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GP SURGERIES

Feltwell Surgery Patient Participation Group

Newsletter No. 2

Thank you all so much for the positive feedback we’ve received about the formation of the Feltwell Surgery Patient Participation Group (FSPPG). We are dedicated to working on behalf of patients to make your experience with the doctors and staff at this surgery as good as possible. We’re all patients using this surgery ourselves so we are really involved and keen to make it the best surgery around.

We have all signed a confidentiality contract so you can rest assured anything you say to us will be in the strictest confidence.

We’ve created an email address for any communications you wish to have with us - fsppg_toni@intamail.com  or alternatively, if you can’t send us an email then drop us a note at the surgery (c/o FSPPG, Feltwell Surgery).

Progress report

 There has been a wheelchair access risk assessment carried out.

 The surgery entry system/intercom button has been adjusted in height as a result of above named assessment

 The surgery letterbox has also been adjusted in height

 A new notice board, especially for the FSPPG, will soon be put in place in the waiting room.

 We have posted flyers about the group on every local notice board we can and many shops, garages, pubs and restaurants are also displaying the flyers. We want you to know about FSPPG and to use us. We are there to serve you.

 Local newspapers, magazines and websites have also agreed to take our newsletters.

 A short patient questionnaire has been drawn up and printed. It’s to help the Practice improve its service. FSPPG members will be popping into the waiting rooms to help people fill them out. We’ll also be there on the Flu clinic days of the 4th and 14th October. However, if you rarely come to the surgery, but would like to be part of the survey, let us know and we’ll see about getting a copy to you.

Information

Did you know there’s an NHS healthcheck for the over 40’s? It works a bit like an MOT on your car. You may get a letter to arrange for an appointment to have your cardiovascular system (heart, blood, blood vessels and lymphatic system) checked over. It’s a risk detector and you’ll be given a report on how you’re ‘ticking along’. It’s a form of preventative medicine. It can save many lives. It’s one of those ‘find it out before it finds you out’ programmes. So, if you get a letter, make that appointment as soon as you can for some peace of mind.

You won’t get this letter if it’s already known that you have conditions like diabetes or chronic kidney disease because your cardiovascular system will already be monitored.

Changes to the Practice

 We will all be sad to lose Dr Hughes when he retires in April 2012. Those of us who have ever been under his care know what a kind and diligent doctor he is. He will be sorely missed. We wish him a long a fulfilled retirement.

 We have a new State Registered Nurse working at the surgery and we’d like to welcome her. Her name is Amy.

 From April 2012 there will be another doctor joining the practice (interviews will be taking place soon).

 From April 2012 there is to be an increase of almost 10% in the number of appointments the doctors will be able to offer you.

Profiles

We plan to interview as many staff as possible and to publish their profiles in future newsletters. These will include doctors, nurse specialists, nurses, dispensers, receptionists and possibly even a cleaner. You’ll be surprised what you’ll find out.

BIG ISSUE of Newsletter No 2

In this Newsletter we want to look at the problem of WASTAGE in prescription medications. You’ve probably heard about all the cut backs in the NHS. Most of us moan and groan about this. We say it isn’t fair. We say we’re being short changed.

BUT

Is there anyway we can help to cut back on the spending that goes on? Can we do our bit? Some of you might ask – why should we? Well, we’ve found out that a lot of these costs go on things we just waste. And the trouble is that most of us don’t know we’re doing it.

What are we talking about?

Many of us receive expensive medication we don’t end up using. These medications cannot be returned if they aren’t used. They also cannot be recycled. Once they’ve been made up and given to you they’re yours and cannot be given to anyone else. Dispensaries can only dispose of returned medicines, not reuse them.  Once they’ve left the surgery they can have been tampered with. You’ve only need to remember the recent scare in the press about Nurofen when it was discovered that anti-psychotic tablets could have been deliberately placed in packets of Nurofen Plus. Also many medications have specific storage instructions, which may not have been adhered to in your home

There are those that would say  - so what? – until they realise how much money is being wasted. Money that could have benefited other valuable NHS services. Recently a conscientious patient returned all the unopened and unused drugs and medications her husband had stockpiled before he died. The value of these came to £1,500. For one person. Think of all the money wasted if all of our 4,350 patients should do the same thing.

THERE IS NOT A BOTTOMLESS NHS POT.

WHEN IT’S GONE  - THAT’S YOUR LOT.

We can’t just throw money away anymore. So, what can we do?

We can do a lot. Here are some useful pointers:

 Only order medication when the last lot is nearly finished.

 Don’t order all the tablets you are prescribed every time you place an order. Some tablets you may not have to take everyday. The doctor may tell you to only use them when you need to.

 The same goes for bandages, plasters, dressings and pads. You can’t use them all at once so only order them when you’re running low.

 Did you know that some medications have a use by date, or have to be stored in dark or cold places? Otherwise they lose their effectiveness. There’s no point in using something if it doesn’t work anymore.

 You don’t have to have a store of medication. Even if you do run out you only have to ask and help will be at hand.

MAKE SURE YOU DON’T BECOME A HOARDER

WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR NEXT ORDER

Let’s see if we can spread the NHS money a little further to help everyone. More money saved on prescriptions will mean more to spend on cancer care and support services for the elderly and infirm.

Thank you

FSPPG

September 2011

Next issue we will discuss Prescription Drugs Changes and what is considered a ‘minor illness’. Email fsppg_toni@intamail.com  if you have any views on these subjects.