The Surgery will be closed for staff training between 12 noon and 5.00pm on Tuesday 13th January 2009.
An emergency service will be available on 0844 4772517 (This is for all those things that cannot wait until we re-open at 5.00pm.
EXTENDED HOURS
With effect from 01 October 2008 we shall be offering a number of PRE-BOOKED ROUTINE appointments outside normal working hours.
These appointments will be available the first Saturday alternate months, (09.00 to 10.45 hours) starting 04 October, and Tuesday evenings, (18.30 to 20.15 hours) other than the week following the Saturday opening.
Future Sessions as follows:
Saturdays: 07 February 2009
Tuesdays: 06, 13, 20, 27 January 03, 17,24 February
Please note that the surgery will not be open for any other services during the extended hours sessions. If a doctor is required in an emergency during these times, patients should contact WESTCALL, the out-of-hours service, as normal. Patients will be automatically transferred to this service if they select option 1 on dialling the surgery number out of hours.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS - DEDICATED E-MAIL ADDRESS
We have set up a dedicated mail box to receive requests for repeat prescriptions. The e-mail address is:
Bw-pct.CedarPrescriptions@nhs.net
This facility is for those medicines which are prescribed on a regular basis only. We shall not be able to deal with any other queries via e-mail.
May we take this opportunity to remind you that we require 48 hours to process repeat prescriptions, and we cannot guarantee that they will be ready for collection until after 4pm, two working days after we have received the request. Please ensure that you make your requests in good time.
WAITING TIMES
We have analysed the results of the patient satisfaction survey that was carried out at the surgery in October 2007. These have been discussed with representatives of a local Patient and Public Involvement Forum. One of the main concerns seems to be an increase in the amount of time patients are kept waiting in the waiting room due to consultations overrunning.
We acknowledge that a balance must be struck between giving patients enough time without keeping others waiting too long.
Therefore, we wish to politely remind you that routine appointments with a doctor are 10 minutes long, and generally should be for one matter only. You should be advised that the doctor may ask you to book another appointment if it is felt that it is not possible to deal with everything in one appointment.
We hope that this will mean you will not be kept waiting so long, and it should also help the parking situation at the surgery.
Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
SURGERY TELEPHONE LINE
Our 0844 telephone number is not charged to callers at premium rate. It is classified as 'Lo-call' and the rate charged is based on BT Option 1 at 4.2p per minute. Charges may vary on mobile 'phone rates.
You may be aware that 0844 numbers cannot be used outside UK. In the unlikely event that you need to contact the surgery from abroad, we have arranged another number for this purpose. The number is 0870 4600807. This is not a 'Lo-call' number.
You should be advised that, for reasons of confidentiality, we withhold our number when dialling out. Therefore, it may be impossible for us to contact you in a hurry if you have these incoming calls barred on your telephone. If this is the case with the contact number we hold for you, please advise us of an alternative means of contacting you.
28 DAY PRESCRIPTIONS
With immediate effect (July 07) all repeat medication will be issued on prescriptions for 28 days supply.
This is following guidance from the Department of Health and Berkshire West PCT in an attempt to reduce the amount of drugs wasted.
We apologise for the inconvenience that this may cause.
If you need more than 4 prescription items in 3 months or 14 in 12 months, you could save money by buying a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate. Please ask at Reception for a leaflet.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO GIVE US AT LEAST 2 WORKING DAYS' NOTICE TO ENSURE THAT YOU RECEIVE YOUR MEDICATION IN GOOD TIME
OPTING OUT OF THE NATIONAL SPINE
You may be aware from recent media coverage that there is a plan to make certain parts of your medical record available to other Health Service clinicians. At some time during 2007 (we do not know yet when) it is planned that the first set of information (about your repeat medication, acute medication, allergies and intolerances) will be uploaded to the NHS Care Records Service (NHSCRS), which is sometimes referred to as 'the spine'.
We understand that some people have concerns over such information being held on a national database. As ever, there are (at least) two sides to the debate. If you would like to find out more we suggest that you look at BOTH the following websites:
www.TheBigOptOut.org
www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk
The Information Commissioner has confirmed that patients will have control over the details that can be uploaded onto the new summary NHS Care Record and can refuse to have any details included. A copy of this report can be obtained from the Practice Manager. (There will be a nominal administration charge of 50p)
If, having digested all the available information, you decide that you wish to refuse consent for your information to be uploaded to the NHSCRS, you will need to let us know in writing. There is a standard letter available at:
www.nhsconfidentiality.org/optoutletter.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO WITHOLD YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC DETAILS FROM THE SPINE.(e.g. Name, date of birth, address, telephone number) We would remind you that this information is already held on national databases anyway. (e.g.HMRC;DVLA etc.)
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
We cannot accept requests for repeat prescriptions on the telephone.
Please use the tear off slip from your previous prescription and mark the items that you require or alternatively you can fax us or e-mail us remembering to give your name, date of birth and details of all medications you require.
Please remember to allow 2 working days for us to process your prescriptions
