DANEBRIDGE GROUP PRACTICE
Dr Kal Shergill
NEWSLETTER
We welcome Dr Kal Shergill who joined us full-time in
March 2009. She holds clinics
at
Danebridge
and
the
Sandiway Surgery. Dr Shergill
is a Liverpool University graduate, qualifying in 2002
and completing her GP training in February 2009.
Having worked mainly in General Medicine, Dr Shergill
does have special interests in Women’s Health and
Paediatrics and is currently working towards a
qualification in Substance Misuse.
Dr Adrian Rossall & Dr Chris Barratt
May 2009
SANDIWAY SURGERY
Over recent months we have had to reduce the hours the
Sandiway Surgery has been open. This has been due to
Doctor and staff shortages.
However, we have
continued to ensure that the surgery is open every week
day. The surgery now opens every morning at 8:30am
for the following hours:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
8:30 – 1pm
8:30-12:30pm
8:30 – 1pm
8:30-12:30pm
8:30 – 1pm
PM
CLOSED
2pm – 5:30pm
CLOSED
2pm – 5:30pm
CLOSED
From May 2009 both Dr Rossall & Dr Barratt will be
reducing their surgery time at Danebridge and the
Sandiway Surgery. Drs Rossall & Barratt will no longer
be consulting at the Practices on a Friday.
During the closed periods and medical treatment is
required, all Sandiway patients are advised to contact
Danebridge Medical Centre.
NEW BUILDING
DANEBRIDGE MEDICAL CENTRE
We have no new news to report on the proposed new
build for Danebridge Group Practice. Research and
discussions are still taking place regarding the site for
the new build and this has yet to be agreed. It is still
very early days and as soon as we know anything, be
assured that we will report this to our patients. If you
would like any further information regarding the
proposed new build thus far, please contact the
Practice Manager, Kathryn Cook.
Danebridge now holds a late surgery on a Monday
evening between 6pm and 8:30pm. This is for prebooked appointments only provided for patients who
have difficulty attending the surgery during the morning
or afternoon/early evening surgeries. Patients are able
to collect/request prescriptions during this opening time,
but we are unable to deal with any form of queries as we
only have limited staff manning the reception desk.
MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS
IN CASE of EMERGENCY – ICE
We are currently trialling a new service for our patients.
Many of you will already receive text messages from
your dentist and other health organisations reminding
you of an impending appointment. Danebridge are
currently setting up this service, but obviously we need
your mobile phone number in order for this service to
operate efficiently.
Please can we ask each of you to
provide us with your current
mobile
phone
number
and
remember to keep us up-to-date in
the event of any changes.
Numerous appointments for Doctor and Nurse Clinics
are wasted every single day by patients not attending
as they simply ‘forgot’. These patients then have to
book another appointment! It is hoped this new text
reminder service will alleviate the failure rate of
patients not attending for their appointment, resulting in
reduced Doctor and Nurse time that is wasted,
enabling more patients to be seen!
Eight out of ten people are not carrying information that
would help if they were involved in an accident. Storing
next-of-kin details in your mobile
phone can assist the Emergency
Services if you are unable to tell them
who to contact. Simply use your
mobile’s contact list to store the name
and number of someone who should
be contacted if you have an
emergency – but add the letters ICE in front of their
name. ICE is what the emergency services will look for if
you’re involved in an accident and have your mobile
phone with you. Make sure you choose a number that’s
easy to get in touch with, ideally a mobile phone number
– a home number could be useless in an emergency if
the person works full time.
Storing an ICE number makes it easier for everyone
if you are involved in an accident. It only takes a few
seconds, so do it today – please!
SMOKING CESSATION CLINIC
DATA COLLECTION
Danebridge has been running a ‘Smoking cessation
clinic’ to aid patients who want to ‘give up’. This has
been taking place on a Friday morning and was
available for patients to drop-in anytime
between 9am – 12.30pm. The clinic
has been very successful, which is
great news, but due to this, we are
no longer able to provide the clinic as
a drop-in service.
You may be wondering why we ask you
for certain information regarding ethnicity
and lifestyle? As part of our ongoing
healthcare improvement, we collect data
that helps us to focus on patients that could be at risk of
ill health. Ethnic minorities and smokers are particular
high risk groups. Furthermore, patients with limited
spoken English are likely to have increased difficulties in
accessing health services. We are grateful for your cooperation in the data collection.
The clinic is now held on a THURSDAY morning at
Danebridge and is by appointment only. Regular
attendees please remember to book your follow-up
appointments! If you are a smoker and want to ‘kick
the habit’, but feel you just need that extra bit of
support, then please make an appointment in the clinic.
You don’t even have to see a Doctor to get referred to
the clinic. Please take the first step today to a smokefree healthy future!
SUMMER
Summer will soon be approaching and hopefully
bringing some nice weather with it!
But unfortunately with the good weather
also comes the increased pollen count and
that’s when the 12 million sufferers of Hay
Fever begin to sneeze, wheeze and itch
those eyes!
Please request your prescriptions in good time for your
antihistamine medication. There is no need to see a
GP for your prescription; this can be requested in
writing. Hay Fever is also one of the conditions
covered by the Minor Ailments Scheme, so please
use this facility and seek advice and medication from
the Pharmacy.
SELF-TREATMENT OF VERRUCAE
If you are suffering with verrucae, one option is to use
duct tape to remove these!! The tape needs to be
applied to cover the verrucae for 6 days.
When removed, the foot should be
soaked and a pumice stone used to
remove the dead tissue. Then re-apply
the duct tape for a further 6 days. This
treatment can remove 70% of verrucae in 2
months, which is always worth a try! Over the Counter
ointments are also available from your local Pharmacy.
Liquid Nitrogen Therapy has limited benefit and is not
generally recommended.
Joanne Sullivan
Practice Administrator
Contact me: [email protected]
PRACTICE QUESTIONNAIRE (GPAQ)
Thank you to those patients who took part in our General
Practice Assessment Questionnaire (GPAQ) at the
beginning of this year. The questionnaire is used to
assess patients’ satisfaction with the services
Danebridge Group Practice offers. We received lots of
constructive comments regarding healthcare and areas
for improvement. Every year we take on board all of
these comments and hopefully try and improve
throughout the year! We have improved upon our scores
this year and we will continue to work on the
services/provisions that are highlighted to us by patients,
ether through our questionnaire or suggestion box.
HALF-DAY CLOSURES 2009
Danebridge, Kingsmead and the Sandiway surgery will
be closed during the hours of 1pm – 5pm on the
following dates for Protected Learning Time for staff
training:
Tuesday
12th May 2009
Wednesday 10th June 2009
Thursday
9th July 2009
On these dates all surgeries will close at 1pm. However,
Danebridge and Kingsmead will re-open at 5pm for
emergencies only.
During the closed period,
emergencies are dealt with by the Out of Hours Service
by telephoning: 01270 273666
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG)
The Danebridge Patient Participation Group continues to
meet regularly each month. There are now notice
boards displayed in the Surgeries which gives full details
of who the members of the PPG are. If you would like to
contact the PPG with any concerns or suggestions for
the practice, then please do so via reception or email
[email protected]
Please note the PPG cannot be concerned with personal
problems or complaints, these must be dealt with through
the correct channels.