Patient Newsletter - Nov 13

Patient Newsletter - Nov 13
Welcome to the 32nd issue of the Patient Newsletter.
FEATURED ARTICLE - IMPORTANT CHANGES TO HOW
WE HANDLE YOUR PERSONAL DATA
We will soon be required to supply your personal and confidential medical information
to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). This information will be taken from the practice in a form that can identify you. The Practice has NO choice but to
allow the HSCIC to extract this information. However, individual patients can instruct
their Practice to stop the transfer of their data. For more information on the reasons for
this data extract and how to opt out of sending your confidential information please speak
to our reception team.
Have your say! NHS City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group Engagement
Event
Help shape local services and join us in discussing the CCG’s commissioning intentions for 2014-15.
This event will take place on Wednesday 27th of November 2013, 6.30pm-8.30pm at The Trampery,125
-127 Mare Street, London E8 3RH and will cover the following:
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Focus groups led by the CCG Clinical Leads - Maternity Services, Children’s Services, Mental
Health Services, Urgent Care, Planned Care, Primary Care Quality, Prescriptions and Medicines.
Speakers.
Your chance to comment on the NHS Call to Action Programme and the CCG Equality Objectives.
Opportunity to ask questions and meet your local CCG Team.
Refreshments.
If you would like to book a place then please speak to our Practice Manager. Places are limited.
Have you received a letter about your registration with the Surgery?
NHS ENGLAND are writing to patients who have not responded to smear or breast screening invitations to confirm they still reside at the given address. Every year, people move away from the
borough, or move into new homes in the borough. It is important to let us know your new address.
What do you need to do if you get a letter?
MAKE SURE YOU REPLY ASAP. The letter is quick and easy to reply to. Just fill in the few details
that is asked for and use the pre-paid envelope to post it for free.
What will happen if I do not reply?
You may be removed from our practice list. This is because NHS ENGLAND will assume you have
moved away and no longer require a GP.
www.hoxtonsurgery.nhs.uk
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Influenza – or flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses.
Symptoms include: fever, headache, sore throat and
all over aches and pains. Each year the make-up of
the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect
against the influenza viruses that the World Health
Organization decide are most likely to be circulating
in the coming winter.
The flu jab is given FREE OF CHARGE for the
following at risk groups:
People aged 65y or over.
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Children aged 2y or 3y.
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Chronic (long term) respiratory disease, such
as asthma
and COPD.
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Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure.
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Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4, or 5.
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Chronic liver disease.
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Chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease.
Diabetes.
A Weakened immune system due to disease (such as
HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment).
People living in long stay residential care homes or other long stay care facilities
where rapid spread is likely to follow after introduction of infection and cause high
morbidity and mortality. This DOES NOT include, for instance, prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence.
People in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older
or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
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If you belong to any of the above groups, please book an
appointment to get your FREE flu jab.
Missed Appointments
T
There were 212 missed appointments in the month of September 2013. These appointments were wasted as they were not cancelled by the patient. The Practice urges patients to cancel their appointment if they cannot attend so that it can be made available
to someone else. We do what we can to create enough appointments to meet patient demand but patients must also do their bit and cancel appointments when they cannot attend. If you do not currently receive a reminder from us for your appointments, please
let one of our reception staff check your mobile phone number. Your details will be kept
confidential and will never be passed on to anyone else.
We may remove a patient from our list if they continue to miss their appointments.
www.hoxtonsurgery.nhs.uk
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