Flu and Swine flu (Autumn 2009)

Seasonal Flu.

We are now coming to the end of the vaccination programme  for seasonal flu, we still have vaccine though and are still chasing the few 'stragglers' that would benefit from vaccination. IF you are one of those then please  make time to get your vaccination!

Swine Flu

The surgery now has Swine flu vaccine. The Government have asked us to run this scheme starting with the younger at risk groups first, then pregnant ladies and now the older at risk groups. Most letters should be out by the end of the first week of December. Please ring and book yourself into one of the clinics we are running. Please also be patient- technically the clinics need to run slightly slower than for seasonal flu vaccination.

If you think you should have had a letter but not received one - please ring so we can check

Surgery Reconfiguration

Those who have been in the surgery in the past 2-3 weeks will not have failed to notice the builders are in! the aim of the changes are to rearrange the layout of the surgery. We apologise for any inconvenience during the building works-most of the dirty and noisy works are happening 'out of hours' at present.

The big improvements will be a further consulting room, but also to make space for a pharmacy. The current reception and dispensary will become the Pharmacy, with an 'old style' shop front and entrance. This pharmacy will provide full pharmaceutical services that will be available to all people unlike the current restrictive 'dispensary system'.

New service - 'On the Day' Surgery (summer 2008)

At the On the Day Surgery you will be seen by one of the Clinical team – this will be either a GP or our Nurse Practitioner

Yvonne, our Nurse Practitioner is able to diagnose and issue prescriptions and she works alongside the GPs

Although we will try to keep to your appointment time, this is not always possible and there may be a wait on occasions

Surgery Services Threatened!

There has been a pharmacy application received (12/06/07) made to open a pharmacy in the village.

Positives: A pharmacist would be available in the village.

Negatives:

	Loss of the dispensary ( government rules)
	Loss of the surgery's services - decreased doctor and nurse numbers /availability as these are directly funded from the dispensary.
	Possibility of needing to review whole medical provision within the village.

The pharmacy application has only just been submitted, and  as yet not all details are clear. To help us fight this threat please either sign the petition in the surgery or click on this link to sign the on line petition. Further information will be released soon.

Historical News Information

Smoking Cessation

 As Many patients are aware Sister Gill Harrison who ran the smoking cessation for us left the surgery in July 2007. We are pleased to announce that both Sister Yvonne Owen and Sister Sue Burton are now fully trained for smoking cessation. So if your willpower is there, or you have relapsed please book to see either nurse and  lets stop you smoking!

Comments Please

 The annual patient satisfaction survey is about to start. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve our service please also email these to us

Patients have their say -  24/7/07

  With the recent negative press coverage critical about our doctors, (including pay and access to the services provided), latest figures on patient satisfaction show a total contradiction to this trend.

 The white paper – “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say” resulting from the consultation document “Your Health, Your Care, Your Say”, highlighted  that patients want more convenient services, with NHS and other agencies working much more closely together to deliver care and better access to doctors and their surgeries.

 To find out if doctors were meeting this need, a questionnaire survey was developed by the Department of Health and distributed to a sample of patients who were selected electronically from each practice list around the country. The patients selected had all contacted their GP between July and October last year (2006) either by telephone or in person. The Department of Health’s questionnaire was called “The GP patient survey – your doctor, your experience, your say” and some of you will have received this questionnaire to complete. 

 The results of this survey are now known and show that patients in Rowlands Castle Surgery are more than satisfied with the different methods of accessing their doctors i.e. over the telephone, making a physical appointment, booking appointments within 48 hours and booking appointments in advance and/or with a specific GP.

 This practice achieved 95+% in all/most areas of the survey (above average).

 Although this survey was commissioned and carried out without any input or control by GP surgeries, we are delighted with the results which show that a majority of patients are happy with general practice. 

 This is not to say we will become complacent about the services we offer to our patients and if you have any comments/ideas/compliments/complaints to make about your experience with the practice, please contact the Practice Manager in the first instance.

Whooping Cough -  is your child Immunised?

There has been notification of cases of Whooping cough in the locality. This is due to low uptake rates of vaccination in some areas. If your child has not had his/her vaccination please  reconsider  your decision

Whooping cough is a highly infectious bacterial disease, spread by coughing and sneezing. It can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated can on rare occasions cause serious complications.

The symptoms of whooping cough and the following phases of whooping cough infection have been described as apart of the syndrome:

An irritating cough gradually becomes outbursts of coughing (paroxysms), usually within one to two weeks, and often lasts for two to three months ("one-hundred-day cough"). Not all have the characteristic 'whoop', particularly in young infants, and cough spasms may be followed by a periods of vomiting. Symptoms may start similar to a common cold, progressing to coughing and choking spells. Hospitalisation is sometimes required.

Bowel Cancer Screening - Over 60?

The NHS Bowel screening programme that was commenced last summer  is now being introduced in this practice. If you are aged 60- 69  and registered with our practice you will automatically be sent a free kit to help detest bowel cancer early. If you are aged 70 or  over you can call 0800 707 60 60 to request your free kit. Click here for more details

Local Patient GP Assessment Survey

Thanks to all patients who took the time to complete the questionnaire this year. Results are very similar to previous years -with  very positive feedback from all concerned. Click here for  full details.

GP's - Greedy/ Overpaid Or Good Value for Money? - The Gp's Comments..

Many of you will have noticed the recent adverse publicity that General Practice is receiving from the Government through the Media. This  is following a new  contract that  was priced by the Government - and set with a raft of quality markers - which Primary care are now paid by. The following is a statement issued by the Local Medical committee  in response to these media articles - Link.

Probiotics - what are they and do they help?

Probiotics are microscopic living organisms, usually bacteria, that are claimed to improve health or treat disease. Probiotic yoghurts and drinks are sold widely, so-called 'bio-yoghurts' may also contain some of the same bacteria. Like many  health shop products these are  not drugs but 'food' or a 'supplement' - and the rules on  health claims in adverts are less strict than for medicines.

Do they work?

Many  people take these products to improve their general well - being - see the adverts on the TV's - "benefits after two weeks".

Unfortunately there is no reliable evidence to show these products help in  this way. The other major area they are promoted in is Bowel disorders - from constipation to Irritable bowel disease  and inflammatory bowel disease. For these areas there is limited evidence that they may be of use in some areas, but more research is required to know  which  dose and type.

Travel regulations 11th August 2006

Click on this link for up to date information.

Blood Pressure, Betablockers (Atenolol) and NICE - DON'T PANIC!

The surgery has had many enquiries regarding the recent high profile that NICE and the use of Betablockers in treatment of hypertension. To clarify this, the surgery follows the British Hypertension society (BHS) guidelines in the management of hypertension.

The recent media coverage focused on not using B-blockers first line for blood pressure treatment. Unless there are other medical factors the practice has never done this. In reality this recent media release only has publicised that the NICE guidelines have finally been brought into line with the  BHS guidelines thus ending the long standing discrepancy.

**  There is no need for early review unless your health status has changed. **

Influenza Vaccination Autumn 2006

This years  influenza vaccination programme already appears to  run the risk of a delayed start due to manufacturing problems. The full implications are not yet known, but it is hoped to have more information by the beginning of August. If, as seems likely there are shortages of vaccine the surgery will prioritise vaccine according to NHS guidelines. Please watch  this space for further details.

Avian Flu

After the recent news of the death of a swan in Scotland the media have currently gone quiet on this subject. This is still a potential 'risk', and the government have not changed their risk status for this disease. For up-to-date information click of the following link.

Practice Survey 2005-6

Thank you to all patients who completed this years survey. All questionnaires are now completed and results are now available. To see the results click on this link. The practice has now met with our patient group and are looking at the areas discussed. The first area  discussed was time taken for referral letters  from dictation in the consultation to posting. For the last month we have monitored this and the average time is under two working days.

Current Practice projects

1.Diabetes and Chronic respiratory disease.

The surgery has been involved with a national project to improve the care given to patients with Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease over the last 18 months. Our current focus is on overweight patients (45 years and older) this group is particularly at risk of developing diabetes. They are currently being invited to the surgery for a blood test to look for any early signs of diabetes.

2. Antibiotic usage.

The practice is already a low prescriber of antibiotics- the vast majority of sore throats, coughs and ear aches don't require these. Despite this we are taking this opportunity of re-examining this area to ensure the practice is practicing 'evidence based medicine'. Literature is available in the reception area of the surgery giving further details

Tuberculosis: Improvements to BCG Programme

We are currently receiving many questions regarding the BCG programme at school. The Government has decided to target the at risk groups in more detail. This means that children unless at high risk will no longer be Heaf tested or vaccinated. Please see this link for further details

Jamie’s Lunchbox?

When did you last think about what’s in your child’s lunchbox?

A recent national survey showed the following:

• Children who take a packed lunch to school are eating far too much fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar in one meal
• Three out of four lunch boxes failed to meet the government’s nutritional standards
• Out of 688 lunchboxes only one salad was found!
• One fifth did not contain a starchy food such as a sandwich, pasta or rice.
• Nearly three out of four contained crisps and two thirds contained biscuits and chocolate bars.
• Less than 50% contained fruit or chopped vegetables

 It is very important to consider children’s diets and with a larger number of children eating  from lunchboxes providing a healthy box will lead to a healthier child and a positive attitude to healthy eating that can be carried on through out life.

 Some healthy lunchbox ideas are available from the British Nutrition foundation at www.nutrition.org.uk