KILLIN MEDICAL PRACTICE
NEWSLETTER: January 2015
LOCUM NEWS: Dr Tara Mill will start with the
PATIENT ACCESS
In this age of technology the
facility is available for patients to
order Repeat Prescription, book
and cancel GP appointments
through Patient.co.uk. This is a
well established website which
acts as a portal for patients to
carry out these tasks at any time
of the day so you are no longer
limited to the opening hours of the
practice. You must sign up for
this service and it is our aim to
start this in February. If you are
interested please speak to a
member of our admin team.
IT’S A FOUL MESS
The problem of dog mess left on
the area around the Surgery
needs to be highlighted. This
causes problems for workers and
patients and can result in dog
mess being trailed into the
practice. There is a bin on the
lamp post outside the practice
where you can deposit bagged
dog mess and you can also
dispose of it in your own general
rubbish bin. We have arranged
with Stirling Council to hold a
supply of dog bags in the practice
and these are available from the
foyer. Offenders will be reported
to the dog warden service. There
is no excuse for not cleaning
up after your dog so please
show consideration: BAG IT
AND BIN IT
practice in February to cover Dr Watson’s maternity
leave. The aim is for Dr Watson to return on a phased
basis from July and be back to full time by September
2015. Dr Mill is from the area and has experience of
working in a rural setting. Dr Strang will also continue to
provide GP services on Wednesdays and this will be
reviewed in March 2015
STAFF CHANGES:
Many of you will know that Cilla McLaggan who has
worked with Killin Medical Practice for many years as a
District Nurse retired in November. Cilla is looking
forward to spending time with her grandchildren and
being at home. Whilst Susan McRobbie and Evelyne
Ronald will still deliver the bulk of District Nursing Care,
you will notice that there are times when the services are
covered by the team at Callendar.
The Health Visitor to the practice changes from January
2015 and we look forward to welcoming Susan McGill to
the team.
......FAREWELL to Lesley Syme who retires from
KMP at the end of January after 30 years. Lesley will be
known to many of you and is looking forward to having
more time for her hobbies.
PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP: We were
very pleased to hold our first KMP Patient Participation
Group meeting on Wednesday 3rd December. This was
attended by Linda Frost, Scott Wilson and Kay Riddell.
In addition representation from Killin Community Council
was made by Frances Chisholm with Alistair and
Beatrice McDonald attending on behalf of Strathfillan
Community Council. Claire Buchan from the Scottish
Health Council also came along and she will support the
group in taking forward issues which are highlighted.
The next meeting is Friday 13th February at 12.30pm. If
you would like to be involved please get in touch with
Audrey Whitton, KMP Practice Manager or one of the
PPG Group detailed above.
FLU VAC
ANTIBIOTIC AWARENESS
Had yours yet?
The winter months can be a difficult time for patients who begin
to catch viruses that cause coughs, colds, sore throats and
sinusitis and bronchitis. For most cases, these self limiting
conditions do not require antibiotics and can be self managed
without consulting the doctor. There is good evidence that
inappropriate use of antibiotics causes major problems with
bacterial resistance. As this bacterial resistance grows, it
becomes more and more difficult to treat infection when patients
really need it. Symptoms caused by a viral infection can be
helped by paracetamol, fluids and similar products. Laura and the
rest of the staff at Davidsons Chemist can advise regarding this.
Phone now to book an
appointment available until
March 2015
If you are 65 or above you are
automatically entitled.
Some conditions mean you
are eligible under 65 years
Telephone to book an
appointment or let us
know you don’t wish to
have the vaccination
PRACTICE CLOSURES
2015
Public Holidays
Friday 3rd April
Monday 6th April
Monday 4th May
Monday 12th October
Friday
25th
December
Monday 28th December
Friday 1st January
Monday 4th January
Training Dates
Thursday 29th February
Tuesday 17th March
The GPs at Killin Medical Practice will need to see and examine
you and only prescribe antibiotics if clinically it is absolutely
necessary. We will not generally prescribe antibiotics over the
phone. You may get a ‘delayed’ prescription, a strategy to try and
reduce the use of antibiotics.
Please be aware that antibiotics DO NOT help treat cold and flu
symptoms and other viral illnesses.
PRESCRIBING PRACTICE
We do not routinely prescribe certain medications on “Repeat”
prescription for reasons of patient safety and good medical
practice. Examples are:Hormone Replacement Therapy, Oral contraception,
Antidepressants, Oral Prednisolone, Benzodiazepines (Sleeping
tablets and Diazepam etc), Strong opiate painkillers such as
Tramadol, Morphine and others, as well as Disease Modifying
Drugs (DMARDS) such as Methotrexate..
The medications mentioned above should be prescribed as an
“Acute” prescription only after review of the problem by a doctor
or nurse. There may be exceptions to this, for example some
patients who are on long-term antidepressants but these are
people who will be having regular reviews, anyhow.
If you have any queries about the above, please do not hesitate
to contact one the GP’s who will happily discuss.
FURTHER DATES
TOSEE
FOLLOW
DO YOU
CONSULTANTS IN OTHER HEALTHBOARD AREAS? We want to let
patients know that if they see consultants in Health Board areas outwith Forth Valley, there may be
difficulty for these doctors in accessing test results. The preferred option is for us to send these
results to the patient’s email address. Please make this request with one of the practice
administrators.
HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT TIMES: If you need to be seen in a hospital based clinic or by
a consultant and you receive an early morning appointment, you can telephone the department
and rearrange for an appointment later in the day.