PRACTICE UPDATE
As you are aware we are losing our much valued GPs Dr Ali and Dr Lea this summer as they embark on new adventures elsewhere.
We do have Dr Hill, Dr Lovett and Dr Hameed still with us but alas they are part time and despite our attempts to recruit more GPs we see our self being very short of doctors in the next few months.
Dr Smith and Dr Park are prepared to work as much as they can to provide appointments to our patients but they need to be at Rosemary Street with the Registrars and doing the emergency appointments. As soon as Dr Hill becomes a GP Trainer and once we are successful at recruiting we will be able to offer more clinics at Oak Tree Lane.
The feedback we have received from Oak Tree Lane patients has been reviewed and in many cases acted upon. For example, the remaining appointments at Oak Tree Lane surgery are now reserved for those patients in certain postcodes i.e. Oak Tree Lane Estate and Bellamy Road Estate who do not have the ability or the means to travel. We also have afternoon appointments at Rosemary Street Health Centre that are also reserved for this cohort who can travel, to ensure they have an appointment available on the day.
In the meantime we have managed to recruit a Nurse Practitioner, Michelle Purvis and a new Practice Nurse Jane Campbell who will take the place of Nurse Alyson Ciborski who retired recently.
We have also put a bid into the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) to provide us with a Clinical Pharmacist, who will be able to see our patients for medication reviews, minor injuries and ailments, and any prescription queries.
We ask our patients to be reassured that we are investigating all avenues to find a solution to our workforce difficulties. This includes liaising with Councillor Vaughan Hopewell regarding his work around increasing the bus services into Oak Tree Lane Estate, working with the Targeted Investment in GP Recruitment to entice GPs out of retirement or away from locum agencies and into permanent positions, the CCG Workforce Group who are looking at recruiting GPs from different countries, and more recently (this afternoon) meeting with MP Ben Bradley for his views and possible assistance.
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP
As ever our Patient Participation Group has been acting on feedback from patients and recently took it into their own hands to remove the obstructive concrete slab from our car park at Rosemary Street. I am sure there hard work is appreciated by all patients who have had difficulty manoeuvring around this obstruction when entering and leaving the disable parking bays.
In addition to this our PPG have once again published the Forest Medical their informative newsletter –
A very big thank you to Neil Hill for his commitment to this publication and his research into topical health issues to assist our patients to self care.
If you would like to be involved in our Patient Participation Group either actively or as a virtual member please email:
ppg_rshc@hotmail.co.uk
or fill in a leaflet when in the practice.
INFLUENZA SEASON COMING
This is when we know our summer is over! As with every year we will be inviting you in for a flu vaccination if you fall into any of these categories:
- Over 65
- Diabetic
- COPD
- Chronic Asthma
- Immunosuppressant
- Pregnant
Other chronic disease as per NHS England guidelines.
Should you not wish to be invited please let a receptionist know and we will note it in your record. If you do wish to attend our flu day this will be held at Rosemary Street Health Centre on 3rd October 2017 all day. You can make an appointment for this from September 1st or you can just come in on the day at your own convenience.
All that is left for me to say now is that I hope you all enjoy a nice long summer. As always I will be retreating for 2 weeks at the end of August therefore any emails and correspondence received for me during this time will be dealt with when I return on 4th September.
Kind Regards
Nicola
Practice Manager