEDICAL PRACTICE


SUMMER 2009 PRACTICE NEWSLETTER

Swine Flu

The practice has been busy with cases of swine flu over the past month or so. The receptionists have been very successful at ensuring that those with swine flu have been seen outside of usual surgeries.

Tamiflu for those needing it can now be obtained by ringing National Pandemic Flu Service 08001513100, those wanting information on swine flu can ring 08001513513.

Thanks to all our patients who have caught swine flu and behaved in a very responsible and helpful way. Patients with swine flu who are getting worse or whose fever is not settling 3-4 days into the illness need to ring the practice so that a doctor can decide the best course of action. Some patients have developed chest complications several days into the illness that have required antibiotics. If in doubt please feel free to contact the surgery and discuss your illness with one of the doctors.

Vaccines for swine flu are not available as yet. The normal flu vaccinations will take place as usual for those at risk on Saturday mornings of September 26th and October 3rd at Bayston Hill surgery. Flu clinics at Dorrington surgery will be Friday mornings of 2nd and 9th October. Patients can ring now to book an appointment at one of these special clinics.

Changes of Staff

Dr Emma Smart has completed her training and is now a locum with us and Dr Gordon le Roux has joined our team as registrar for twelve months. As many of you already know, Dr Peter Barritt is retiring at the end of March 2010 after twenty-nine years in the practice in order to pursue his career as a professional photographer. Dr Ed Jutsum will at this time join Dr Robert Laycock and Dr Teresa Griffin as a full time partner.

In the practice nursing team, we wish Tracey Hutton every success in her new post as practice sister at Llanfyllin practice. Tracey has been with us for five years and has been a very popular and helpful member of the nursing team and will be missed by all. The practice is shortly to appoint another nurse to take over her role.

Our practice manager, Richard Jewsbury, is also retiring from the practice, where he has been the senior manager for the past sixteen years. We wish him all the best for the future. Debra Bellett, the deputy manager, has been promoted to practice manager.

Congratulations to Julie Thomas for passing her NVQ level 2 pharmacy services.

Patients in the practice who live more than a mile from a dispensing chemist, are welcome to use the dispensary at Dorrington. There is ample free parking at our purpose built surgery which has now been opened for over twelve months.

Good Ideas From Patients

The practice invited twenty patients to an evening meeting to discuss improvements to the practice. Ideas that have been suggested by the patients on the practice survey were also discussed. Several useful suggestions such as a new sign for Dorrington surgery have already been actioned.

Some of the services available to patients had not been adequately explained or advertised. These include:


- Patients can refer themselves directly to the practice counsellor without needing to see a doctor first.

- Following discussion in the practice an agreement has also been reached that patients can refer themselves directly to a physiotherapist without seeing a doctor.

- Patients who wish to speak directly to their doctor are invited to ring at 8.45-9am on weekday mornings. If the doctor is dealing with another patient a callback will be arranged.

The practice welcomes suggestions, praise, comments and complaints. If mistakes are made we do our very best to learn from them and to change our practice so the same does not happen in future.