HERE

PATIENT INFORMATION
We promised our patients more information about how
we do things. So here it is.
APPOINTMENT SYSTEM
There are two main types of appointments:
‘urgent’ and ‘routine’. In both these types of
services we offer ‘face to face’ and telephone
appointments.
If you need an urgent appointment for an acute
problem you will usually be offered a consultation
on the day in our ‘Urgent Care Clinic’ with our
urgent care specialist nurse or a doctor as
appropriate.
Our Urgent Care Nurses can assess, manage
and prescribe for many ailments and injuries. We
can provide advice and treatment for coughs, skin
problems, contraception and much more. Our
Urgent Care Nurses work alongside the doctors
and they share the daily demand for urgent
medical attention.
GETTING THE BEST FROM YOUR
APPOINTMENT
Patients are allocated 10 minutes per
appointment. When attending please keep your
consultation to the one topic you have come for.
It may help if you prepare for your appointment.
Before you come make a list of your symptoms:
When did they start, what makes them better or
worse?
It is good to ask questions. For example: How
long will I need treatment? How should I take the
medication? Are there any side effects or risks? If
it has been recommended that you go for tests,
you may want to ask: What are the tests for?
What will the tests involve? How and when will I
find out the test results?
Don't be afraid to say if you don't understand what
the doctor has said: ‘Can you explain it again? I
still don't understand’.
SPECIFIC DOCTOR AVAILABILITY
Patients who like to pre-book appointments for
on-going or non-urgent conditions are able to do
so. When booking ‘routine’ appointments patients
have the right to express a preference of
practitioner. For continuity of care it is
recommended to stay with your usual GP. Every
effort will be made to give you access to your
usual doctor however this may not always be
possible. Due to demand the waiting times for
these types of appointments may become quite
long.
When booking appointments via the telephone
our receptionists are trained to ask why you would
like the appointment. By indicating why you need
to see a clinician our receptionists can ensure you
see the most appropriate person for that problem.
Be assured what you say to a receptionist is
treated with the utmost confidence.
You can book appointments online via our clinical
system at https://systmonline.tpp-uk.com/Login.
To book online you need a log on available from
the Practice. If booking online please take care
and check you have booked the correct session,
either a ‘face to face’ 10 minutes or ‘telephone’ 5
minutes appointment.
Indicated below are the days on which each
doctor is normally working (R = Regular surgery I
= Irregular surgery).
Doctor
Dr. Thurston
Dr. Bentley
Dr. Campbell
Dr. Cracknell
Dr. Rutherford.
Dr Howard.
M
T
W
R
R
R
R
I
R
R
R
I
R
I
I
R
R
T
F
I
R
R
R
R
R
R
Please note: Doctors have both routine and
urgent surgeries in their rota. Due to the nature of
urgent appointments these cannot be pre- booked
and are reserved for patients who need urgent
medical attention.
SPECIMENS
Specimens can be accepted up to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday. We CANNOT accept or test
any specimen bottle handed in without an
accompanying form from the doctor/nurse.
Please write your name and date on the label of
the specimen bottle and ensure the specimen
bottle is secure and place it in the plastic bag
provided.

RESULTS

Blood tests: If your blood test is abnormal the
Practice will contact you. If you want to check
your results please contact Reception (01425
621188) after 2pm. A receptionist can advise you
of the result, please allow time for tests to be
carried out.
X-ray: Following an X-ray you need to arrange a
follow up appointment with the doctor who
referred you. To ensure the doctor has received
the results please check with reception prior to
making the appointment, which can be a
telephone appointment. Our Receptionists are not
trained to interpret X-ray results so cannot give
them out.
ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION SERVICE (EPS)
A NEW WAY TO GET YOUR MEDICINES.
EPS has been up and running here for a few
months now. EPS enables prescribers - such as
GPs and practice nurses - to send prescriptions
electronically to a pharmacy. This makes the
prescribing and dispensing process more efficient
and convenient for patients and staff.
What does this mean for you?
If you request your repeat prescriptions from your
GP you will not have to visit your GP practice to
pick up your new paper prescription. Instead, your
GP will send it electronically to the place you
choose, saving you time.
How can you use EPS?
You need to choose a pharmacy for your GP
practice to electronically send your prescription to.
This is called nomination.
HEALTH ADVICE
Patients often contact us for general health
advice. If you need expert advice call 111.
Trained staff will be able to advise you on how to
treat yourself at home or refer you to the
appropriate service. This may not be your GP.
111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also get help from your local pharmacy.
They can provide expert advice on many common
ailments or illnesses and provide over the counter
medication.
VOMITING ILLNESS ADVICE
Gastroenteritis is a common condition. The two
main symptoms of gastroenteritis are diarrhoea
and vomiting.
As gastroenteritis is highly infectious, it is
important to take steps to prevent it spreading to
other people. These include:


washing your hands thoroughly with soap
and water or an antibacterial hand wash
after going to the toilet and before eating
or preparing food
cleaning the toilet, including the handle
and the seat, with disinfectant after each
bout of vomiting or diarrhoea
not sharing towels, cutlery or utensils with
other members of your household
Do not go to work, school or visit hospitals
or other health care providers until you
have been symptom free for 48 hours
There is usually no need to contact your GP if you
have gastroenteritis. In most cases it goes away
without treatment but it is important to make sure
you drink plenty of fluids to reduce your risk of
dehydration. If you need general advice please
call 111.
However, you should arrange a telephone call
with a GP if you:
 have been vomiting for longer than three
days or have diarrhoea for more than a
week
 show signs of dehydration
 have blood in your stools
 have recently been abroad
 have a weakened immune system caused
by an underlying health condition or as a
side effect of a medical treatment.
EBOLA
Anyone worried about symptoms (such as fever, chills,
muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea,
sore throat or rash) within 21 days of coming back
from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone should stay at
home and immediately telephone 111 or 999 and
explain they believe they may have come into contact
with someone with Ebola. It's really important that
medical services are expecting your arrival and calling
111 or 999 will ensure this happens.
THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TEST
We want to hear from all patients following a
contact with the practice about the care they have
received. You can complete our Friends and
Family Test by paper or electronically while at the
practice via our Ipad or on our website.
You could make a difference by letting us know your
views. We will be collating our Friends and Family
Test feedback monthly to see what improvements we
can make. We will then share the feedback themes
and any actions we have taken.
For more information please read our Friends and
Family Leaflet or visit
http://www.newmiltonhealthcentre.co.uk/fft.htm