The Old School Surgery
NEWSLETTER
Issue 12, March 2013
Stop Smoking
Minor Illness/Injury
Lesley our Practice Nurse is available on a
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
to see
Everybody has their own personal reason for patients on any of the following ailments:wanting to give up smoking. Some people give
Earache
up as part of a larger lifestyle change – to be 

Sinusitis
healthier, to get fit, or to save money.

Conjunctivitis or Sore Eyes

Sore Throat
Finding your reason to quit will help you keep it

Urinary Tract Infection/Cystitis
up once you take the plunge.

Vaginal Discharge

Diarrhoea & Vomiting
 Concerned about your health
Cough
 Think getting more out of the money in 

Colds & Flu
your wallet would be motivation enough

Back Pain – Non-traumatic

Emergency Contraception
HOW DO I QUIT SMOKING?

Insect Bites & Stings

Foreign Bodies
If you’ve analysed the health benefits, worked out
Lacerations
the how much money you’ll save, or just finally 

Burns & Scalds
decided that’s it, you’re going to quit,

Sprains
congratulations – you’ve made the first step.

Epistaxis (Nose Bleeds)

Sunburn
The second step is to set a date. No smoking
Day is perfect – there’ll be plenty of people
around you giving up at the same time – but if
that’s not right for you, choose another.
Appointment System
WHY QUIT SMOKING?
The third step is to get prepared. Book an
appointment with Julia our Health Care Assistant
who will be able to advise you on the best route
to quitting for you.
Same day (urgent appointments) – these are
appointments that you feel require urgent medical
attention on that day and cannot wait until
another day, all appointments are 10 minutes so
be sure to have booked enough time by making
And finally, get support. The WeQuit forums are sure:full of fellow quitters who are going through the
same things you are – they can help get you
 One appointment (10 minutes)
through the tough times and celebrate the good!
 One problem
www.wequit.co.uk
Should you feel that you have more than one
Getting help and support when you are stopping
problem a double appointment should be booked
smoking is the most important thing you can do.
with the doctor.
“We aim to provide quality healthcare that is caring, courteous and contemporary”.
Get HELP at The Old School Surgery to quit.
You are 4 times more likely to quit with HELP.
Book an appointment with
Julia our Health Care Assistant.
Pre-bookable (routine non-urgent) – routine
appointments can be booked with a doctor or
nurse up to 6 weeks in advance. You will see
your own doctor wherever possible, so that you
receive the best continuity of care. If your doctor
is away on leave you will be offered an
appointment with another doctor.
Internet appointments – to help patients who
work and find it difficult to ring in during opening
times, there is a pre-bookable internet slot
When calling to book an appointment or making a
available.
general enquiry at the practice, it would help our
receptionists if you provide your details in the
Telephone appointment - you can book a
following way:telephone appointment slot where the doctor can
call you back, providing you feel the matter is
 Forename
suitable for discussing over the telephone.
 Surname
Doctors take telephone calls for routine enquiries
 DOB/Address
these calls are taken at the end of morning
surgery and therefore must be kept brief.
Due to how our clinical system is set up we can
only identify you on the system by entering
forename and then surname into our system
Emergency telephone triage
Patient Identification
Oxygen
Bank Holiday Patient Ordering
Easter Weekend Friday 29th March 2013
 Patients are advised to call 0808 202 2099 to
plan your travel oxygen or holiday supply.
 Holiday orders (away from home) – it is
recommended that orders are placed before
Friday 22nd March
 Routine orders (expected on or before Friday
29th March) it is recommended that orders
are placed by Monday 25th March
This is an appointment that requires URGENT
medical attention on the day. The doctor can call
you back, providing you feel the matter is suitable
for discussing over the telephone, if the doctor
feels you should be seen an appointment will be
made for you.
Booking Appointments - Please note our recent
patient survey produced results that many
patients are not happy about how long they have
to wait for an appointment to see the doctor,
please help us by booking the appropriate
appointment time so the doctor does not run late
for their next appointment.
Please Note that patients should only contact
he patient helpline on Friday 29th March and Medication Reviews
Monday 1st April for URGENT requests,
Please note your prescription will inform you of
normal service will resume on Tuesday 2nd
when your medication review is due, please help
April.
us by booking an appointment to see the doctor
or nurse so that we can continue to dispense
your medication.
.
Doctors will not issue further medication if your
medication review is overdue.
“We aim to provide quality healthcare that is caring, courteous and contemporary”.
Urine Samples
Cancelling Appointments
Please could we ask if you are coming to see the
doctor and you suspect you will need to produce
a urine sample ie., if you are pregnant or have
urine symptoms, please could you bring the urine
sample with you to help your consultation to run
smoothly.
Please give as much notice as possible when
cancelling appointments. We can sometimes reuse them with as little as 30 minutes’ notice. For
cancellation of appointments which are longer
than 10 minutes i.e., Asthma checks, Diabetic
Checks, COPD Checks etc., we request that you
cancel at least 48 hours prior to the appointment.
Easter Opening Times
The Surgery will be open as normal other than on the following days:Good Friday - Friday 29th March
Easter Monday – Monday 1st April
Closed
Closed
OUT OF HOURS
If you require a doctor outside of the normal
surgery hours your call will be redirected
automatically to LCR OUT OF HOURS SERVICE
on 0845 045 0411
For information or advice you can telephone: NHS
Direct 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Elmsthorpe Bridge Closure
Application for more houses
in Sapcote ……
Elmsthorpe Bridge is due to be closed for more
maintenance work, we have had the following
update from the Clerk of Works, Leicestershire Sapcote Parish Council have been made aware
of another proposed development on Grace
County Council Highways:Road in Sapcote, there will be a presentation on
th
“There is, as yet no firm date from the closure, it the 13 April 2013 at Sapcote Pavilion with
more information.
is still at the design stage.
The advance notice states that the legal order
commences on the 18th March and lasts for 18
months, and that the works will take place over
approximately 3 weeks during this time.
Text Messaging
We are now able to contact you by text message,
should you wish to receive appointment
There will be a further press release with
reminders/information via this method please can
approximately 2 weeks’ notice when the dates
you ensure we have your consent and correct
have been finalised”
mobile telephone number details.
“We aim to provide quality healthcare that is caring, courteous and contemporary”.
Patient Reference Group Section
Do you Want to say Thank You?
With only 4 meetings to date, much has been achieved by this Patient Reference Group with the able
and willing support of members of Surgery staff.
It is proposed to undertake activities with the aim of providing SOCIAL CONTACT and
PLEASURABLE travel opportunities. Any such activity offered will need of course to cover its cost,
but in addition and quite separately from the Surgery itself, the objective is to raise funds that may be
offered to specific benefits. For example, a request was made late last year for the railing at
Greencroft Surgery Annexe to be extended. The cost (or part thereof) for these railings could be
assisted from funds raised by these intended activities.
Members of the PRG have offered their services in this regard:


One will coordinate the arrangement of interesting trips during the year
Another will accept and arrange bookings from those who wish to participate in such trips.
A third has undertaken to oversee all monies raised, pay the actual expense of said activity
(Coach Hire – Entry Fees if applicable) and the amount left after these payments will be made
available to suitable causes affiliated to The Old School Surgery.
The objective is to provide opportunity to have FUN, knowing that by participating in any such
advertised trips, the benefit enables all associated to demonstrate in real terms their appreciation of
what we are provided.
A programme of intended activities will be presented very shortly and details will be distributed as
widely as possible. We urge you to support these efforts which are an effective method of raising
revenue.
In addition, if you know of any group who might enjoy a specially arranged trip, this can also be
organised. For example, a TEA TRIP for those more senior amongst us, perhaps just locally, for
example to “Woodlands” or “Dobbies” at an affordable cost.
So PLEASE join us. ALL patients, relations and friends thereof are invited to utilise this method of
demonstrate a genuine THANK YOU – “Old School Surgery”
Patient Reference Group
The Patient Reference Group (PRG) consists of a doctor, practice manager, practice nurse, other
staff members from the surgery and 13 patient representatives, the group is proving to be very useful
from the surgery point of view and patient perspective.
We would still like to hear from other patients, so if you would like to get involved, please do not
hesitate to contact us.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st May 2013, 1.00pm @ Greencroft Annex, please
contact us to let us know that you will be attending the meeting.
“We aim to provide quality healthcare that is caring, courteous and contemporary”.
Disclaimer
Comments & Suggestions
If you are happy for a doctor or nurse to discuss
your record with a relative/carer on your behalf,
you will need to complete a disclaimer to give
consent that you are happy for this to happen
We welcome feedback - If you would like to
make a suggestion, commend a member of staff
or highlight a problem could we please ask that
you complete a Comments & Suggestions form,
available in the waiting room or from Reception.
What a Waste!
Between 1st February to 28th February 2013 a total of 142 (24 Hours) Appointments were wasted as
patients FAILED to attend the surgery for a pre-booked appointment with a doctor or nurse. This is a
loss of clinician time and prevents the appointment being offered to someone else and extends the
booking period for others who need to be seen. Please let us know in advance if you cannot make
your appointment.
Practice News
Remember if you have any suggestions or would like to see something added to the newsletter,
please inform reception or put it in writing in the suggestion box.
“We aim to provide quality healthcare that is caring, courteous and contemporary”.