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News
CHANGE TO APPOINTMENT BOOKING
We are finding that our rate of DNA (people not attending their booked appointments) has risen. Currently around 20% of the appointments people book with our GPs they do not turn up to.
With the winter upon us the need for more of you to see us on the same day is increasing a lot. The current system does not seem to be meeting the needs of our patients so we have decided to now offer a mix of appointments with a proportion of appointments bookable in advance but also some bookable on the day. We are hopeful that this will mean more of you get the service you want, when you want it but if you do have any feedback please do get in touch.
We will review this after 4 weeks initially and are keen to have any suggestions you may have on how best to meet your health needs.
ON-LINE APPOINTMENTS
It is now possible to make appointments to see your doctor using the internet. Contact our admin team and request your own unique access code and password.
For more information about how this works check this site - www.patient.co.uk
DR NORTLEY
We would like to inform our patients that Dr Nortley will soon retire. Sadly, his last day will be on 24th January 2012. We would like to thank Dr Nortley very much for his services and wish him a HAPPY RETIREMENT!. He will be greatly missed.
Teenage Health.
The Department of Health has started rolling out a free, online lifestyle self-assessment service aimed at helping teenagers to improve their health.
NHS Teen LifeCheck uses an interactive quiz to offer tailored health and lifestyle information to 12-15 year olds.
NHS On-line Health & Symptom checker
We are encouraging patients to access advice online through the NHS health and symptom checkers wherever possible. There are a wide range of symptom checkers available and the two most relevant for this time of the year are for colds and flu and diarrhea and vomiting. A&E attendance for minor ailments should be avoided, as this puts an unnecessary strain and expense on the NHS.
These tools (and others) are available at www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect
High-tech mole test to identify skin cancers
On 22 September 2010, Moletest (UK) Ltd announced the launch of the world’s first remote photographic screening service to check moles for skin cancer. Both malignant (the most dangerous type) and non-malignant can be checked, with results available in less than 24-hours.
Moletest (UK) Ltd has been set up to provide an easy-to-use, remotely accessible online service for members of the public who are worried about a suspicious mole. The service provides straight-forward information about skin cancer and gives advice based on highly sophisticated analysis of a digital image of a suspect mole.
New Cancer web site for young cancer sufferers
Cancer Care for Young People
Merton Medical Practice providing more service to our patients
We are in the process of building a closer working relationship with two other local GP surgeries. The collaboration with Cricket Green Practice, who have recently moved into brand new premises in Miles Road, Mitcham and Colliers Wood Surgery on the High Street.
Our joint aim is to provide additional services to our patients within our practices. Contact the Practice Manager for further information on this initiative.
Epsom, St Helier, Sutton and The Nelson Hospitals now have a centralised booking centre.
To book your outpatient appointment, please contact the appointments centre by phone using this number: 020 8296 2968 or visit www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/appointments
Teens offered online LifeCheck
The Department of Health has started rolling out a free, online lifestyle self-assessment service aimed at helping teenagers to improve their health. NHS Teen LifeCheck uses an interactive quiz to offer tailored health and lifestyle information to 12-15 year olds.
Later this year, NHS LifeCheck will roll-out a similar service for parents, carers of babies and 45-60 year olds.
Gillian Merron, public health minister, said: "Teenage years can be a difficult enough time without having to worry about your health. NHS Teen LifeCheck is a quick and easy way of checking your health."
Department of Health advice for toddlers and young children (1 – 5 years) to avoid rice drinks due to risk of exposure to inorganic arsenic
The Food Standards Agency has today announced the results of a survey of total and inorganic arsenic levels in 60 samples of rice drinks available in the UK. Rice drink (also known as rice milk) is a blend of filtered water and rice and is usually marketed as either a ‘dairy free-alternative to cows’ milk’ or a ’low-fat drink’ and are usually often consumed by those who wish to avoid dairy foods. Some toddlers and young children who are allergic to cows’ milk and soya drink are currently advised to use calcium fortified rice drinks. Read the full DoH advice document here.
Contraceptives advice online
NHS Direct has launched an online emergency contraceptive advice tool.
The Contraception Checker aims to deal with inquires about emergency contraception, missed contraceptive pills, dislodged contraceptive devices, interactions with other medicines or failed contraceptives.
NHS Direct says the information provided is based on a series of questions and, depending on the data provided, may suggest a number of options including a visit to the family planning service or GP, a conversation with a nurse adviser or a visit to a pharmacy to buy over the counter emergency contraception.
NHS Direct says the online tool means inquires can anonymous at all times, reaching those who may be less comfortable using the telephone or talking face-to-face.
View your medical records on-line
If you use our on-line appointment booking system, you can now view your medical records using the internet. Please contact our admin team for more information.
Prescribing and Use of Antibiotics
The Department of Health are promoting the correct prescribing of antibiotics. Please check out their web site using this link ... www.dh.gov.uk/antibiotics
Patient Participation Group
We would like to hear from one more VOLUNTEER today!
We have establishing a forum which encourages the open discussion of changes and ideas within the practice. The forum is not meant for airing clinical complaints - but can hopefully be used to defuse more general concerns and develop the services we provide to you, our patients. Please contact the Practice for further information on how to participate.
Whether you can help in a small or large way, we would really appreciate your involvement. Please contact our admin team for further information.
Antibiotic use and prescribing
And interesting and informative article on the use of Antibiotics can be found on the NHS Choices web site by following the following link ... www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Antibiotics
Find out how many units of alcohol you consume
Alcohol related social and medical problems are in the news and the following two web sites provide useful tools and information for you to check the effect drinking has on your health.
The following is an NHS health information site: http://units.nhs.uk/unitCalculator.html
Keep a diary of your alcohol consumption on the Drinkaware web site. This is a very informative web site: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/component/option,com_drinkdiary/
Check your risk of Coronary Heart Disease using this simple tool
http://www.qrisk.org/CalculateRisk_Step1.aspx
OPTIONS - Wimbledon Pregnancy Resource Centre
An unplanned pregnancy can be a great shock and you may feel unsure how to cope or what to do next.
Need someone to talk to or more information?
We offer free confidential counselling.
We have trained volunteer counsellors who provide a listening ear, accurate information and friendly, non-judgemental support.
For more information, please visit the follow link ... www.optionswimbledon.org
Help for the mature Home owner
If you’re a home owner aged 60 or over, or a home owner of any age who’s disabled or has a disabled person living with them, Houseproud can help with repairs, improvements or adaptations to your home.
Please visit http://www.houseproud.org.uk/ for more information
The Health Survey For England
The Health Survey for England has been carried out every year since 1991 and collects information about the health of people all over England. You may be asked to complete a questionnaire for this survey?
If you would like to find out more about the Health Survey for England, please use the link below...
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A SMEAR TEST
All women aged 25 to 64 should have regular smear tests. The test is free on the NHS. For women aged 25-49 it is usually done every three years. For women aged 50-64 it is usually done every five years. No more tests are needed once you are over 64 if you have had two normal smears in the previous 10 years. So, the test may be advised for some women over the age of 64.
The smear test can be performed at our surgery by making an appointment to see a nurse.
We send out reminder letters and you may also be invited by the Primary Care Agency.
For more information regarding smear tests, check the following links ...
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