Dr Priya Chandra
Dr James Duck
Dr Angus MacGregor
Dr Gregor Purdie
Dr Kenneth Scott
Dr Lois Sproat
Dr Mhari Williamson
Garden Hill Primary Care Centre
2 Garden Hill Road
Castle Douglas
DG7 3EE
Issue 2
April 2013
A bit later than anticipated , here is our latest newsletter. Thank
you so much for the positive feedback following our last edition.
Happy Reading!
Dr James Duck - Retires 28th June, 2013
A fresh, young doctor arrived in Castle Douglas to start work on 1st April,
1982.
Dr Peter Murray Kerr had retired and Dr James Duck was his
replacement. I know this responsibility lay heavily on his shoulders but he
has proved he was more than up for the job! He has worked through many
changes in staff, colleagues and buildings! We have seen him change from a
handsome, blond young man to a handsome, grey older man!
He
occasionally wore shorts in the summer in a colonial style with knee-high
socks, much to the consternation and excitement of all staff and some
patients. He has driven a variety of vehicles from a camper van, through
black BMW to his current fab wee sports car.
He is often to be seen
sprinting through the park or around the country roads and has kept
himself physically fit, enjoying rugby, basketball and New Year Dips!
More importantly, he has seen many folk through many different problems with great care and devotion,
putting in many extra hours of hard work over the years. He studied for the Diploma in Sports Medicine
in 2002 and has been able to offer his expertise to our patients as a sports physician. He has been a
dedicated trainer to many young doctors who have gone on to become highly competent GPs in their own
right.
Now I am writing this short piece on his retirement, which I feel has come round far too quickly!
I would like you to join with me in thanking him for all his hard work over the past thirty-one years.
There have been moments of laughter and times of sorrow but, all in all, I think we can say ‘it’s been
good’.
Thank you Jim and, as you would say, ‘Have a Blast!’.
We wish you a Very Happy Retirement!
Dr Lois Sproat
Page 2
New Doctors in Training
Dr Alexander Morton
I was born in Paisley, grew up in Southside Glasgow and studied at the University of Dundee Medical School in Ninewells Hospital. I continued to work
in Perth and Dundee for two years before returning to Glasgow to pursue a
career in Emergency Medicine. After completing two years of intense training in urban trauma, I decided the country life was the way forward and
switched to rural GP training in Dumfries and Galloway!!
I
have
specialist
interests
in
trauma
(including
sports
injuries),
rheumatology, minor surgical procedures and ophthalmology.
I represented Scotland in athletics (high jump — 2.05m personal best) at
age 17 before going on to play basketball at a national level.
My other
interests include mountain biking, surfing and going on holiday in my
campervan!
I am currently GPST1 and have another two years of training (one year in DGRI and one year in CDMG).
When fully qualified would like to work in GP, Out of Hours and Accident and Emergency in a rural
setting such as Dumfries and Galloway.
Dr Emma Knowles
I was brought up in rural Cumbria. I went to medical school in Newcastle
and graduated in summer 2011. I then spent a year working in Glasgow
before moving to Dumfries and Galloway to complete my foundation
training.
I spent eight months working at Dumfries and Galloway Royal
Infirmary in the departments of Paediatrics and Obstetrics and
Gynaecology and I will spend the next four months here in Castle
Douglas. I have yet to work in a specialty where I haven't enjoyed my job,
but my hope is to become a rural/semi-rural GP.
I enjoy being out and about in the countryside; walking, running, cycling,
anything outdoors! Dumfries and Galloway is a perfect location for this!
Home Visits
Please try to phone before 10 am if you feel you need a home visit as doctors start
their rounds at 11 am. A doctor will phone you first to prioritise the visit. If
possible, we ask that you come to the surgery as several patients can be seen in
the surgery in the time it takes a doctor to visit someone at home.
Page 3
Self Check In
If you have been to the surgery in the past month, you may have
noticed we have a new Patient Check In System. We hope you will
find this a fast, easy and confidential way to check in for
appointments. This system takes pressure off our reception staff
during busy periods and will save you time waiting at reception. The
system also allows us to leave individual messages for patients
(ie please pick up prescription) or information for every patient in a
surgery (ie Dr X running 15 minutes late).
We hope you find this new system of value.
Managed Repeats Service
If you are signed up for the Managed Repeats Service with your local Boots
pharmacy, please remember that it is your responsibility to inform them should
the doctor make any changes to your medication.
Equally, if you are on regular repeat NHS medications and would like to make
use of this service whereby the pharmacy generate your monthly prescription
without the need for you to contact the surgery, please ask for more details
at your local Boots pharmacy.
Social Prescribing
Castle Douglas Medical Group is very pleased to be part of a
new initiative — Social Prescribing — which aims to help
patients access non-medical approaches to improving health
and wellbeing.
These include opportunities for arts and crafts, physical
activity, learning, volunteering, befriending or help with
benefits and debt.
If you feel you, or someone you know, would benefit from
this Initiative, please pick up a Healthy Connections leaflet
at reception.
Alternatively, please feel free to discuss Social Prescribing
with any of our doctors or nurses who will be happy to
discuss options with you.
Page 4
Detection of Human Papilloma Virus ( HPV) in the cervix, vagina and urine
HPV is a virus
you may have heard of through the schoolgirl
vaccination programme. It is found in various parts of the body such
as the vagina, mouth and urine and there are many strains/types of
the HPV virus associated with cervical pre-cancer. This means that
testing for HPV is now being considered as the primary screening test
for the future and it may be possible to carry out this test on vaginal
swab or urine instead of a cervical smear sample.
Women who are attending our practice for routine smears are being
invited to take part in this research to determine if the HPV virus can
be reliably found in vaginal swab and urine .
This research is being offered in all GP practices in Dumfries and Galloway over the next 2 years. Full
details of the research programme will be included in your routine Cervical Smear invitation with no
obligation to take part in the study.
The study involves bringing a sample of urine, taking a vaginal swab and you agreeing to the use of a small
part of your smear sample for testing. The study does not, in any way, affect the smear result or make
it in any way less reliable.
This study is supported by Dumfries & Galloway Health Board with the hope of publication in Medical
Journals and to inform future research and service provision.
Please feel free to ask any member of the team for further information .
Do you need help with your NHS Hearing Aid?
It can take some time to get used to hearing aids, getting used to how to manage them and getting used
to new sounds.
The Hard of Hearing Group have trained volunteers who can provide help and support with the following:
•
Tubing, minor repairs, ear mould cleaning and battery
replacement
•
Advice on how to clean your hearing aids and how to get
the most out of your hearing aids
Why not come along to your local drop-in clinic if you are having
problems:
Castle Douglas Town Hall - Second Thursday of each month - 10 am to 12 noon
Page 5
Human Body General Knowledge Quiz
Test your knowledge with our fun quiz (answers overleaf)
1. What is the name of the biggest part of the human brain?
2. The coloured part of the human eye that controls how much light passes through the pupil is called
the?
3. What is the name of the substance that gives skin and hair its pigment?
4. The muscles found in the front of your thighs are known as what?
5. True or false? The two chambers at the bottom of your heart are called ventricles.
6. What substance are nails made of?
7. What is the human body’s biggest organ?
8. The innermost part of bones contains what?
9. True or false? An adult human body has over 500 bones.
10. How many lungs does the human body have?
11. Another name for your voice box is the?
12. The two holes in your nose are called?
13. Your tongue is home to special structures that allow you to experience tastes such as sour, sweet,
bitter and salty, what is their name?
14. The bones that make up your spine are called what?
15. The shape of DNA is known as?
16. The flow of blood through your heart and around your body is called?
17. The bones around your chest that protect organs such as the heart are called what?
18. What is the name of the long pipe that shifts food from the back of your throat down to your
stomach?
19. True or false? Your ears are important when it comes to staying balanced.
20. The outside layer of skin on the human body is called the?
Page 6
For Your Information ………..
Since 2004/05, all patients are registered with a practice and not a particular doctor. Confusion arises
because a specific doctor has to be named on the Registration form but this is purely for administration
purposes. Patients are free to consult any doctor in the practice and they all have full access to your
medical records including your previous consultations.
We have seven GP partners and three doctors in training. Please see our Practice Booklet or visit our
practice website (www.castledouglasmedicalgroup.co.uk) for more information about the partners and
trainees and their specialist interests.
Quiz Answers:
1. The cerebrum
2. Iris
3. Melanin
4. Quadriceps
5. True
6. Keratin
7. The skin
8. Bone marrow
9. False (there are 206)
10. 2
11. Larynx
12. Nostrils
13. Taste buds
14. Vertebrae
15. A double helix
16. Circulation
17. Ribs
18. The oesphagus
19. True
20. Epidermis
We would value your feedback on this newsletter and any ideas for articles you would like to see
in the future.
Please
contact,
Maureen
Hughes,
here
at
the
Medical
Group,
or
email
her
[email protected]. She looks forward to hearing from you.
Important Dates for Your Diary:
If you require urgent medical attention or advice during these times, please
contact the practice number - 01556 505900 - and you will be transferred to
the Out-of-Hours GP Service.
Protected Learning:
Tuesday 11th June, 2013 (afternoon)
Useful Contact Numbers:
Castle Douglas Medical Group 01556 505900
Castle Douglas Hospital
01556 502333
Repeat Prescription Line
01556 505666
Dumfries Infirmary
01387 246246
District Nurses
01556 505708
NHS 24
08454 24 24 24
Health Visitors
01556 505710
Stop Smoking Service
0845 602 6861
Midwives
01556 505711
Social Services Department
01556 505777
Have you visited our website? Let us know what you think!
www.castledouglasmedicalgroup.co.uk
at