Welcome to the December 2014 Spital Surgery Patient Group Newsletter Who we are: We are a group of people led by Rachel Brereton (chair) that meet every eight weeks to discuss the needs, constraints and future development of the Practice and its people. (Picture of some of our current members) What we would like to achieve: To provide a proactive Patient Group to meet the needs of its patients and to create a strong community partnership that adds value to all. Did you know? 1. You can ask for a telephone appointment/consultation if you can’t get into the practice; 2. We have a ‘new self service check-in system’ in reception, this is to save you time waiting to check-in at the main desk; 3. Our prescription service is now electronic and is very easy to use. However, to maintain personal security you do need to register once and you will receive your own personal passwords; 4. In November the Practice received an additional 201 urgent appointments on top of all routine appointments. This included home visits, telephone consultations and face to face appointments. 5. We have a website, do have a look – www.spitalsurgery.nhs.uk Please can you help us – we urgently need two minutes of your time that could save thousands of pounds to your healthcare.     During the month of November 60 patients didn’t attend appointments without cancelling We may need an appointment in an emergency and the practice do all they can to accommodate However, when patients do not inform the practice they can no longer attend, this adds to a considerable strain on the appointments and a huge waste of NHS money Appointments are often missed when they are booked in advance and then the appointment slips our minds! One way to help with this is for the practice to send you a text message   either to your mobile or landline with a reminder of your appointment. However, to achieve this we urgently need your contactable information Please can you help the practice and complete the enclosed information which is strictly confidential to the surgery We really need to have contact with the patients that do not attend the surgery on a regular basis – please can you help and let us know your details – not seeing you does not mean we do not think of you.... To thank you for your help in completing our questionnaire: we will enter you into our Christmas prize draw, (to be drawn end of January). A big thank you to everyone that has kindly donated prizes from Spital Road and Lancelyn Court Precinct:       £20 Gift Voucher for The Three Stags Silk Pashmina from WA Temple Pharmacy Flowers from Arum Lily Blow Dry Donna Hair £10 Gift Voucher from Lancelyn Plaice Bottle White & Red Wine, and special beers Please can you complete our questionnaire and hand it into the reception staff, we will enter you into our draw. Thank you from the entire patient group. Fancy joining us? – Be great if you did on: Thursday 29th January 2015 6.30 at Spital Surgery. This is a new Group and the members meet in their own time usually every eight weeks. If you would like to join the Group please email [email protected]. We welcome all ideas in how to offer a stronger community service. Please note; the Group is not a complaints Group it is a proactive team of people giving their time to support the Practice. Don’t forget have a look at the surgery website: www.spitalsurgery.nhs.uk We hope to meet with you in the New Year and wish you all a very happy and healthy Christmas. Patient Group Questionnaire: Information collated will be treated in the strictest of confidence and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. We will not pass your details to any third party, it is for the sole use of the Spital Surgery. Name:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Address:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Date of Birth:……………………………………………………………………………………………………………... Mobile telephone number:……………………………………………………………………………………….... Landline telephone number:....................................................................................... Email:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Questions:1. What services do you require from the Practice? 2. What additional services would you like to see the Practice offer that it currently doesn’t? 3. What age are you? 0 – 15 35-44 75 - 84 16 – 24 45-54 85+ 25 – 34 55 - 64 4. Are you a Carer? If yes, who do you care for and is it on a full or part time basis. * If you would like to join us our next meeting is:* Thursday 29th January 2015 6.30pm at Spital Surgery Please email [email protected] for confirmed details.