ColeridgeOnline News

New service for Carers starting in March 2012

2012-02-21T10:52:00.000Z

Carers support worker available at the Coleridge Medical

A Community Support worker from the Virtual Carers centre will be available at the Practice on a regular drop-in basis, to offer advice and guidance to patients who provide a Caring role.
This new service will compliment our existing services for Carers provided by the Nurses in our Carers team.
The drop-in sessions will be run on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of each month, from 10-11am, starting on Tuesday 6th March, you will not need an appointment.

Virtual Carers Centre a Carers notice board has been provided by the Virtual Carers Centre for the waiting room. It is updated regularly and contains contact numbers and information for patients about further help and support available for Carers.

Thank you to the friends and family of Mrs Shapter for their kind donation

2012-02-18T09:46:00.001Z

We would like the thank the friends and family of the late Mrs Dorothy Shapter for their kindness and generosity.

Their collection at her funeral has allowed us to buy a cohort of automated blood pressure machines.

In line with the latest medical research and guidance, we will be using these to enable us to get accurate home blood pressure readings on our patients before making a final diagnosis of high blood pressure.

NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme

2012-02-15T12:50:00.004Z

Are you male and 65 or over?

If so, you can have a quick, free and simple scan to see if you have an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

What is an Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm?
The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen. In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak. It can then start to expand and from what is called an aortic abdominal aneurysm.

The following are not screened; Men who have already had aortic surgery (although aortic valve surgery is fine) & men who have a severe medical condition contra-indicating surgery.

The chance of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm can also increase if:

You smoke

You have high blood pressure

You have a sibling or parent who has, or has had, an abdominal aortic anuerysm.

It is estimated that around 1 in 25 men aged between 65 and 74 in England have an abdominal aortic anuerysm. This is about 4% of men in the age group.

Contact the South Devon & Exeter AAA Screening Programme on 01803 655441 or visit aaa.screening.nhs.uk for more information.

Line Up & Sign Up

2012-02-06T14:28:00.002Z

If you would like to register for SystmOnline to be able to book Doctors appointments online, come and see Teressa at the Front Desk on Tuesday 7th February 9am - 12pm.

A form of Photo ID will be required to register

Tuesday Injection Clinics

2012-02-03T12:14:00.003Z

Unfortunately Tuesday injection clinics are suspended until further notice, due to the shortage of the Pneumovax injection.

Typhoid Shortage

2012-02-03T09:03:00.003Z

Due to an International shortage of the Typhoid vaccine, no vaccine is available at present.
Limited supplies are due to be available towards the end of February 2012.
We will update the sites as more information becomes available.

Doctors Appointments Online

2012-02-01T12:33:00.003Z

It is now possible to book Doctors Appointments Online.

In addition to being able to request your medication online we are delighted to announce that from Monday 6th February you will also be able to book routine appointments to see any GP.

If you have not already signed up for online access then please come to the front desk at any time to do so (form of ID required). For more information on how to register, contact one of our Reception Team.

We are very excited to be introducing this, we hope you will be too.

The following appointments can not be booked using SystmOnline:
- Smears
- Coil Fit/Removals
- Implant Fit/Removal
- Medicals i.e. HGV/Taxi/Adoption etc

Carers Health and Well Being Checks

2012-01-26T15:46:00.001Z

If you are a Carer then we can probably offer you additional help and support by arranging for you to have a Carers health check with one of our especially trained nurses. If you have not previously had a Carers check then please let us know by informing either a receptionist, nurse or your Doctor so that we can arrange to contact you to explain the process and if you wish, arrange an appointment.

Definition of a Carer - If you provide help and support without payment, to your partner, a child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without your help you are a Carer.

Since November 2011 we have been able to offer Carers a new style of health and well being check.

At the end of December 2011 we identified 275 Patients who are Carers according to our records. We are confident that there must be many more, and we need your help now to identify them.

All Carers who have not previously had a Carers health and well being check can be offered an appointment with one of our especially trained nurse. Once they have received this check, they will be offered a further review appointment in six months time.

Please follow this link to our website for more information about services to Carers - http://www.coleridgemedicalcentre.co.uk/carers.html

Booking Urgent Appointments

2011-12-29T09:44:00.003Z

If a patient rings for an urgent appointment they will be asked to speak to the duty doctor first. The doctor will assess the patient and agree a plan with them. The plan might include referral to a nurse practitioner or practice nurse, collecting a prescription or attending an appointment with a doctor that day. The receptionists cannot by-pass this system. Please be assured that patients who have an urgent medical problem will be seen.

Patient Survey

2011-12-28T15:47:00.000Z

We have recently undertaken another Patient satisfaction survey.
Thanks to those of you who completed one of the questionnaires during your visit to the surgery over the past few weeks. The questionnaires have now been sent off for analysis, and the results are expected back in about four week’s time.
At the end of January we will be asking our newly formed ‘Patient Group’ to meet with us to consider the results of the survey. After that we will be feeding back results and outcomes to all patients via our website, Blog and Patient newsletter.

Coleridge Medical Centre Patient Participation group

2011-12-28T15:45:00.000Z

We have recently formed our first Patient participation group. The group met for the first time in early December, and will be meeting again in late January to discuss the results of the recent patient survey.

The aim is to bring together a cross section of patients representing a variety of age groups, who will have different perspectives and experiences as patients of the medical centre.
The purpose of the group will be to consider the range and quality of services provided by the Practice. Members will be invited to meet with Practice representatives to discuss Patient and Practice issues and priorities, as well as any planned changes in the Practice.
The outcomes of meetings will be displayed periodically in the surgery, on the website and in the Practice Newsletter.

Christmas Opening Hours

2011-12-13T14:02:00.003Z

The Coleridge Medical Centre's Christmas Opening Hours:

Thursday 22nd December - OPEN
Friday 23rd December - OPEN
Monday 26th December - CLOSED
Tuesday 27th December - CLOSED
Wednesday 28th December - OPEN
Thursday 29th December - OPEN
Friday 30th December - OPEN
Monday 2nd January - CLOSED
Tuesday 3rd January - OPEN

Remember to order your repeat medication in plenty of time for Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays.

*The Surgery would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas*

IPQ - Improving Practice Questionnaire

2011-12-13T13:57:00.001Z

Over the next few weeks, we will be asking patients to participate in a Patient survey which will help us to assess how you feel about the service we offer to our patients.

The questionnaire we use is a validated survey tool that is accredited for General Practice use, and we have used it many times before in this Practice.

It will ask you about your views of the Practice and the quality of care you have received from staff.

Your responses will help the Practice to focus on areas for improvement.

If you would like to complete a questionnaire please ask one of our Receptionists at the Front Desk.

We very much appreciate your help.

Seasonal Flu

2011-12-05T16:40:00.003Z

Have you booked your Flu Jab yet?

We are nearing the end of our Flu Campaign, if you would like a Flu Jab and have not yet made an appointment, please call our Receptionists on 01404 814447 to arrange an appointment.

Messages to Patients using Text (SMS) and Email

2011-11-22T08:54:00.000Z

We have had a good response from patients who would be happy to receive electronic messages from us, but we would like to encourage more of you to consider this option.
With your permission we can now arrange to contact you via email or Text message (SMS).
We will only text or email you with messages that are relevant to your ongoing health care e.g. appointment confirmation and reminder, test results, health screening opportunities etc.
If you would like to receive messages from us via email or text (SMS) please complete a consent form so that we can record your agreement on your patient record.
Forms are available on the Reception & Prescription desks, in the Branch Surgeries and also on our website

Debit Card Payments

2011-11-17T11:19:00.002Z

We now have the facilities to process payments by Debit card. Unfortunately we are unable to accept payment by Credit card.

Disruption in the Car Park

2011-11-17T09:45:00.003Z

We would like to make all of our patients aware of the disruption which will be experienced in the car park on Monday 21st November, as there will be some tree work around the perimeter of the car park.
Parking spaces will be in short supply. Please remember the car park is for patients with limited mobility.

Thank you,

Get better without using antibiotics!

2011-11-17T08:46:00.003Z

The European Antibiotic Awareness Day is on Friday 18th November.
For more information on how to get better without using antibiotics follow www.nhs.uk/antibiotics

News for Patients who are Carers

2011-11-14T12:09:00.002Z

Health and well being checks will be offered from November 2011 to newly identified Carers

We will shortly be able to offer health and well being checks to more of our patients who are Carers. If you have not previously undertaken a health check as part of our Carers project, then you will be eligible under the new scheme for a full health and well being check with one of our trained nurses. This will be followed by a review appointment for a further check in six months time.

If you have recieved a Carers check fairly recently then you may be entitled to a six month review appointment. If this is the case you will be contacted by one of our Carers team.

IF YOU ARE A CARER AND HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY HAD A CARERS CHECK THEN PLEASE LET ONE OF THE RECEPTIONISTS KNOW SO THAT WE CAN ARRANGE TO CONTACT YOU TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

*************************************************************************************

*PLEASE SEE THE NEW CARERS INFORMATION BOARD IN THE WAITING ROOM
which will display information about services available to Carers via the Virtual Carers Centre*

The Devon Virtual Carers Centre
Carer support line tel. 084556 434 435
Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm and Saturday Mornings

The Devon virtual Carers Centre has been established at Westbank, this will not be a physical building, but will be accessed through a new carer support helpline, a single telephone number that will be open from 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings, with a local support service being available near to where you live.
This new service will consolidate and build on current services including: Devon Carers Link, Making Space, Learning disability Carer support and Devon Young Carers, and Health and well being checks for Carers.

Job Vacancy - Finance Administrator

2011-11-09T11:39:00.002Z

Would you like to work at the Coleridge Medical Centre? We have a vacancy for a Finance Administrator.
For more details follow this link - http://www.coleridgemedicalcentre.co.uk/jobscmc.html

National Stress Day

2011-11-02T16:52:00.002Z

Today is National Stress Day!

Follow the link below for advice on how to cope with stress

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress/pages/treatment.aspx

How healthy are you?

2011-10-23T20:57:00.000+01:00

Try the NHS Lifecheck challenge!

Self Care Week 2011

2011-10-18T11:05:00.001+01:00

Self Care Week 2011 aims to embed self care across all walks of life by 'helping people to take care of themselves', especially those with a long term condition, by learning more about how they can look after their own health better. Self care is keeping fit and healthy, as well as how you take medicines, treat minor ailments, and seek help when you need it; and if you have a long term condition it’s about understanding that condition and how to live with it on a day to day basis.

http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/Yourhealth/Pages/self-care-week-2011.aspx

When we are Closed

2011-10-04T10:59:00.003+01:00

If you have a life threatening emergency when we are closed please dial 999. If you have an urgent medical problem that cannot wait until we are open, the doctor on call can be contacted by telephoning the surgery number on 01404 814447. Your call will automatically transfer to the out of hours service. Devon Doctors can also be contacted directly on 0845 6710 270. Medical advice can be obtained from NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Booking Urgent Appointments

2011-10-04T09:57:00.005+01:00

Self Care

2011-10-04T09:49:00.003+01:00

There has been plenty in the press concerning pressures on the NHS and that most of us could do more to look after ourselves in a healthy way, whether it's brushing teeth, treating minor ailments at home, doing some exercise or eating healthily.

If you have a long term condition there are extra things you may need to consider. Patients with long term conditions are invited to Expert Patients Programme. This is a self management course which is free for patients who live with a long term health condition.

The course looks at ways to help you manage living with your health condition. Participants report they have felt more confident and more in control of their lives since doing this course.

A similar course is available for anyone with caring responsibilities for someone with a long term health condition or disability, called the "Looking After Me" course.

To reserve your place on these courses or speak to the organiser, please contact 0800 073 0792 (calls to this number are free). Leave your name and telephone number and a member of the team will call you back.

The Expert Patient Programme and Looking After Me are services commissioned by NHS Devon.

Ottery St Mary Medical Trust

2011-10-03T11:38:00.003+01:00

The Trust was established in 1990 to provide equipment and facilities that are not normally available from the National Health Service e.g. nebulisers, heart and blood pressure monitors. Funds are received in the form of donations and bequests usually from patients and their families. Donations are always welcome and can be made through Anne Maher (Trust Secretary) or any of the GP Partners (The Trustees). The registered charity number for the Trust is 1002091.

Medicines that are no longer required

2011-09-26T11:39:00.002+01:00

Please note that we cannot accept any medicines that are no longer required. These should be returned to the pharmacy from which they were obtained.

Staff News

2011-09-23T09:10:00.003+01:00

Welcome to Helen Wakelin, Health Care Assistant. Helen has been covering maternity leave and will job share with Emma Mullenger. We also say hello to Gaenor Wearing who has a dual role as PA to the Practice Manager and Medical Secretary.

Car Park

2011-09-20T09:13:00.002+01:00

Our car park is continually congested with cars, many of which could be parked in the Land of Canaan car park. We are concerned at the number of minor bumps and near misses and if you park in our car park, you do so at your own risk. Please park considerately in the designated bays, otherwise you may be asked to move your vehicle before you can attend your appointment. Thank you for your co operation.

Those attending flu clinics are asked to park in Land of Canaan car park.

Fundraising

2011-09-14T12:43:00.002+01:00

Dr Sam Cole and Dr Kate Gurney have just completed a fundraising swim for The Oxford Craniofacial Unit. This is the only centre in the UK for people with some of the rarer craniofacial conditions. Dr Cole and Dr Gurney swam from Europe to Asia across Dardonelles (one of the world's busiest shipping lanes). If you would like to support them please visit their fundraising webpage at www.justgiving.com/samantha-cole1

Announcement for Patients Registered with Dr Siggers

2011-09-08T09:06:00.002+01:00

Dr Siggers will be leaving the practice on 30th September to move to Hampshire with her family.

We hope that Dr Siggers' patients will continue their care with Dr Sally Caswell who is currently working here as a locum GP.

We would like to thank Dr Siggers for the care she has provided for patients and we wish her all the very best for the future.

Messages to Patients using Text (SMS) and Email

2011-09-06T08:56:00.000+01:00

We have had a good response from patients who would be happy to receive electronic messages from us, but we would like to encourage more of you to consider this option. With your permission we can now arrange to contact you via email or Text message (SMS). We will only text or email you with messages that are relevant to your ongoing health care e.g. appointment confirmation and reminder, test results, health screening opportunities etc. If you would like to receive messages from us via email or text (SMS) please complete a consent form so that we can record your agreement on your patient record. Forms are available on the Reception & Prescription desks, in the Branch Surgeries and also on our website.

Twitter

2011-08-30T09:40:00.003+01:00

August Bank Holiday

2011-08-25T10:53:00.002+01:00

Monday 29th August is a Bank Holiday therefore we will be closed.

We will open again on Tuesday 30th August 2011.

WHEN WE ARE CLOSED - If you have a life threatening emergency please dial 999. If you have an urgent medical problem that cannot wait until we are open, the emergency duty doctor on call can be contacted by telephoning the surgery number on 01404 814447. Your call will automatically be transfered to the out of hours service. Alternatively Devon Doctors on Call can be contacted directly on 08456 710 270. Please note that for your safety Devon Doctors record all calls. Medical advice can be obtained from NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or from your local pharmacy.If you require a routine appointment or have a general enquiry please contact us during our usual opening hours.

Dr Barrow returns

2011-08-18T10:46:00.002+01:00

We are pleased to welcome Dr Barrow back as our Registrar. Dr Barrow will be with us for the next year.

Book your Seasonal Flu Injections

2011-08-16T11:19:00.002+01:00

We are now able to book your Seasonal Flu Injection. The clinics start on Tuesday 20th September. Please telephone the surgery (after 10:00am) if you would like an injection and: -

are over 65 years old

live in a residential or nursing home

Or if you suffer from any of the following conditions:

Chronic respiratory disease

Asthma

Suppression of your immune system (eg Splenectomy, Chemotherapy)

Chronic heart disease

Chronic renal failure

Chronic liver disease

Diabetes mellitus

Stroke

Multiple Sclerosis or Central Nervous System Degeneration

OR are: -

A Registered Carer

Pregnant

Magazines for the Surgery

2011-08-15T12:14:00.002+01:00

We appreciate all the magazines which we are given by our patients, however we are only able to accept magazines that are within 3 months of date. This allows us to keep the reading material in the Waiting Room up to date and current for our patients to enjoy

Fantastic News

2011-07-26T16:47:00.003+01:00

We are the first Practice in East Devon to have a student nurse allocated to us for a placement!Lets hope its the first of many.

Seasonal Flu Appointments for SystmOnline Users

2011-07-22T09:54:00.004+01:00

If you use SystmOnline to order your repeat prescriptions, you can now also book your Flu appointment!
Flu Clinics begin in September and appointments are available to book now.
More dates will be added later.

Please remember that for these Flu Clinics, parking in the Coleridge Car Park is for Disabled patients only.

Dr Cole's Fundraising

2011-07-14T11:41:00.002+01:00

Dr Sam Cole is planning a fundraising swim at the end of August. Along with Dr Kate Gurney they will be swimming from Europe to Asia across the Dardonelles, the worlds busiest shipping lane. If you would like to support Sam please visit her fundraising webpage on https://web.nhs.net/owa/redir.aspx?C=4e8f2833ec274f06a4759be5d6d2d866&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.justgiving.com%2fsamantha-cole1Thank you

Whimple Branch Surgery

2011-07-12T11:29:00.006+01:00

We are now able to offer Nurse appointments to all of our patients at our Whimple Branch Surgery.

The Nurses offer all routine appointments e.g. blood tests, Blood Pressure checks, dressings, ECG's, hypertension reviews etc.

The only appointmens which they can not offer at Whimple are :-
-1 Audiograms
-2 24 hr BP /cardiocall/24hr ECG monitor fittings
-3 Coils
-4 Spirometry at present but hope to address that soon
-5 Yellow fever vaccinations
-6 Cryotherapy

In the near future the Whimple Branch Surgery will be in regular use, allowing us to see patients in both Whimple and Ottery.

It will become common that you may receive letters inviting you for checks at the Whimple Branch Surgery, this is to allow us to increase the number of patients which we can see.

If you are unsure as to where the Whimple Branch Surgery is, then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Research

2011-07-08T11:36:00.002+01:00

It has been a busy year for our research team and we are grateful to the sixty people who have agreed to take part in a wide range of studies. Thank you to those who may have volunteered but did not quite fit the required criteria for study.

Last year we recruited patients to the 'SNIFS' (Steam Inhalation and Nasal Irrigation For recurrent Sinusitis) research project run by the University of Southampton. We have just started a pilot study organised by the University of Warwick called 'DDELPHI' (Doctor Delivered Physical activity Intervention) in which a select group of six people are given a pedometer and measure the number of steps they take in a week. These studies are long term, but eventually we will be able to report results in our newsletter.

We also work with our local researchers at the RD&E Hospital and Peninsula Medical School. The Diabetes department is particularly active and diabetic patients get regular invitations to take part in studies. This research is very useful in developing treatment in the long term but there is no pressure on anyone to take part. Please let us know if you would prefer not to be contacted.

Seeking the Views of Patients

2011-06-30T09:36:00.001+01:00

We are keen to seek the views of our patients from time to time regarding the range and quality of the service that we provide.
We are continually working to maintain and improve the service we provide in the Practice, and your feedback would be invaluable to help us gauge the effectiveness of some of our plans and decisions.

Using email, we would like to recruit a small group of patients who would be willing to respond to the occasional short survey. This group will be formed from a random selection of patients who have consented to receive emails from us.

If you are willing to help us in this way we would be pleased to hear from you, please ensure that you have completed a consent form to receive email from us. You can do this by following the Link on our website http://www.coleridgemedicalcentre.co.uk/smsandemails.html or completing a form at the Reception desk.

If you are willing to take part in our surveys please send an email headed ‘Patient Reference Group’ to coleridgemedicalcentre@nhs.net

Surgery Closing Times

2011-06-29T11:01:00.001+01:00

On Wednesday 29th June 2011 we will be closing at 6.00pm.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Seasonal Flu Injections

2011-06-20T14:41:00.004+01:00

We are now able to book your Seasonal Flu Injection. The clinics start on Tuesday 20th September. Please telephone the surgery (after 10:00am) if you would like an injection and: -

are over 65 years old

live in a residential or nursing home

Or if you suffer from any of the following conditions:

Chronic respiratory disease

Asthma

Suppression of your immune system (eg Splenectomy, Chemotherapy)

Chronic heart disease

Chronic renal failure

Chronic liver disease

Diabetes mellitus

Stroke

Multiple Sclerosis or Central Nervous System Degeneration

OR are: -

A Registered Carer

Pregnant

Carers Project

2011-06-14T09:08:00.002+01:00

The Carers Project in its current form ended on the 31 March 2011. We joined this Pilot Project in the first stage in July 2008 providing support and advice appointments for Carers. In the second phase starting in March 2010 the appointments became more structured, with a preparatory workbook for Carers to complete, and the option of a vascular check when indicated. Both pilots have been subject to an evaluation study carried out by the University of Plymouth, and direct feedback to the NHS, to support the development of new policies focusing on the welfare of all Carers.

When we started in 2008 we had very limited awareness of how many of our patients were Carers. To date we have now identified 302 Carers and provided 194 of them with Carers check appointments and ongoing support and advice. For the future we await details of new specification for Carers Support in Devon. More details on this when available, will be posted on our website and included in the next Practice Newsletter.

*Carers Week 13th - 19th June 2011*

Travel Advice

2011-05-31T11:14:00.003+01:00

If you are going to travel abroad please plan your health requirements as soon as you book your trip. We prefer not to give travel advice by email or phone. Instead we ask that you go to the website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk, print out the travel advice for each country you intend to visit and then make an appointment in our travel clinic. Please bring your print out with you. The nurse will discuss your health requirements and start treatment as required.

Fundraising

2011-05-24T11:21:00.003+01:00

The practice team regularly raises funds for charity. Beneficiaries of this year's efforts are Cancer Research, Children in Need, Zambia Appeal, Devon Community Foundation, Hospiscare, Help Scheme and Comic Relief. We would like to thank everyone who has generously donated prizes, baked cakes, invented all sorts of ingenious ways to get us to part with our money and of course all those who give so generously to such worthwhile causes. In addition we would like to thank patients, visitors and staff who donated to the Poppy Appeal. You raised £82.23.

Disruption in June

2011-05-20T09:11:00.007+01:00

We would like to make all of our patients aware of some disruptions which we will be experiencing during June 2011:

During the week commencing 6th June our builders will be refurbishing the patient toilet next to the Nurses suite. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

From the week commencing 13th June for a period of approximately 4 weeks, South West Water will be replacing the mains water pipes along Canaan Way. Our entrance will be between two sets of traffic lights which may make entering and exiting the car park difficult. Please use the public car park at Land of Canaan whenever possible.

Messages to Patients using Email and Text (SMS)

2011-05-17T09:17:00.003+01:00

We have had a good response from patients who would be happy to receive electronic messages from us, but we would like to encourage more of you to consider this option. With your permission we can now arrange to contact you via email or Text message (SMS). We will only text or email you with messages that are relevant to your ongoing health care e.g. appointment confirmation and reminder, test results, health screening opportunities etc. If you would like to receive messages from us via email or text (SMS) please complete a consent form so that we can record your agreement on your patient record. Forms are available on the Reception & Prescription desks, in the Branch Surgeries and also on our website.

New Surgery Times

2011-05-10T08:50:00.002+01:00

From 19th May 2011 Dr Cole and Dr Gibbons will change their work patterns. Dr Cole will see patients on Monday afternoons, Wednesday mornings and Thursday mornings and afternoons. Dr Gibbons will see patients on Monday mornings, Tuesday mornings and afternoons and Friday afternoons. Dr Stuart will move her Whimple to Monday mornings and Dr Cole will be at Whimple on Wednesday mornings.

Dr Jean Brown

2011-05-03T11:30:00.002+01:00

Dr Brown has reduced her hours. To make her list of patients more manageable it has been necessary to reduce Dr Brown's list size. Patients who are affected by these changes have been informed that they will be transferred to the care 0f Dr Cole and Dr Gibbons.

Bank Holidays Approaching

2011-04-19T10:53:00.002+01:00

WE WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY 22nd TO MONDAY 25th APRIL AND FRIDAY 29th APRIL TO MONDAY 2nd MAY.

Please order your repeat prescription so that you do not run out of medication over the bank holiday period.

WHEN WE ARE CLOSED

If you have a life threatening emergency please dial 999. If you have an urgent medical problem that cannot wait until we are open, the emergency duty doctor on cal can be contacted by telephoning the surgery number on 01404 814447. Your call will automatically be transfer to the out of hours service. Alternatively Devon Doctors on Call can be contacted directly on 08456 710 270. Please note that for your safety Devon Doctors record all calls. Medical advice can be obtained from NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or from your local pharmacy.

If you require a routine appointment or have a general enquiry please contact us during our usual opening hours.

Appointments

2011-04-13T15:43:00.001+01:00

We are currently experiencing a huge demand for appointments and at the same time there are quite a few occasions when patients have not kept their appointment. If you no longer need your appointment or you are unable to attend, please telephone to let us know so that we can then offer the appointment to someone else. Missed appointments waste valuable clinical time and delay others being seen.

Login to our site and order your medication online

2011-04-13T00:17:00.001+01:00

Sign up for online access by coming to the reception desk with your photo ID. You will be issued with a username and password.

Login via the login tab on our homepage.

Currently this only allows you to order medication securely and rapidly online but we have plans for other facilities in the future!

Website back online

2011-04-07T08:09:00.001+01:00

After a stormy few days switching web hosts our web site is back up and running. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

You will find a new format and revised content. We hope you like it!

Celebrating succes for the Carers project!

2011-03-31T08:45:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to the Carers Team and all staff and GP's on a tremendous achievement in the second phase of the Devon Carers Project. This has been a tremendous team effort and every member of the Practice has played a part in some way.

Final number of checks achieved 200(201?) exceeding our target of 194 and achieving a bonus payment for reaching target.

PK's weekly drop-in sessions since January have been well received.

Number of recorded Carers has risen from 192 last November to a final total of 303.

Many of our patients have benefited significantly from being identified as Carers, and have taken advantage of the support and guidance that has been offered.

We have been very fortunate here in Ottery to have been supported and inspired by one of our GP's who is lead GP for the Devon Carers Project. This has had a huge impact on the acceptance and support for Carers amongst GP's and staff in East Devon, and particularly in this Practice.

Newton Poppleford Surgery

2011-03-25T09:24:00.002Z

Unfortunately our Newton Poppleford Branch Surgery will be closed on Friday 1st April due to unforseen circumstances. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you.
The Coleridge Medical Centre, Ottery St Mary will be open as usual.

Join our team?

2011-03-24T15:02:00.001Z

We are currently looking for a PA to our Practice Manager / Medical Secretary.

25 hours per week

Salary negotiable

Suitable candidates will have excellent organisational and communication skills. You will be asked to demonstrate good touch and audio typing & IT skills including use of Microsoft Office suite. An understanding of medical terminology is desirable.

Please ring 01404 814447 or download an application pack.

Closing date for completed applications is 13^th April 2011

Spring gardening time

2011-03-22T13:56:00.005Z

On Monday 28th March our boundary shrubs will be trimmed. There will be a wood chipper on site and as a result there will be reduced access to our car park. We ask able bodied patients and visitors to please park in the public car park next door to the surgery. We would prefer that our car park is used only by those with limited mobility.

Carers Project

2011-03-21T12:12:00.003Z

The Carers Project in its current form is due to end on the 31st March 2011. We joined this Pilot Project in the first stage in July 2008 providing support and advice appointments for Carers. In the second phase starting in March 2010 the appointments became more structured, with a preparatory workbook for Caers to complete, and the option of a vascular check when indicated. Both pilots have been subject to an evaluation study carried out by the University of Plymouth, and direct feedback to the NHS, to support the development of new policies focusing on the welfare of all Carers and provided 194 of them with Carers check appointments and ongoing support and advice.

All our planned appointments for Carers checks for this project have now been booked, but we can still offer some short appointments for support and advice until the end of March. If there are any Carers who feel they have missed out on a Carers check appointment do let us know and we will do our best to accomodate you.

For the future we await details of the new specification for Carers Support in Devon. More details on this when available, will be posted on our website and included in the next Practice Newsletter.

Messages to patients using email and Text (SMS)

2011-03-21T11:48:00.003Z

We have had a good response so far from patients who would be happy to receive electronic messages from us, but we would like to encourage more of you to consider this option. If you have any questions or concerns our Receptionists should be able to help you.

With your consent we can now arrange to contact you via email or Text Message (SMS) we will only text or email you with messages that are relevant to your ongoing health care e.g. appointment confirmation and reminders, test results, health screening opportunities etc.

We respect your privacy and will only contact you in this way if you give us your permission. If you would like to receive messages from us via email or text (SMS) you will need to complete a consent from so that we can record your agreement on your patient record.

To take advantage of this service, please contact the surgery to complete a consent form. Forms are available on the Reception & Prescription desks, in the Branch Surgeries and also on our website.

Urgent message for ALL PREGNANT WOMEN

2010-12-21T10:54:00.000Z

Currently seasonal flu is circulating and on the increase across the UK. This year most flu is due to the H1N1 strain of the virus (Swine Flu).

Although usually mild, seasonal flu can be very serious and this year in the UK 17 people have died so far.

This year flu is having a disproportionate effect on pregnant women. We strongly advice all our pregnant patients who have yet to be vaccinated to contact the surgery and arrange to have a flu jab as soon as possible.

Your doctor will, of course, be happy to talk this through with you if you have any concerns.

2010-11-15T12:22:00.001Z

NEWSLETTER AUTUMN AND WINTER 2010

SEASONAL FLU VACCINATIONS
The seasonal influenza immunisation programme is underway. Please book now for a flu vaccination if you fall into one of the following categories:
-all those aged 65 years and over
-all those aged 6 months or over who suffer from any of the following: chronic respiratory disease and asthma, chronic heart disease, chronic renal disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (including stroke, TIA, multiple sclerosis and hereditary and degenerative disease of the central nervous system), diabetes, immunosuppression
-pregnant women NOT in the groups above and who have NOT already received the H1N1 swine flu vaccine
-poultry workers
-those living in long stay residential care homes
-those in receipt of carers allowances or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.

NEW PARTNERS
We are delighted to announce that two new GP partners have joined the practice. Dr Samantha Cole (who did some locum work for us) and Dr Lisa Gibbons will be covering eight sessions per week between them.

DR TIM COX
As reported in our summer newsletter Dr Cox has reduced his hours to four sessions per week. To make his list size more manageable it has been necessary to reduce Dr Cox’s list size. He has written to approximately half of the patients on his list to let them know that from 1st November 2010 they will be looked after by Dr Cole and Dr Gibbons. In addition Dr James’s patients will now be looked after by Dr Cole and Dr Gibbons.

EMMA MULLENGER
Emma Mullenger, one of our health care assistants, will be starting her maternity leave shortly to have her first baby. We wish her all the very best.

COMMUNITY NURSING TEAM
Welcome to Sharon Stokes, Community Nurse and John Chilton, Community Matron who will both join the community nursing team during November.

PRACTICE NURSE TELEPHONE TRIAGE
From 6th December 2010, telephone contact with the practice nurses will change. The practice nurses will be running a new telephone triage service called ‘on the day nurse’. The ‘on the day nurse’ will have allotted time between 10:30 and 12:00 to manage queries from patients. The type of queries the nurse can deal with will remain the same ie travel vaccinations, immunisations, wound care and general health enquiries. A nurse will be available during the afternoons to deal with urgent problems and all other queries will be dealt with during the following morning by the on the day nurse.
To help us please make sure that the contact number you leave is current and if you are not available between 10:30 and 12:00 you let the receptionist know the most convenient time to be called back.
This is a new service and we would welcome your comments and feedback.

GP TELEPHONE TRIAGE
On 6th December 2010 the GP telephone triage service will be available every afternoon. All requests for same day appointments will be triaged by the doctor on the day. The doctor will often be able to sort a problem out on the phone however if you need an appointment to be seen in the surgery or occasionally a home visit the doctor will arrange this for you whilst you are on the phone.

SURGERY CHRISTMAS OPENING
We will be closed on Christmas Day 25th December 2010 (Sat), Boxing Day 26th December 2010 (Sun), Bank Holiday 27th December 2010 (Mon) and Bank Holiday 28th December 2010 (Tues). Our repeat prescription ordering service is very busy at this time of year, please allow us at least two working days to process your order.

WHEN WE ARE CLOSED
If you have a life threatening emergency when we are closed please dial 999. If you have an urgent medical problem that cannot wait until we are open, the doctor on call can be contacted by telephoning the surgery number on 01404 814447. Your call will automatically transfer to the out of hours service. Devon Doctors can also be contacted directly on 0845 6710 270. Medical advice can be obtained from NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

CAR PARK
Our car park is continually congested with cars, many of which could be parked in the land of Canaan car park. We are concerned at the number minor bumps and near misses and if you park in our car park, you do so at your own risk. Please park considerately in the designated parking bays, otherwise you may be asked to move your vehicle before you can attend your appointment. Thank you for your co operation.

WHIMPLE BRANCH SURGERY UPDATE
There are now two GP consulting rooms and two Nurse Treatment rooms at Whimple. All the rooms will be equipped for general use by either a doctor or a nurse. The aim will be to gradually increase the number of surgery and clinic sessions at Whimple to accommodate more patients from the surrounding area, rather than asking them to travel into Ottery.

As a receptionist is not available at Whimple branch surgery, a patient check in screen is in operation. Please check in via the computer screen in the waiting room when you arrive, it is very easy to use, and will alert the GP or Nurse that you are in the waiting room.

In due course the Practice Nurses plan to increase the number of appointments they offer at Whimple to include asthma, hypertension, Carers etc.

The Whimple surgery provides an ideal environment for training doctors. The aim of our GP Trainers will be to utilise this facility increasingly in the future.

CARERS
As part of our commitment to the Department of Health Carers Project, we are aiming to provide as many Health and Well Being Checks as possible to our patients who are Carers, between now and the March 2011.

You can request a check if you care for a relative or friend but have so far not registered with us as a Carer or received an invitation from us to attend for a check. At the check one of our nurses usually Vikki or PK will offer you help and advice and if you are eligible a vascular check. More details are available from the receptionists

A Carers Health Check takes an hour to complete. Once a Carers appointment has been made, that patient is allocated a block of the Nurses time for their appointment. It is very disappointing therefore when a patient fails to attend the appointment without giving us prior notice. Valuable time is then lost, which potentially could have been used to benefit several other patients.

We would appreciate a call from you if at any time you become aware that you will be unable to attend any appointment that you have made.

DIABETIC PATIENTS
Please be aware that Mixtard 30 insulin (made by Novo Nordisk) will be discontinued at the end of this year. If you currently take this product and have concerns about its discontinuation please telephone to speak to Sarah Olive, Practice Nurse.

MEDICINES THAT ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED
Please note that we cannot accept any medicines that are no longer required. These should be returned to the pharmacy from which they were obtained.

OTTERY ST MARY MEDICAL TRUST
The Trust was established in 1990 to provide equipment and facilities that are not normally available from the National Heath Service e.g. nebulisers, heart and blood pressure monitors. Funds are received in the form of donations and bequests usually from patients and their families. Donations are always welcome and can be made through Anne Maher (Trust Secretary) or any of the GP Partners (The Trustees). The registered charity number for the Trust is 1002091

ORDERING YOUR REPEAT PRESCRIPTION ONLINE
Online ordering is a secure and user friendly way to order your repeat medication via a secure website linked to our clinical computer system. The system is available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year which means you do not have to telephone your order through to the pharmacy or write out an order for us to process. If you are interested to learn more or join the scheme please email coleridgemedicalcentre@nhs.net or speak to one of our receptionists.

SMOKING CESSATION
Giving up smoking is understood to be the best thing you can do to improve your health. Not only will it reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart and lung disease, you will also save money, improve your skin, teeth and taste and feel healthier and fitter.

At Coleridge Medical Centre we offer one to one support to help you to stop smoking. This is provided by our practice nurses Lucy, Emma and Helen. You will be given the opportunity to meet with the nurse to chat about the various options available to you to help you quit. They will help you create a realistic plan and find the method or combination of methods that will work for you. Regular support is offered through follow-up appointments or telephone contact to keep you motivated and talk about any difficulties you may be facing.

If we can help you please contact us. You will be taking the first step to a healthier lifestyle and future for you and your family.

SUMMARY CARE RECORDS
In early 2011 it is planned to introduce a summary care record for each patient registered with this practice. This record will only contain details of your medication, any allergies you have and whether you have had a bad reaction to any medicines. In the event of an accident or illness away from home, healthcare staff treating you will have access to this important information about you which could be vital.

The Summary Care Record will not replace the medical record that the GPs use here in the Practice, but it can be enriched with information that you and your GP decide may be important for others to know about

In March this year you were sent a letter from NHS Devon outlining these plans and giving you the opportunity to opt out if you don’t wish to have a summary care record. More information can be found at www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk Please also look out for posters and publicity; updates will also be posted on our website. www.coleridgemedicalcentre.co.uk.

Important Information for Patients Using Newton Poppleford Branch Surgery

2010-08-04T14:15:00.002+01:00

After 6th September 2010 Newton Poppleford branch surgery will be closed on Monday mornings. Dr Kerr & Dr Dilley will continue on Wednesdays and Fridays as usual and appointments with Dr Long will be available at Ottery St Mary.

To book an appointment to see a doctor at Newton Poppleford branch surgery please telephone our main number on 01404 814447

The Help Scheme

2010-08-04T09:59:00.004+01:00

Our volunteers continue to be as busy as ever and we are extremely grateful for the time they give so freely. In order to keep the service going we have been busily fundraising. As well as the spring raffle Annie Haines and Janet Farrow were kind enough to put on a play for us, Louise Sanders chose us as her nominated charity for the London Marathon and Malcolm Henson made a sponsored parachute jump.
We are very grateful to them and all those who supported the events.

The Ottery Herald has chosen the Help Scheme for their Campaign 2010 which has brought us lots of much needed publicity. If you would like to know more about the Help Scheme brochures are available at the Medical Centre and you can telephone Pat Lane and Jane Ross on 01404 816700.

Dr Megan James is leaving the practice

2010-07-29T13:18:00.000+01:00

After eight years our Associate GP, Dr James, has decided to leave the practice in order to pursue her career elsewhere.

We hope that Dr James' patients will continue their care with Dr Samantha Coles who is currently one of our Locum GPs.

It is sad to see her leave and we would like to thank her for all the care she has provided for our patients while wishing her our very best for the future.

Whimple Extension is now Complete!

2010-07-27T09:29:00.006+01:00

The extension at Whimple Branch Surgery is now complete.

The surgery was re-opened to patients on Monday 5th July 2010.

There are now two extra consulting rooms, plus some additional facilities for the staff working there. We have made some basic improvements to the waiting room to bring in more light, which should be more pleasant for you while you wait for your appointment. We are also planning to install a computerised check-in screen for patients to use, which will alert the doctors and nursing staff when you arrive for your appointment.

We would like to thank you for your patience and tolerance whilst the surgery has been closed, and we are particularly thankful to Mr John Discombe and the Victory Hall Committee for their co-operation with the disruption of the car park.

To make an appointment at the Whimple Branch Surgery please telephone 01404 814447.

Seasonal Flu Vaccinations

2010-07-23T09:20:00.004+01:00

The seasonal influenza immunisation programme is nearly upon us.

The first clinic has been set up for Tuesday 21st September 2010. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT FOR US TO WRITE TO YOU, you can book now for a flu vaccination if you fall into one of the following categories:

-all those aged 65 years and over
-all those aged 6 months or over who suffer from any of the following: chronic respiratory disease and asthma, chronic heart disease, chronic renal disease, chronic liver disease, chronic neurological disease (including stroke, TIA, multiple sclerosis and hereditary and degenerative disease of the central nervous system) diabetes, immunosuppression
-pregnant women NOT in the groups above and who have NOT already received the H1N1 swine flu vaccine
-poultry workers
-those living in long stay residential care homes
-those in receipt of carers allowances or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.

New Practice Manager appointed

2010-07-21T14:23:00.003+01:00

After 21 years, Anne Maher has retired from her role as Practice Manager to take on a new role as our Business Development / Projects Manager.

We are delighted to announce that Sue Stokes is our new Practice Manager.

Dr Nigel de Sousa returns to work

2010-07-21T14:05:00.003+01:00

Dr de Sousa has returned to work on a part time basis. Initially, he will be consulting with patients on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings.

Dr Tim Cox reduces his hours

2010-07-21T14:01:00.007+01:00

After 30 years of full time general practice in Ottery St Mary, Tim Cox has reduced his commitments.

He will be consulting all day on Mondays and on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Dr Jonathan Osborn will be sharing Dr Cox's patient list until the autumn, when the practice will be appointing a new partner.

Dr Cox has stepped down as Senior Partner and has handed the baton into the very safe hands of Dr Dilley. However, he will be continuing with his current clinical commitments for the foreseeable future.

New website goes live!

2010-07-20T11:18:00.001+01:00

After many months of planning our new website went live today. We hope you like it!

www.coleridgemedicalcentre.co.uk

Embarrassingly, we just ask that you please don't use the contact forms for the next 48 hours as we are waiting for our web host to update our package!

Slip! Slop! Slap!

2010-06-01T14:05:00.004+01:00

It is summertime and hopefully the sun will shine all summer long so it’s time to:
Slip on a shirt
Slop on some sunscreen
and
Slap on a hat

Living in Devon we have some of the highest levels on sunshine in the UK and those of us who live in the Southwest also have the highest levels of skin cancer in the UK.

Skin cancer is a largely preventable disease but the levels have almost doubled since the 1980’s. There are 2 main types of skin cancer:
-Non-melanoma which is very common (more than 84 500 cases in 2007) and usually easily curable
-Malignant melanoma which is much more serious but less common (10 600 cases in 2007)

Skin cancer is more common the older we get however malignant melanoma is disproportionately high in younger people and is now the most common cancer in the 15-34 year age group. It is twice as common in young women as it is in young men however more young men die from it.

What Causes Skin cancer?
Sun exposure is the main cause of all types of skin cancer

Who is most at risk?
-People with fair hair, who sunburn easily or do not tan easily
-People with a lot of moles, or very large moles and people with a lot of freckles
-People who get repeatedly sunburned have double the risk of melanoma and also an increased risk of non melanoma skin cancer
-People who use sunbeds

Do people survive skin cancer?
Non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma: BCC, and squamous cell carcinoma: SCC) is very common and is usually detected early and is not life threatening.

Melanoma survival rates have increased in the last 20 years and are now amongst the highest for any skin cancer with over 80% of men and 90% of women surviving for more than 5 years.

What should you look for?
Melanomas
A mole that is different from the rest that is changing in any way. Sometimes they can bleed or start itching. The moles may suddenly look very black or you may even notice a different looking new mole. A melanoma can be a large or small mole.
A brown or black streak under a nail
A common site for melanomas is on the chest or back whilst in women they are commonest on the legs.

Non melanoma skin cancers (BCC, SCC)
A sore that never heals
Translucent growth with rolled edges
Waxy feeling scar
A flat or slightly depressed lesion that feels hard to the touch
Commonest on areas of high sun exposure e.g. the “T” at the centre of the face (Forehead/eyes/nose), bald scalps, the V at the nape of the neck and both lower arms.

What to do if you are worried
Make an appointment to see your doctor at Coleridge Medical Centre and we can review the area you are worried about. Most of the time we can review your lesion and reassure you. The majority of non melanoma skin cancers can be treated with a cream called efudix without the need for surgery or referral into hospital. Some non- melanoma skin cancers will need referral to specialist skin doctors either due to their size or position. All suspected melanomas will require urgent referral to the specialists at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

How do you protect yourself from sun damage and skin cancers?
In 1981 the Australians were very worried by the rocketing numbers of skin cancers and so the Slip Slop, Slap campaign was introduced and this significantly raised awareness of the need to protect the skin from the effects of sun damage and how to do it. It is attributed to slowing the rate of growth in skin cancer incidence in Australia.

So
Slip on a shirt: any shirt will do but try make sure it is one that covers your shoulders and the V of your neck. Ideally if you are going to the beach get the whole family UV protection T shirts even supermarkets sell them now.
Slop on some sunscreen: Choose a factor 30 sunscreen keep it in your bathroom or bedroom and put it on when you get dressed and before you go out and then reapply regularly throughout the day. Always take enough sunscreen for the day if you go out walking or to the beach.
Slap on a hat: the wider brimmed the better as it protects your face AND the back of your neck

Any worries about your skin? Come in and see one of the Coleridge Medical Centre Doctors.

Summary Care Record

2010-03-15T14:47:00.005Z

NHS Devon is planning to introduce a new system for managing your patient records, so that a brief summary of important information is available to healthcare professionals directly involved in treating you. The new NHS summary care records will be provided for every Devon resident who would like one. NHS Devon believe they will improve patient safety and clinical care. There will be important safeguards about consent and confidentiality. You can also choose not to have one.

What is the NHS summary care record?

Having an NHS summary care record means that any doctor or clinician who is treating you will be able to look at a secure, electronic system and see the following details: what medicines you are taking, any allergies you have, and whether you have had bad reactions to any medicines. This information can be vitally important, especially in an emergency.
The summary care record will not replace your normal health records, and will not contain a full medical history. The summary care record means that if you have an accident, become unwell when you are away from home, or need treatment out of normal hours, then the healthcare staff treating you will have immediate access to important information about you. NHS Devon believe this will help make your care safer and better.
Over time, health professionals treating you may add details about any health problems and summaries of your care. Every time further information is added to your record, you will be asked if you agree.

Patients can also use the information line to find out more information or to request opt-out forms:

The Information Line is open daily from 7am to 10pm on 0845 6038510
Summary Care Record website information is on http://www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk/

Coleridge On The Day Doctor

2010-03-03T09:10:00.004Z

ALL REQUESTS FOR URGENT ADVICE AND SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS WILL NOW BE DEALT WITH BY THE
“COLERIDGE ON THE DAY DOCTOR”
To improve the care offered to Patients with Urgent medical problems, we started a new service on 28th September 2009 called the “On the Day Doctor”.
Every morning, anyone requesting urgent advice or an appointment will be called back by the “On the Day Doctor”.
The “On the Day Doctor” will be running a surgery dedicated to discussing Urgent advice and appointment requests.
The Doctor will often be able to sort a problem out over the phone, however if an appointment at the surgery is needed, the doctor will arrange this for you.
Requests for routine appointments will still be booked in the usual way. Home visits, advice and ongoing problems will be passed to your doctor to be dealt with in the usual way.

ALERT re electronic prescrition requests

2010-01-11T15:07:00.000Z

Due to technical problems with our internet service provider any electronic prescription requests made via out website from December 2009 may not have been recieved. We have suspended this facility until these issues are resolved and apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please use our email address coleridgemedicalcentre@nhs.net if you want to order presciptions electonically.