Cervical Screening In Under 25s

Due to the recent press coverage, there has been concern that cervical screening is not offered to females aged under 25. If you are concerned about this, please click HERE

 Changes to Phlebotomy service

Warwickshire PCT who run the phlebotomy service for this practice have closed their clinic at The Healthy Living centre. They have made  arrangements for our patients to have their blood samples taken at Warwick Hospital instead. Blood tests can be  made by attending Warwick Hospital out patients department on Monday to Thursday between 8.30am and 4.45pm or Friday between  8.30am and 1.00pm. For more information as to why this has happened follow the link below.

Changes to phlebotomy service

Patient Questionnaire

Some patients may recall in October 2006 we asked you to complete a patient questionnaire so that the Warwickshire Primary Care Trust could evaluate if our patients are happy with the service and care they receive here at Whitnash Medical Centre. 

We would firstly like to thank those patients who took the time to complete these questionnaires so that the evaluation could take place and we were extremely pleased with the results …. 

98% of patients happy with service received from receptionists

95% of patients happy with our opening hours

98% of patients happy with how the GP listens

98% of patients happy with the care & concern shown to them by the GP 

Here are some of the comments that patients made on their survey:

‘I enjoy the friendliness and courtesy shown to me every time I have visited this practice’

‘This is the best practice I have ever attended.  ALL staff are very sympathetic and understanding’

I have been with this practice over 20 years and it has always worked hard at giving good service and support –well done!’

‘They all work as a team and help as much as they can.  All the receptionists & nurses are really friendly & helpful, we couldn’t get any better’

‘You phone for an appointment and can be seen the same day’ 

Dr Kate Richmond

Dr Kate Richmond an experienced GP working in Leamington has joined us a salaried doctor for 4 surgeries a week on Mondays and Tuesdays. We are sure you will make her very welcome. She has replaced Dr Helen Folan who has moved to South Birmingham in December 2006. Dr Folan was much appreciated and will be missed here at Whitnash.

DNA's

Patients who make an appointment but then  do not turn up or cancel in time for that appointment to be used are termed "DNA's". Most people realise that doctors and nurses appointment slots are valuable resources and attend their appointments promptly. However last year 514 people in this practice DNA'd. The actual number of DNA's was higher than this as some people DNA'd more than once. This amounts to about 100 hours of consultation time lost to this practice or about one surgery a week. 

As a practice we find it extremely disappointing and inconsiderate when patients do not turn up for appointments.  It makes it harder for other patients to get convenient appointment slots and wastes valuable resources we simply don't have.

It only takes a phone call to inform us with adequate notice (half an hour) that you would like to cancel your appointment and we can then offer it to another patient. Our phone line has the ringback function switched on so it should be easy to get through even if your call is engaged.

In order to address this problem we are bringing it to your attention not only on this website but also in the waiting room where we now display the number of DNA's. We will also be writing to anyone who has DNA'd more than 3 times in the previous 12 months asking for an explanation and requesting that this practice stop. We  reserve the right to remove any patient who continues to DNA regularly after having received a warning letter from us. 

Choose and Book

A new way of making hospital appointments available is currently being used in this practice. It is called Choose and Book.  

Whenever a doctor thinks that you may need a referral to a hospital clinic a Choose and Book referral will be made at the time of the consultation. The doctor will give you a printout of the hospitals who will be able to see you about your condition and you can choose where you wish to go. The printout will give you a number to find out more about the amenities of each hospital and another set of numbers for making an appointment to suit you once you've decided where you'd like to go. In every possible situation one of the choices will be Warwick Hospital. Further Information about it is available on the new waiting room screen.

The threatened flu pandemic

There has been much in the news about avian flu recently. We don't want our patients to worry about this unnecessarily. Avian flu is not a direct threat to the health of people in this country. If it should one day cause  a strain of human influenza to change into a virulent pandemic strain then we in the UK will get several months warning. Vaccines can only be produced  once this has happened, but there are stockpiles of antiviral drugs for those people who become ill before they have been able to be vaccinated.

For full details of the plans the NHS have made in case of a pandemic visit this site. http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/17/49/04121749.pdf

Our appointment system

Some patients have asked why our appointment system operates the way it does. So here goes!

Appointment systems are used for two reasons. Firstly to manage over-demand for the capacity available and secondly to provide some ability for patients and doctors to plan their time.  

To this end, over the last 21 years  we have tried every type of system that we can imagine (and combinations of them), as well as increasing our doctoring and nursing capacity to well above the national and local average.

Add to this the NHS requirements for a guaranteed appointment with a doctor or nurse within 1 working day and a doctor within 2 working days for ANY consultation and you have a recipe for a complex management  and service problem.

We have settled for the time being on the current system which is as follows.

Patients who wish to  book an appointment at a time of their choosing and with a doctor of their choice may do so from whenever the first such “normal” appointment is available  to upto 6 weeks ahead. Normal appointment availability varies with  seasonal demand, the day of the week, the doctor chosen and doctors holidays  and is usually between 2 and  7working days.

Patients who wish to be seen on the same day can only be seen in on the day slots. Most of these must be booked in sequence to ensure that ALL available slots are filled. We do however have a number of special  circumstance slots for people who simply cannot attend at the time allocated but still need to be seen within 48 hours. The reception staff will offer these at their discretion.

Afternoon and evening appointments are in great demand for normal appointments and half are reserved for patients who wish to book a normal appointment in advance and a few are  kept as special circumstance slots. We simply don’t have the capacity to provide any more afternoon on the day appointments than are needed by patients who  become ill after morning surgery ends.

Some people have complained that it is difficult to phone for an appointment in the early morning because the phones are engaged. Our staff are fully occupied answering both incoming lines between 0830 and 0930. This is because most people choose to phone then, rather than make a routine appointment at another time. We do not bar BT ring back services so pressing 5 will allow you to get onto our lines as soon as one is freed. After 9.30 our phone lines are free 50% of the time and not being able to get through then is bad luck. Once again BT ring back can be used.

Our practice had an independent patient questionnaire carried out in the summer of this year with a concurrent sample of 150 patients giving their views and answering questions about the services we provide. The majority of our patients prefer and are very happy with availability of a doctor on the day and most are happy with the ability to get a doctor of their choice. The majority of people polled were very happy with our appointment system,  though a few people made comments about the lack of flexibility in special circumstances of the on the day service . We have listened to these comments and modified our system as outlined above.

The bottom line is that a patient can choose either to have reasonable access to a doctor of their choice, at a time to suit them, or rapid same day access to a doctor or nurse at a time that the practice can provide. In the latter case there is also some built in flexibility  for special circumstances. Please remember that minor illnesses can be dealt with in most cases by our nurses who can always ask a doctor for an opinion where there is a problem.

We do continually review our workload / demand and we  modify our appointment slot types not only according to the day of the week but also by the demands of the day. We  revisit this area frequently, with the aim of providing the best service we can for our patients.

Antibiotics

Why is it that when you go to the doctor’s they don’t give antibiotics to you? We now know that most infections that people suffer with are due to viruses. If someone is normally well then his or her immune system should fight off this type of infection. 

Viruses are the cause of most throat, ear, sinus and chest infections. Also most flu-like episodes and tummy upsets. 

Antibiotics do not kill viruses and can cause side effects such as rashes, diarrhoea and sickness. Also if they are overused some bacteria can become resistant to them so they are less effective when they are really needed. 

Viruses can make someone feel unwell for several days or even longer before the body clears it. The best thing for viruses is to use paracetamol or ibuprofen for any temperature symptoms and aches with plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If you have a high temperature do not wrap up – you need to remove layers to cool down. Chemists are a good source of advice and information for other things to help symptoms. 

What happens if it is a bacterial infection? In most people, the immune system will clear this too. Antibiotics can sometimes help speed up this process. However, there are more serious infections that do need antibiotics and doctors will use them in this instance. 

If things change what do I do? If anything is changing or after several days is not improving then see your doctor for advice.

Old  and new!

Dr John Emery retired on the 31st July 2005 for reasons of ill health. He has been with the practice since 1986. We are sure that he will be missed by his patients as much as he will be missed by us. He wishes to express his thanks to all the patients and staff for their farewell gifts and wishes. 

He has been replaced by Dr Kate Holtby whom some of you will have already met as she has been working with us as a part time doctor. Dr Helen Folan will be joining us in August 2005 as a part time doctor.

Furthermore we welcome Linda Sanins to the practice nurse team.

Practice Achievements 

From April 2004 the new General Medical Services Contract came into place for all General Practitioners.  Practices were encouraged to meet targets in various clinical and non-clinical areas by the end of March 2005. 

Whitnash Medical Centre is extremely proud to announce that we came within the top 8 out of 36 practices in the Warwickshire area, managing to achieve over 99% of the targets. 

This reflects the high standard of care we give to our patients, and the dedication of the doctors and staff here at Whitnash Medical Centre

Influenza Immunisation Season 

This will start during the autumn months in 2005 with clinics being held on Saturday mornings.  Invitations will be sent out nearer the time advising you to contact the practice for an appointment.  For those patients who cannot attend Saturday morning clinics, arrangements can be made for you to attend during the week. 

Influenza immunisations are offered to all patients over the age of 65 years and also to patients under 65 years with diseases such as asthma, diabetes, chronic heart disease, renal disease and those who are immuno-suppressed. 

Influenza is different from what is often nicknamed “flu.” It is a serious illness.  If you suffer from a chronic illness or are 65 years or older, you are particularly at risk from it if there is an epidemic. The immunisation is the most effective protection against it.

Pneumococcal Immunisation Season

Pneumococcal immunisations will be offered during the autumn months in 2005 for patients aged over 65 years old who have never previously received a pneumococcal vaccination.  You should receive an invitation in the post nearer the time.

Patients only need to receive the pneumococcal vaccination once during their lifetime.  It prevents a serious form of pneumonia. Research shows that older people are at increased risk from pneumococcal disease and there are over 18,000 hospitalised cases every year.

Antibiotics  Old and new     Practice achievements   

Influenza and pneumococcal immunisation 2005      

Antibiotics

Why is it that when you go to the doctor’s they don’t give antibiotics to you? We now know that most infections that people suffer with are due to viruses. If someone is normally well then his or her immune system should fight off this type of infection. 

Viruses are the cause of most throat, ear, sinus and chest infections. Also most flu-like episodes and tummy upsets. 

Antibiotics do not kill viruses and can cause side effects such as rashes, diarrhoea and sickness. Also if they are overused some bacteria can become resistant to them so they are less effective when they are really needed. 

Viruses can make someone feel unwell for several days or even longer before the body clears it. The best thing for viruses is to use paracetamol or ibuprofen for any temperature symptoms and aches with plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If you have a high temperature do not wrap up – you need to remove layers to cool down. Chemists are a good source of advice and information for other things to help symptoms. 

What happens if it is a bacterial infection? In most people, the immune system will clear this too. Antibiotics can sometimes help speed up this process. However, there are more serious infections that do need antibiotics and doctors will use them in this instance. 

If things change what do I do? If anything is changing or after several days is not improving then see your doctor for advice.

Old  and new!

Dr John Emery retired on the 31st July 2005 for reasons of ill health. He has been with the practice since 1986. We are sure that he will be missed by his patients as much as he will be missed by us. He wishes to express his thanks to all the patients and staff for their farewell gifts and wishes. 

He has been replaced by Dr Kate Holtby whom some of you will have already met as she has been working with us as a part time doctor. Dr Helen Folan will be joining us in August 2005 as a part time doctor.

Furthermore we welcome Linda Sanins to the practice nurse team.

Practice Achievements 

From April 2004 the new General Medical Services Contract came into place for all General Practitioners.  Practices were encouraged to meet targets in various clinical and non-clinical areas by the end of March 2005. 

Whitnash Medical Centre is extremely proud to announce that we came within the top 8 out of 36 practices in the Warwickshire area, managing to achieve over 99% of the targets. 

This reflects the high standard of care we give to our patients, and the dedication of the doctors and staff here at Whitnash Medical Centre

Influenza Immunisation Season 

This will start during the autumn months in 2005 with clinics being held on Saturday mornings.  Invitations will be sent out nearer the time advising you to contact the practice for an appointment.  For those patients who cannot attend Saturday morning clinics, arrangements can be made for you to attend during the week. 

Influenza immunisations are offered to all patients over the age of 65 years and also to patients under 65 years with diseases such as asthma, diabetes, chronic heart disease, renal disease and those who are immuno-suppressed. 

Influenza is different from what is often nicknamed “flu.” It is a serious illness.  If you suffer from a chronic illness or are 65 years or older, you are particularly at risk from it if there is an epidemic. The immunisation is the most effective protection against it.

Pneumococcal Immunisation Season

Pneumococcal immunisations will be offered during the autumn months in 2005 for patients aged over 65 years old who have never previously received a pneumococcal vaccination.  You should receive an invitation in the post nearer the time.

Patients only need to receive the pneumococcal vaccination once during their lifetime.  It prevents a serious form of pneumonia. Research shows that older people are at increased risk from pneumococcal disease and there are over 18,000 hospitalised cases every year.