Dr Charlotte Stead
Dr Joanna Roberts
Dr Shahzad Ahmad
Dr Michael Radford
Tennyson House Surgery
Associate GPs
Dr Gabriela Hadian
Dr Katherine Thomas
20 Merlin Place
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 4HW
Tel: 01245 260459
Fax: 01245 344287
www.tennysonhouse.com
Rebecca Pittuck - Practice Manager
PATIENT NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2014
WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR PATIENTS
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR
PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND BOXING DAY AS
WELL AS NEW YEARS DAY
IF YOU NEED ANY MEDICAL ADVICE WHEN WE ARE CLOSED PLEASE DIAL 111 (NHS
111) WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU WITH ANY MEDICAL ISSUES YOU HAVE
OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD.
REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN ALSO ASK YOUR LOCAL PHARMACIST FOR ADVICE, GO
TO THE WALK IN CENTRE OR GO TO A&E AT BROOMFIELD IN AN EMERGENCY
If you have not had your FLU vaccination yet and you are over 65 or in an “AT
RISK” then please book an appointment to have this as soon as possible.
SHINGLES- All
people aged 70 on 1 September
2014 are eligible to get the vaccine. In addition, this year anyone
who is 78 or 79 on 1 September 2014 can also receive the
vaccine.(ie: Born between 2.9.1934 and 1.9.1936)
FRIENDS AND FAMILY TEST – PLEASE LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE OR PICK UP
A CARD IN THE WAITING ROOM TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF OUR SURGERY. (FROM 1ST
DECEMBER ONWARDS) THIS YEAR THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE WAY WE ARE ASKING FOR
YOUR FEEDBACK AND LIKE ALL OTHER SURGERIES IN ENGLAND WE WILL BE ASKING THE
FOLLOWING QUESTION:
“HOW LIKELY ARE YOU TO RECOMMEND OUR GP PRACTICE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY IF
THEY NEEDED SIMILAR CARE OR TREATMENT?” WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
TIME AND EFFORT IN FILLING THESE OUT AS WE HAVE TO FORWARD OUR DATA TO NHS
ENGLAND EVERY MONTH FROM JANUARY 2015 WHO WILL THEN PUBLISH OUR RESULTS. WE
SHALL ALSO PUBLISH OUR RESULTS ON OUR WEBSITE AND IN THE SURGERY.
If you are unable to attend your appointment then please ring us as soon as possible,
this may allow us to offer it to another patient.
We are pleased to announce we have a new F2 GP (a junior Dr who has
completed medical school and doing rotations) working with us for the next
few months, Dr Joseph Gallaher, as he is still training he will have longer
appointments to begin with and will still refer to a supervising GP within the
practice for advice on each patient he sees.
Accident & Emergency (A&E
When is it NOT Appropriate to go to A&E? Unfortunately, many people
attend A&E with very minor problems. The following examples are minor
problems for which A&E attendance is not appropriate;
Flu-like illnesses, coughs, earache, backache, sore throats, minor
breathlessness or wheezing, abdominal pain (unless extreme or associated
with collapse), urinary difficulties (unless completely unable to pass water),
vaginal bleeding (unless very heavy and associated with fainting), rashes
(unless it appears like spontaneous bleeding under the skin or the person
appears very unwell), diarrhoea and vomiting, simple bites and stings, social
problems, emergency contraception, dental problems (except major trauma)
These conditions can generally be safely
managed at the surgery by the GP or
Practice Nurse. Alternatively you can visit
PLEASE LET US HAVE YOUR UP TO
your local chemist and ask the
DATE MOBILE NUMBER IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE TEXT
pharmacist for advice.
REMINDERS FROM THE SURGERY.
ON-LINE BOOKING OF APPOINTMENTS-DID
YOU KNOW YOU CAN BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOURSELF TO SEE A
GP ONLINE?-IF YOU HAVE NOT TRIED IT PLEASE REGISTER WITH
RECEPTION AND GIVE IT A GO. YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST YOUR REPEAT
PRESCRIPTIONS IN THIS WAY.
CAR PARKING AT THE SURGERY – Please only use the car park if you are attending an
appointment. There have been an increasing number of accidents in the past year. If you do
happen to hit another vehicle then please leave your details on the car involved just as you
would with any other accident. PLEASE DO NOT JUST DRIVE OFF!