Church Street Practice Patient Information Group

Below are some topics that have been covered in previous Newsletters but PIG feel are important. Click on the blue text to read more about each one.

ARE RECEPTIONISTS JUST BEING NOSEY?

If you have recently phoned the surgery for an appointment you may have noticed the receptionist will ask “May I ask the nature of the problem?” before making an appointment with the doctor. This may seem a strange request from us, however, it will help us guide you to the most appropriate member of the team. Many patients will automatically ask to see a doctor when another member of the team may be better able to deal with the matter, for example:

A minor illness may be dealt with by Mary our specialist practitioner;
A medication request may often be dealt with by the prescriptions desk;
Any questions about vaccinations for overseas travel will be passed to a practice nurse who will contact you by telephone; and
Most queries regarding hospital referrals will be handled by the secretaries.

GP’s are also able to deal with a lot of queries over the telephone, which saves you a journey.

You do not need to give a lot of detailed information just an indication of the problem. The receptionists all understand there may be times when you may not wish to discuss this with anyone other than your GP and if this is the case they will respect your wishes and not enquire further.

Receptionists aim to be helpful and not obstructive to patients but they also need to help the Practice run effectively making best use of all our team.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Jane King

PIG ACTIVITIES

If you are willing to help with PIG activities, eg with newsletter distribution, guide or survey work etc we would love to hear from you.

We are also seeking people willing and able to serve on the committee of PIG as the PIG committee needs to be as representative of the practice population as possible. Do you think you can help?

Please contact us through the web site, the suggestion box in the waiting room or speak to one of the committee members.

REPEAT PRESCRIBING

There are several ways to get a repeat prescription.

When you collect your medication there is a list of the ones you normally take. To re-order simply tick the drugs that you need, make sure your name and address are correct, and write the name of the pharmacy you wish to use.
- Put the list in the box at the surgery.
OR
- Hand it to your usual pharmacist.
Don’t worry if you lose the slip. Write a list of what you need, with your name and address and the name of the pharmacy where you wish to collect it, and deal with it as above.
Patients happy to use the computer will find it easy to order repeats on line.
- Email the churchstreet.prescriptions@nhs.net
List your requirements, giving your name and address and the pharmacy that you wish to use.
- On line booking. To use this you have to be registered - please speak to the receptionist who will give you a user-number. The first time you use the system you are able to choose your own password. Click "repeat prescription" and a complete list of your medications will come up. Tick the ones you need. Make sure that you give the pharmacy name.
- fax requests on 01235 770727
Telephone. Patients are asked to use the phone only if it is urgent or there is a query. Messages on the answer phone are checked regularly. However the practice prefers not to have telephone requests –there is more potential for error and deciphering the messages can take a very long time which can also block in-coming calls.
The Practice tries to have your prescription ready in 48 hours.

If your medication is stable, you can arrange to have a 6 month repeat prescription service with your pharmacy. They will ensure that your drugs are ready once a month.

P.I.G.

ICE- IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN

We all carry our mobile phones with names and numbers stored in its memory. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but would not know whom to call first.

Hence this "ICE" - IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN

It is a method of contact for emergency situations. As most of us have mobile phones all you need to do is store the number of person or persons who should be contacted in an emergency under the name ICE.

The idea was the inspiration of a paramedic who found that when he went to the scene of accidents there were usually mobile phones with patients but he did not know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there were a nationally recognised system of contact.

In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number you have stored as ' ICE'. For more than one contact name, simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.

The more people who know about this the better. It really is very useful