NEWS

Newsletter

 

 

 Staff Update

 

·       Dr Elaine Donnelly returned from maternity leave in December 2009.  Dr Donnelly works on Monday and Thursday mornings.

·       Dr Natasha Gilani joined the Practice on 5th March 2010.  Dr Gilani qualified in 1997, trained in London and had worked at a Practice in Shoreham for 5 years before joining us.  Her special interests are Family Planning, Sexual Health and Paediatrics.  Dr Gilani is part time and works all day Friday.

·       Dr Yvonne Underhill has changed her working hours from 5th March.  Dr Underhill now works Monday and Wednesday mornings and all day Thursday.

·       In February Practice Nurse Lynda joined the practice.  Lynda works on Monday afternoon and on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.  Lynda’s special interest is wound care.

·       Care Assistant Anna is shortly going on maternity leave and Care Assistant Jane will be providing cover during this time.

 

 

Have you seen our website?

Our website contains patient information regarding services we provide, practice information and policies and links to health advice and contacts.  You can also book appointments on line.  Visit us at www.heathfieldsurgery.co.uk  If you would like to book appointments on line please ask our receptionists for the necessary information to enable you to set up your account (photographic ID needs to be shown)

Have you seen our self check in screens?

Did you know that you can check in for your appointment at both the High Street and the Firs Surgeries by using the automated self check in screen.  This saves you having to queue at the reception desk.

 

 

High Street Surgery – Premises Upgrade

Since July 2009 we have been working to improve the surgery environment and to provide access to the consulting rooms on the first floor for disabled patients and patients with young children.

In summary we have:

·        Widened the ground floor corridor

·        Widened the doors to most consulting rooms on the first floor

·        Installed a patient lift

·        Decorated both corridors, the stairwell and the upstairs waiting room.

·        Replaced the flooring in the above areas and improved the lighting

·        Improved access to the dispensary hatch

·        Doubling the size of dispensary to enable service improvements for our dispensing patients

 

The next steps

 

We will add the finishing touches to the work already started including replacement signage, and the provision of additional noticeboards.

 

For the next phase we are currently exploring options to:

·        Improve access to the building

·        Provide a confidential area for patient/staff discussions e.g. registration interviews

·        Improve the reception desk to provide better access for patients with a disability

·        Upgrade the reception environment

 

 

Debit and Credit Card Payments

We are pleased to be able to inform you that we are now able to accept payment via debit and credit card at both surgeries

Telephone Access

Thank you for telling us about the problems with the telephone queuing system.  We have recently upgraded the system and this appears to have resolved the problem.  We always welcome comments and suggestions to improve our service.

 

 

Patient Participation Group – Help us Improve Our Services

The Surgery is keen to set up a Patient Participation Group so that we hear directly from patients about how we might improve our services and receive support from patients to achieve this aim.  Want to know more? Then ask at reception for an information pack or download one from our website www.heathfieldsurgery.co.uk

If you are interested in becoming involved please complete the application form enclosed in the pack and return it to Brenda Pittham, Practice Manager by 30th April 2010.  We will then invite you to attend an exploratory meeting.  Discussion topics at the first meeting could include:

·                        An update on any planned changes to the Surgery

·                        Ideas for the development of the Group – what would         you like to see your Patient Participation Group doing?

·                        Any other ideas you want to bring along about how you      would like to see the service develop and how you think         patients might be involved

 

 

YOUR SURGERY YOUR SAY

The National GP Patient Survey

 

Every year the Government issues its national survey of patients.  The results for this practice are good – but we feel that feedback from the following questions needs further explanation to our patients.

 

Last time you tried to, were you able to get an appointment with a doctor more than 2 full working days in advance?

 

Approximately 50% of our appointments are pre-bookable (more than 2 days in advance).  If you wish to pre-book, please mention this to reception or book via the internet.  Availability varies due to GP commitments and you may not be able to see your preferred GP, but you should be able to see one of our doctors.

 

As far as you know is your surgery open before 8am or after 6.30 pm?

 

Additional appointments are available either at the Firs or the High Street surgeries on:-

 

Monday, 6.30 – 8 p.m. and , Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 7- 8 am

 

  • These sessions will be shared between the High Street Surgery and the Firs Branch Surgery
  • You will be offered an appointment for the surgery where you are registered
  • All appointments will be pre-booked, up to two weeks in advance
  • There may be occasions when we are unable to provide this service due to other commitments 

 

 

 

Stop Smoking Clinics

 

 

 

 

From January 2009 at the Community Centre on Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield:

The Stop Smoking drop-in clinics

They will be at the following times:

Tuesday 6 to 7.30pm                      Wednesday 12 to 2 pm

Please phone 077956 390 845 for information or appointments outside these times.

Want to stop SMOKING?

Free NHS advice and support is available, NRT (patches etc) also available and free to people exempt form paying prescription charges.

Phone the East Sussex Stop Smoking Service: 0800 917 8896