NOTICE BOARD
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT RE TELEPHONE LINES 26.7.10 - 12.50PM
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8AM AND 12.45PM THE PRACTICE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ITS INCOMING TELEPHONE CALLS, INFACT ALL 3 PRACTICES WITHIN THE ST PETER'S CENTRE WERE AFFECTED.
THE PCT WAS INFORMED IMMEDIATELY, AND THIER IT DEPARTMENT WORKED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER,DURING THIS TIME PATIENTS WOULD HAVE HEARD THE ENGAGED TONE OR A VOICE MAIL MESSAGE GIVING AN EMERGENCY NUMBER. THE MAIN RECEPTION STAFF WITHIN THE BUILDING WERE INFORMED OF THE SITUATION, AND WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME PATIENTS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ALL CALLS ARE NOW BEING RECEIVED, ALTHOUGH WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL RECEIVE A LARGE VOLUME OF CALLS AT CERTAIN TIMES. WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERATE OF THIS, AS STAFF WORK TO DEAL WITH AS MANY CALLS AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
BANK HOLIDAYS
The practice will be closed on the following Bank Holidays
Monday 30th August 2010
Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th December 2010
The telephones will be through to the Out of Hours service at 4pm on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve for any URGENT medical emergencies.
The surgery will stay open until 4:30pm for any prescription collections.
WHAT'S COMING UP
We have a new GP starting on Thursday 1/10/09.
Her name is Dr Kirsty Isdale and we are very happy to welcome her to team and wish her all the best for her future with us!!
On line booking - Appointments
A new development for the future is access to the appointment system on line.This will enable you to make your own appointments on line via the internet.This is not up and running yet but I will let you know as soon as it is. This has now been piloted, and anybody interested in being able to book appointment on line, should contact our IT Manager, Gill Drake.
Late night opening - Started Monday 22nd September 08
For those patients who find accessing a GP appointment difficult, during normal working hours, the practice will now be offering routine pre bookable GP appointments on Monday evenings. If you need an appointment for this extended hours surgery, please contact the practice to book an appointment.
REQUESTS FOR REPEAT RESCRIPTIONS FOR PATIENTS AGED 65 AND OVER
Due to the large volume of telephone requests being received on Tuesday mornings,the practice has now relaxed the times that requests for repoeat prescriptions can be made.This hopefully will reduce stress on staff and patients by allowing the work load to be evened out over the week.
NEW REQUEST TIMES
Tuesday-Friday 11am-6.30pm (Please avoid 1pm-2pm as emergency calls only are taken at this time).
CARERS
Do you look after someone who is ill, frail, disabled or has a mental illness?
We are interested in identifying carers, especially those people who may be caring without help and support.
We know that carers are often "hidden", looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks, and may not see themselves as a carer. Caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community, which is often a 24 hour job that can be very demanding and isolating for the carer. Carers should receive appropriate support by way of access to accurate information on a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and not least, a listening ear when things get too much.
If you are a carer please ask at reception for a carers form which you can complete, to let us know about your caring responsibilities.
Useful contact telephone numbers:-
Social Services on 0845 053 0009 Social Services Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team 0845 602 1043
Carers Contact on 704604 Young Carers 835728
Carers Contact at CVS (Fax) 835908 Minority Ethnic Carers Development Workers 01254 387444
Age Concern 427222 Welfare Rights 470570
Visit the Carers contact website at www.bprcvs.co.uk/cc to download up to date newsletters.
Carers often worry about what would happen to the person they care for if they were taken ill suddenly.The British Red Cross can issue you with an Emergency card that will provide peace of mind in case this ever happens to you.
It is free of charge to carers.Please telephone 01772 709555 or 07112 707313 for an enrolment form or e-mail
carerscard@redcross.org.uk
REFFERAL INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS
When we refer patients to other services the referral is administered by the local NHS in a referral management centre. This referral management centre is responsible for allocating your referral to other services and normally sees full information about the referral, including any confidential information. If your GP is referring you to other services and you feel there is any information you wish to withhold from the referral management centre please inform your GP as soon as possible.
If you do not receive confirmation of your appointment within two weeks,please contact the referral management centre on 0845 053 9078
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU CONFIRM WITH OUR RECEPTION THAT WE HOLD YOUR CORRECT NAME,ADDRESS & TELEPHONE NUMBER.
Changes in Out of Hours Arrangements With effect from 1st October 2004, Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale PCT will be responsible for the provision of the out of hours service. If you feel you have an urgent medical problem whilst the surgery is closed, and this cannot wait until we open, you should ring 08452 26 26 26.
After answering basic details, you will speak to a nurse who will be able to assess your medical needs and direct you to the person and place most appropriate to meet your requirements.
If you need health information and emergency dental treatment, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Our Relocation to The St. Peter's Centre. The move to our new premises at the St. Peter's Centre went very smoothly and we are settling in well now.The surgery has a lot more consulting rooms and extra space for everyone. We are on the second floor which is just one level up from the main reception area on the first floor.You can go up the travelator to the first floor then into the blue lift to level two. We now also have a drop off box for prescriptions which is allocated on the side wall of the pharmacy just inside the main entrance, next to the travelator.
MINOR AILMENT SCHEME
This is a scheme that enables the you to access your local community pharmacy for a number of conditions including nappy rash,teething pains,threadworms and sore throats, hayfever amongst many others.This means that you do not need to come to the doctors for an appointment but when you are complete with a passbook you can access your local pharmacist for expert professional medical advice.
For more information please contact the surgery on your next visit.
PATIENT SELF CHECK-IN
On your future visits to the surgery you can now check yourself in at our touch screen self check in monitor.This enables you to let the doctor or nurse know you have arrived for your appointment without having to wait behind a long queue at the reception desk or when the receptionist is occupied on the telephone.
PATIENT ADVICE AND LIAISON SERVICE (PALS)
What is PALS?
The patient Advice and Liaison Service helps patients, their families and carers through the healthcare system.They work with healthcare staff to solve your problems and concerns.
What does PALS do?
The PALS officers listen to a wide range of patient queries, concerns and comments.They help to point you in the right direction if you need more specialised services.They work with NHS staff to make the system work better for patients.
If you have any concerns comments or suggestions you can contact PALS by :
Writing: FREEPOST,RRJY-ASBJ-AKTA,East Lancs PCT-PALS,Nelson BB9 5SZ
Calling: 0845 6031 068
Text line: 0788 4180 309
Email : PALS@eastlancspct.nhs.uk
Website: www.eastlancspct.nhs.uk
Mental Health
Helpline
Christmas + New Year 2009
The festive period can be a very lonely and isolated time for many people.The helpline can provide comfort and reassurance that support is available.The mental health helpline is open 365 days a year and is able to provide support,listening and information to people across Lancashire.
The helpline is open 7pm till 11pm during Christmas and New Year.
Freephone 0500 639000
For further information please visit: www.lancs-mentalhealthhelpline.nhs.uk
