The Garth Surgery Spring Newsletter 2017 EASTER BANK

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY OPENING TIMES
This surgery will close at 6:00pm Friday 25th August and re-open at 8:00am
Tuesday 29th August 2016.
Saturday 26th August – pre-booked surgery only
Sunday 27th August – CLOSED
Monday 28th August - CLOSED
If you require urgent medical assistance, which cannot wait until the surgery reopens, please ring 111 to access our STAR – Local extended GP hours service.
Calls to the NHS 111 service are free from both landlines and mobiles.
If you have a life threatening medical emergency please dial 999.
PLEASE ORDER YOUR PRESCRIPTION IN PLENTY OF TIME – this helps aid the
smooth running of our prescription service
ACCESS TO GP APPOINTMENTS
On the 31st May 2017 10 patients booked an appointment in morning surgery and
failed to turn up, this is 1 hour 40 mins of a clinician’s time and appointments that
were lost.
Please make every effort to cancel your appointment if you cannot attend or no
longer require it.
PLEASE HELP THE DOCTOR RUN TO TIME. There has been a big
increase in the number of patients attending with long lists of problems. Please
be mindful of other patients waiting and restrict your list to two medical
problems maximum per appointment. Appointment length is 10 minutes only.
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JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
Like our Facebook page for the latest news and updates from The
Garth Surgery.
WELCOME AND FAREWELL
Dr Smith – Thank you
I would like to say a big thank you to all the patients at the Garth
Surgery for all their good wishes, cards and gifts.
I wish you all well for the future and I know I have left you all in good hands.
Again, Thank You
Dr Amanda Smith
Dr Eleanor Sutherland – Salaried GP
Dr Eleanor Sutherland joined the practice team from
April as a Salaried GP working all day Wednesday and
Friday.
Foundation Year 2 Doctors
We said farewell to Dr Kaura who finished her placement with the practice at the
beginning of April. Dr Kuht joined the team from April and will be with us until
early August.
ONLINE SERVICES – ASK FOR A FORM TODAY!
Practices are increasingly enabling patients to be able to
request repeat prescriptions, book appointments and access
limited parts of medical records online.
If you would like to sign up for our online services you will
need to complete a form and provide us with 2 forms of ID (1 photo ID and proof
of address) please ask at reception for a form. Once we have completed the
registration process you will be issued with a unique login enabling you to prebook GP appointments, request your repeat prescriptions online and access
limited parts of your medical record.
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PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY THIS SUMMER
Be sun smart; follow these simple and helpful tips to keep you and your family safe this
summer.
Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn doesn't just happen on holiday – you
can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy
Sun safety tips
Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm
from March to October. Make sure you:
 spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm

make sure you never burn

cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses

take extra care with children

use at least factor 15 sunscreen
What factor sunscreen (SPF) should I use?
Don't rely on sunscreen alone to protect yourself from the sun. Wear suitable clothing and
spend time in the shade when the sun's at its hottest.
When buying sunscreen, the label should have:
 the letters "UVA" in a circle logo and at least four-star UVA protection

a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 to protect against UVB
Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date. Most sunscreens have a shelf life of two to
three years.
Clothing and sunglasses
Wear clothes and sunglasses that provide sun protection, such as:
 a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears

a long-sleeved top

trousers or long skirts in close-weave fabrics that do not allow sunlight through

sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms with the CE Mark and European
Standard EN 1836:2005
How to deal with sunburn
 Sponge sore skin with cool water, and then apply soothing after sun.
 Painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, will ease the pain by helping to reduce
inflammation caused by sunburn.
 Seek medical help if you feel unwell or the skin swells badly or blisters. Stay out of the
sun until all signs of redness have gone.
People who spend a lot of time in the sun, whether it's for
work or play, are at increased risk of skin cancer if they don't
take the right precautions. For more information on sun
safety visit the NHS website at:
http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/skin/pages/sunsafe
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MEDICINES
Prescription/Medication wastage
This photograph shows the prescriptions that have
not been collected from the practice or the local
pharmacies in the past three months.
As the flow chart below shows this involves a lot of actions by all the various
professionals involved in the process. This is adding to the waste of resources
plaguing the NHS and your GP service. Not all medication can be returned to
stock by the pharmacy so there is that additional waste also.
This costly way of providing medications is also why we are asking our patients to
assist us in purchasing some items previously prescribed which are readily
available over the counter at Pharmacies and Supermarkets. In order to try and
limit rising NHS costs we are encouraging patients to consider purchasing these
items themselves in order that we can avoid making cuts to other important
treatments and services. We thank you very much for your help in this
Patient Request
arrives
Prescription Clerk
processes
GP actions and signs
Pharmacy Clerk enters
details on Pharmacy
system
Pharmacist checks
details
Pharmacy Clerk
sorts and stores for
collection/delivery
Pharmacy Technician
prepares items
Not collected and
whole process is
undone
How do I report a suspected side effect?
Yellow Card forms are available from pharmacies and other outlets across the NHS or from the
Yellow Card hotline on Freephone 0808 100 3352. Reports can also be completed on the web
at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
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HELP US TO HELP YOU - Please be a patient patient, due to the unpredictable
nature of each patient’s needs on occasion the surgery may run late. Thank you
Dressings - Please remember that if you have attended the
minor injuries unit and require further dressings then please
contact the surgery to arrange these appointments, charges
are made to the practice if you attend the minor injuries
unit.
Home visits- If you are not well enough to come to the
surgery but need to see your doctor, please ring the surgery before 10.00 a.m.
and tell the receptionist briefly the reason for your call.
Self Help – KEEP CALM AND LOOK AFTER YOURSELF – Colds, sore throats,
hangovers, upset stomachs and headaches can all be treated by you at home.
Your guide to self-care booklets, are available at the practice or alternatively visit
the practice website for information and advice on many common conditions and
ailments www.thegarthsurgery.nhs.uk. You can access the website at any time
for help and information.
A & E - Help us to help you – Always ring the surgery
before attending A+E
Your local Pharmacist - They offer professional free health advice at any time you don't need an appointment. From coughs and colds to aches and pains, they
can give you expert help on everyday illnesses.
GUISBOROUGH GROUPS INFORMATION BOOKLET.
The practice along with the help of the Patient group have devised a booklet to
promote local groups and charities in the area that our patients of all ages may be
interested in being a part of, these groups are not connected to The Garth
Surgery but we would like to promote groups where patients can make friends
and get involved. The booklet is available at reception to view, if you wish to take
some information from it the reception team will be happy
to copy what you require.
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Nurse/HCA Appointment Durations
Clinician
Nurse
Problem
Dressing and wound
check
Simple Dressing
Swabs
Smear
Regular injections
(b12/depo etc. )
Holiday Immunisations
Stitch removal
Ear Syringing
Child immunisations
Asthma (Kath or Sarah)
Diabetic check (2nd part
bloods with HCA first)
Healthy Heart( 2nd part
bloods with HCA first)
Stroke/TIA clinic
COPD (Kath or Linda)
Leg Bandaging
Leg Ulcer Dressing
Spirometry
Health Care Assistants
INR monitoring
Blood Pressure check
Blood Test
New patient check
Ear Syringe (Joanne if
had before)
ECG
Simple Dressing
Stitch Removal
Weight Management
Lung Check
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Appointment Duration
10 Minutes
10 Minutes
20 Minutes
20 Minutes
10 Minutes
20 Minutes
10/20 Minutes depending
on amount
20 Minutes
1st and 4th immunisations
20Minutes
All others 10 Minutes
20 Minutes
20 Minutes
20 Minutes
10 Minutes
20 Minutes
(reversibility 40 mins)
20 Minutes
20-30 Minutes
20 Minutes
(reversibility 40 mins)
10 Minutes
10 Minutes
10 Minutes
20 Minutes
20 Minutes
20 Minutes
10 Minutes
10/20 Minutes depending
on amount
20 Minutes
20 Minutes