Limefield Medical Centre 6-8 Limefield Road Salford Manchester, M7 4LZ Telephone: 0161 721 4845 0161 720 6494 Fax: Website www.LimefieldMedicalCentre.co.uk When the surgery is closed call 0161 721 4845 Welcome to Limefield Medical Centre's website Find out when our practice is open, what the GP consulting times are and what to do if you need help when the practice is closed. Find out more Repeat Prescriptions Do you need to re-order your medication? Find out more Like To Register? New to the area and would like to join our practice? We would be happy to help you. Why not visit the Practice and complete our registration forms? Find out more The services below will be available soon, but unfortunately are not online yet. Please contact the Practice for these services. BABY CLINIC MOVING TO AN EARLIER TIME: Parents please note - from Wednesday, 19th June Baby Clinic will run from 9.20 a.m.-10.20 a.m. each week. (June 2013) MEASLES OUTBREAK: As our patient, if your child has had less than two MMR vaccinations please contact reception (0161-721 4845) to book an appointment with our nurse. (April 2013) Opening Times Times Monday 08:00 - 18:30 Tuesday 08:00 - 18:30 Wednesday 08:00 - 18:30 18:30 - 20:30 Thursday 08:00 - 18:30 Summer 08:00 - 15:00 Friday Winter 08:00 - 14:00 Weekend closed When We Are Closed When we are closed please ring the surgery as normal on 0161 721 4845. An answerphone message will provide you with the information you require. Our out-of-hours cover is for emergencies NHS 111 In the case of urgent need when the practice is closed, you can dial 111 for advice. Your needs will be assessed and advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor. Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens. Dial 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency. Please remember - Accident and Emergency Departments are only for accidents or emergency care. Appointments Appointments can be made by telephoning the receptionist on 0161 721 4845 during office hours, or by calling in at reception personally. We also run daily walk-in surgeries for acute problems such as suddenly feeling poorly over the previous 24 hours (i.e. not conditions you have previously seen a GP for). However, you must arrive between 08.30 and 09:30 to book a walk-in appointment. We try to run to time as far as possible. Inevitably, an appointment can run over time, so please bear with us if you have to wait. To keep surgeries running as smoothly as possible, please help us by remembering the following points: Please arrive on time for your appointment. Patients who cannot attend their appointment, for whatever reason, are expected to cancel their appointment as far in advance as possible. Remember - an appointment is for ONE person only. Please do not save up multiple problems for one appointment slot. If you think you may need a longer appointment, please tell the receptionist. Home Visits If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:00 if you require a home visit. You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years. Telephone Consultations If you require to speak to the doctors or nurses by telephone, you should expect the following: To be asked by the receptionist for brief details of your requirements, so that the medical urgency of your call can be assessed. If your call is medically urgent, eg chest pains, shortness of breath, severe bleeding etc, your call will be put through to the doctor on call IMMEDIATELY. For non-medically urgent calls you will be asked to give a contact number for the doctor/nurse to contact you, when they are not seeing patients. Teaching Practice Limefield Medical Centre is a teaching practice. This means that medical students attend the practice and sit in on consultations with Dr Levenson as well as meeting with patients either in their home or in the practice. This enables them to gain useful experience and helps them to gain knowledge of how to deal with patients. If you would rather a student was not present simply tell the doctor or nurse before your consultation. Sickness Certificates You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sc2.pdf) . Evidence that you are sick If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay). It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise. You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP. Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note' The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury. For more information see the DirectGov website (www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/ DG_175850) (where this information was sourced) Please note, we are not yet able to offer online ordering. Please request repeat prescriptions in writing at the surgery, by fax, or by post. Thank you. Repeat Prescriptions Please note that we require 48 hours’ notice in order to prepare your repeat prescriptions. Therefore, when you have about 5 day’s medication left, this is the time to arrange to request your repeat prescription. It may help if you make a note on your calendar each month a few days before your next prescription will be needed. Please make sure you give us a written request, either handed in at the surgery, by post, or by fax and we will deal with this for you. Alternatively, you can order your repeat prescription directly through this site. Click on the link above and complete the simple registration form. Always use each set of medication in date order. Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs). The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication. NHS charges These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge. Prescription (per item): £7.65 12-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £104.00 3-month PPC: £29.10 If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC. Telephone advice and order line 0845 850 0030 General Public - Buy or Renew a PPC On-line There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx) Please allow 48 hours, excluding weekends and Bank Holidays, for your request to be processed. Any problems please telephone the surgery. Clinics & Services Clinics & Services Cytology screening Childhood Immunisations and Child Health Chronic Disease monitoring Healthy Lifestyle advice – Smoking cessation, Diet, NHS Health Checks Contraception/Family Planning advice Counselling Podiatry Childhood Immunisations Baby’s first immunisations must be done in the surgery. All other immunisations can be given either here at the Wednesday Baby Clinic, by appointment with the nurse here at Limefield Medical Centre, or at the Broughton Hub. Please ring the Practice to arrange your appointment to fit in with your schedule and convenience. Wednesday Morning Baby Clinics These clinics are weekly from 9.20 a.m. - 10.20 a.m.m for babies and children up to the age of 5 years old. In order to provide the best possible care for our younger patients, Wednesday morning Baby Clinic is strictly for 8-week checks and immunising fit and well babies. For any other issues, or for a further consultation, a separate appointment with a GP must be made. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated. If you want to immunise your child at any other time, please call the surgery to arrange a time to suit you. Test Results Test Results Please call between 11:00 and 15:30 to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request between these times. Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results. When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice. It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if your are advised to do so. Blood Tests Blood Tests A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to: assess your general state of health confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken. You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website. X-Ray X-Ray An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer. If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate. An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners. You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk/conditions/x-ray/Pages/Introduction.aspx) . Registration New Patient Registration The doctors welcome new patients who live within our practice area. As it often takes some time for records to be forwarded from your former practice all newly registered patients will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and offered a health check with one of our nurses. Please note that you will be registering with the practice rather than an indvidual GP. Medical treatment is available from the date of registration. Please contact reception for further information. Guide to GP Services The Royal College of General Practitioners has produced a useful guide for patients about the services on offer at GP Surgeries and how to access them. You can download the guide below. A Patient Guide to GP Services (www.rcgp.org.uk/pdf/rcgp_iyp_full_booklet_web_version.pdf) Registering Online Please note, this service is not yet on line, please register at the Practice Online 'Pre-Registration' With The Practice If you wish to pre-register click on the link below to open the form. When you have completed all of the details, click on the "Send" button to mail your form to us. When you visit the surgery for the first time you will be asked to sign the form to confirm that the details are correct. Pre-registration Form When you register you will also be asked to fill out a medical questionnaire. This is because it can take a considerable time for us to receive your medical records. There is an online version of this file too, which you may fill out and send to us. When you come to the surgery you will be asked to sign this form to confirm that the details are correct. Online Medical Questionnaire For New Patients Note that by sending the form you will be transmitting information about your self across the Internet and although every effort is made to keep this information secure, no guarantee can be offered in this respect. Alternatively you may print off a registration form, fill it out and bring it in with you on your first visit to the practice. Registration Form Temporary Residents Temporary Registration If you are ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP practice You will need to register as a temporary (or permanent) patient. You can be registered as a temporary patient for up to three months. This will allow you to be on the local practice list and still remain a patient of your permanent GP. To register as a temporary patient simply contact the local practice you wish to use. Practices do not have to accept you as a temporary patient although they do have an obligation to offer emergency treatment. You cannot register as a temporary patient at a practice in the town or area where you are already registered. Download the Temporary Resident Registration Form Carers Direct (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/Pages/CarersDirectHome.aspx) Are You a Carer? If you are, please ask for a Carer's form at Reception, complete it and hand it back. You can arrange to discuss issues related to being a carer with our Carer's Link, Mrs Linda Beder, by making an appointment via Reception. There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/Pages/CarersDirectHome.aspx) about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful. Caring for a parent (www.nhs.uk/video/pages/medialibrary.aspx?Page=1&Filter=&Id={6F24B98E-41DC499F-B97C0A2C688F5100}&Tag=Carers&Title=NHS+VIDEOS+|+Caring+for+a+parent+at+ho me&Uri=video/2009/November/Pages/Caringforaparentathome.aspx) Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home Telling people (www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/yourself/relationships/Pages/tellingfriends.aspx) Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you're a carer is important so they understand and can support you. Taking a break (www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/yourself/timeoff/Pages/Overview.aspx) Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it's essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite. Housing and carers (www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/guide/practicalsupport/Pages/Housing.aspx) Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home? Contact Carers Direct Telephone 0808 802 0202 Helpline Information http://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx) Email CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk Office Hours Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines. Online Enquiry Form http://www.carersdirectenquiry.nhs.uk/ (www.carersdirectenquiry.nhs.uk/) Carers support groups Finance and Law Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring. Benefits for carers (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/carersbenefits) Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role Benefits for the person you care for (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/disabilitybenefits) Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to Death and benefits (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/deathandbenefits) How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits Managing someone's legal affairs (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/legal) Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after Other benefits (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/otherbenefits) Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring Personal and household finance (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/finance) Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers Social fund (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/socialfund) Tax credits (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/moneyandlegal/taxcredits) Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible Practice Policies Confidentiality & Medical Records The practice complies with data protection and access to medical records legislation. Identifiable information about you will be shared with others in the following circumstances: To provide further medical treatment for you e.g. from district nurses and hospital services. To help you get other services e.g. from the social work department. This requires your consent. When we have a duty to others e.g. in child protection cases anonymised patient information will also be used at local and national level to help the Health Board and Government plan services e.g. for diabetic care. If you do not wish anonymous information about you to be used in such a way, please let us know. Reception and administration staff require access to your medical records in order to do their jobs. These members of staff are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the medical staff. Freedom of Information Information about the General Practioners and the practice required for disclosure under this act can be made available to the public. All requests for such information should be made to the practice manager. Access to Records In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Access to Health Records Act, patients may request to see their medical records. Such requests should be made through the practice manager and may be subject to an administration charge. No information will be released without the patient consent unless we are legally obliged to do so. Complaints We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice. However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible. To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception. Violence Policy The NHS operate a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it. Staff Details Doctors Dr Samuel Levenson Dr Victoria Sweiry Senior Partner Nurses Sister Tali Grant Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, minor ailment clinics and carry out cervical smears. Practice Management Mrs Linda Beder The practice manager is involved in managing all of the business aspects of the practice such as making sure that the right systems are in place to provide a high quality of patient care, human resources, finance, patient safety, premises and equipment and information technology. The practice manager supports the GPs and other medical professionals with delivering patient services and also helps to develop extended services to enhance patient care. Reception Mrs Susan Rabstaff, Mrs Rochelle Fulda Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits. Secretaries Mrs Glenda Marks Health Visitors A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of mental, physical and social wellbeing.