3Local Walk In centre
Practice Leaflet
The nearest NHS walk in centre is in Corby which is accessible by any
patient in the area.
Lakeside Plus (8 to 8)
Cottingham Rd
Corby
NN17 2UR
OUT OF HOURS ARRANGEMENTS:
Telephone: 111
This will put you in touch with the NHS 111 Service and they will direct
you to the appropriate service
If you have chest pain or other medical emergency please call 999
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or
advice but it's not a life-threatening situation.
Call 111 if:
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you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care
service
you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
you need health information or reassurance about what to do next
For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacist in the
usual way.
If a health professional has given you a specific phone number to call
when you are concerned about your condition, continue to use that
number.
For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999.
Revised: February 2015
The Cottons Medical Centre, Meadow Lane,
Raunds, Northamptonshire, NN9 6UA
Tel: 01933 623327 Fax: 01933 623370
www.thecottonsmedicalcentre.co.uk
Dr D Blindt
Dr S Fernando
Dr T Thomas
Dr N Peat
Dr A Sukanthan (Salaried GP)
Mr Julian Crowe OBE
MBBS BMedSc
MBBS MRCGP
MBBS MRCGP DFFP
BSc (Hons), MBBS, MRCGP
MBBS Sri Lanka, MRCGP, DRCOG
Practice Manager
The Cottons provides training for Medical Students and you will be
informed if a trainee doctor is in attendance
Practice Area
Raunds, Stanwick, Ringstead, Denford, Keyston, Catworth,
Hargrave, Chelveston, Caldecott and the Addingtons
Our practice charter:
Useful Numbers
All members of the primary care team are committed to do everything
they can to keep you healthy, ensure you have access to the services we
provide and ensure that you understand the care and treatment we offer.
Citizens Advice Bureau
01933 357296
Mind
01933 223591
Samaritans
08457 909090
Serve
01933 461066
Kettering General Hospital
01536 492000
Northampton General Hospital
01604 634700
NHS 111
111
Language line (for non-English speakers) 01604 237773
________________________________________________________
We will:
Treat you as a partner in the
care you receive.
We ask you to:
Accept your side of the bargain. You
are responsible for your own, and
your children’s health.
Treat you as an individual
courtesy and respect.
Treat all staff with the same with
courtesy and respect.
Try to answer the phone
promptly and courteously.
Please phone outside peak
times for non-urgent matters.
Try to ensure you see a GP
or nurse of your choice within a
reasonable timescale
Remember, you will be able to see a
clinician within 48 hours but if you
prefer to see a specific GP, the
chosen GP may not always be
available (sickness/holidays) and
you may have to wait longer.
________________________________________________________
Complaints:
A complaints leaflet is available at the front desk. In the first instance
please speak to or write to the Practice Manager who will undertake an
investigation into your complaint. Complaints will be acknowledged in
writing within two working days, and we aim to give you a full
explanation within ten to fifteen working days or inform you if any delay
is anticipated. You can also contact NHS England using the e mail
address: England.ContactUs@nhs.net.
Suggestions:
Try to ensure you are seen within
20 minutes of your appointment
time and offer an explanation if we
cannot achieve this.
Try to be punctual and inform us in
advance (24 hrs preferred) if you will
not attend. If a GP is running late,
Please bear with us, another time it
may be you who needs extra time.
Explain the likely effects of
any drugs and review your
long term medical needs
You should not expect a prescription
every time you visit the surgery
Advise you how to obtain test
and X-ray results
Please do not call outside the
suggested times.
Freedom of Information
Visit you if you are too ill to
come to the surgery
It is the GP’s decision whether or not
to visit. Please ensure your request
reaches us by 11am.
www.foi.nhs.uk
Revised: May 2015
The practice welcomes constructive comments or suggestions on the
service we provide. If you have any comments or suggestions please
address these to the Practice Manager, either in person, or by letter.
Violent/Abusive behaviour:
It is our policy to ensure that staff and other people are protected from
physical/verbal abuse either directly or over the telephone. Patients who
subject staff to this behaviour will be removed from our list and will not be
offered medical facilities by the practice.
Information about the practice can be found on the following web site:
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Miscellaneous information:
The Cottons
Training afternoons:
The practice has been serving the people of Raunds and the surrounding
areas for many years. Over 9,500 patients are currently registered.
The practice will close for training from 12.30pm approximately 10 times
each year. We will give as much notice as possible and the out-of-hours
service will provide emergency cover.
Fit notes or medical certificates:
Illness lasting less than seven days is usually minor, self-limiting and may
not require a visit to a GP. In this first seven days it is difficult for a doctor
to judge whether you are incapable of reporting to work or not. A GP is
only required to provide a medical certificate if your absence from work
lasts more than seven days.
If required a GP can provide a private medical certificate although a fee
will be charged for this service
How to register:
If you live within the practice area shown on the front cover, please call
into the surgery with your NHS medical card or complete a registration
form. All new patients will be asked to provide proof of entitlement and a
questionnaire. Higham Ferrers, Thrapston and Irthlingborough are not
included in the practice area.
Surgery Opening Times (Monday-Friday):
Telephone service
Doors open
8.00am - 6.30pm (receptionist available)
8:00am – 6.30pm (receptionist available)
The appointment system:
The surgery has suitable access for disabled patients
The appointment system we operate is a balance between access to
medical care within 48 hours and patient choice. It provides different
forms of access to try to accommodate the needs of most patients.
Daytime Emergencies
Unless urgent, please avoid calling at peak times (8am-10am and 5pm 6pm each day)
The release of appointments is staggered so than some are available
weeks in advance and the remainder released 48 hours in advance. We
will always try to give you the GP of your choice but this is not always
possible on the day of your appointment. If you feel you wish to see a
particular GP you may have to wait longer than usual.
Chaperone policy:
Consideration is always given to a patient’s privacy and all consulting
rooms have curtained areas for undressing. During routine appointment
times patients may request a chaperone where examination involves
intimate areas.
Please call 01933 623327
For routine appointments - Telephone (01933) 623327
These are bookable in advance although we are unable to guarantee
access to the Doctor of your choice.
Monday and Tuesday appointments are released on Friday
Wednesday – Friday appointments are released on Monday
Extended Hours Clinic: Alternating Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
6.30 – 7.30pm
Extended Telephone Consultations: Other work days 6:30pm – 7.30pm
GP consultation times:
Monday-Friday: 8:30am - 11:30 am
2:30pm – 6:30pm
Telephone consultations:
GPs/Nurses
From 12:30 pm
For protection, training and quality purposes, all calls are recorded
Revised: May 2015
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Keeping appointments:
There is always significant demand for the practice to provide
appointments. Please inform the surgery as soon as possible, at least 24
hours in advance if you no longer require, or are unable to attend your
appointment so it can be allocated to another patient.
MENINGITIS
Symptoms in Adults and
Children:
These may not occur at the same
time.
Routine pre-bookable appointments
Symptoms in Babies:
A percentage of appointments are available several weeks in advance,
these appointments are generally offered first.
These may not occur at the same
time
48 hours in advance
Watch out for tiny red or brown
pinprick marks, which can
change into purple blotches or
blood blisters. If your baby gets a
rash, do the “Tumbler Test”
All remaining routine 10 minute appointments are released weekly to
allow everyone equal access to the service.
Acute Clinic:
This service is for acute problems (ongoing for less than a week). Please
telephone the surgery between 8.00 am and 10:00 am and 1.30 pm to
3.00 pm. You will need to give us an idea of the problem and if it cannot
be dealt with over the telephone you will be given an approximate time to
come to the surgery. A doctor or nurse will see you and will deal with one
acute problem. Please be aware there may be a lengthy wait on some
occasions. If a clinician feels that your problem is not acute you will be
asked to book a routine appointment. The acute clinic is not set up for
ongoing conditions.
Tumbler Test
If a glass tumbler is pressed firmly against the rash, the marks will not
fade. You will be able to see them through the glass.
If this happens get medical help immediately.
Remember, a very ill baby needs medical help even if they have no
rash or a rash that fades.
Home Visits:
A Temperature
If you are too ill to attend the surgery and require a home visit, please
telephone before 11 am giving the relevant details to enable the doctor
to assess the degree of urgency. Visits are not available to solve your
transport problems and it is often difficult for a doctor to examine a patient
without surgery facilities, so please attend the surgery whenever possible.
This happens even with mild infections. In small children it is
important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and Paracetamol
syrup from your chemist should help.
If they still feel hot, sponge them with tepid, not cold water.
If the temperature is very high and does not respond to this treatment
you should contact your doctor.
Revised: May 2015
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Ear infections and earaches:
Practice Nurses:
Your child may be sick and complain of ear pain. Regular doses of
paracetamol will help relieve the pain as most are caused by a viral
infection, which will resolve by itself. If the ear is still painful next day,
consult your doctor.
Nurse Team Leader:
Nurse Practitioner:
Practice Nurse:
Practice Nurse:
Practice Nurse:
HCA:
Cuts and Grazes:
Clean the area with clean water or a weak antiseptic solution. Leave the
graze to dry out and form a scab.
Bites/stings insect and animal:
Most of these do not need treatment. Antihistamine tablets from the
chemist will relieve most symptoms. The stinging sensation & swelling
can be relieved using a cold compress.
Beccy Maycock
Ann Woodcock
Sandra Cox
Karen Toseland
Miriam Cuthbert
Susan Tingey
Routine appointments can be made with the Nurses for:
Dressings
Blood Tests for the Elderly
Removal of stitches
Ear syringing
HRT
Immunisations
Well man
Asthma
Diabetes
Blood pressure
New patient check
CHD-Coronary heart disease
Ambulatory 24 hour BP
Cystitis:
Drink as much water as possible to flush out the bladder & kidneys. A
warm water bottle against the stomach and taking pain- killers can
provide some relief.
The practice employs a Health Care Assistant who assists the Nurses
and will undertake some routine checks on their behalf.
A lotion is available to purchase from your pharmacy.
If you are requested to provide a specimen, always remember to include
your date of birth and name on the container. This information is a
minimum legal requirement and without this information your specimen
will be discarded. Specimens MUST be at the surgery by 12 noon.
Indigestion:
Community District Nurses:
There is a range of antacids available from your pharmacy.
If you feel you need to contact the district nurses they can be reached on
telephone number: 01832 733289
Headlice:
Sore throat:
This is caused by a virus and will not be treated with antibiotics.
Gargle with soluble aspirin before swallowing, or take paracetamol. Drink
plenty. An ice-lolly or ice cream can be soothing.
Health Visitors:
Tel: 01832 733289
Community Midwife:
Mrs Lorraine Groom. Tel: 01536 494078 (9:15am – 10am)
Revised: May 2015
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Other clinics and services:
Some general medical advice and self-help:
Doctors
Diarrhoea and sickness
Health Visitors
Attached Staff
Minor Surgery,
Family planning including coil insertion
Childhood Immunisation
Counselling
Drug & alcohol counselling
Travel vaccinations:
You will be requested to complete a form and may need to discuss your
travel arrangements with a practice nurse prior to making an appointment
for the vaccination. Please enquire at least 4 weeks before travelling.
The provision of this service may attract a charge.
Insurance/Employment Medicals:
These are not part of general medical services and a charge will be made
for their provision. These include medicals for insurance, recruitment,
HGV, PSV, Taxi, GP reports and endorsements, passports, housing
applications etc. Wherever possible, appointments will be made outside
core NHS appointment times.
Minor Ailments:
Did you know that a local pharmacist can often deal with advice and
treatment for minor ailments including allergies, athletes foot, back pain
(recent), colds, cold sores, constipation, cough, cystitis, diarrhoea,
earache, earwax, eczema/contact dermatitis, haemorrhoids, indigestion
and heartburn, infant colic, insect bites & stings, nappy rash, skin rashes
or itches, sprains or strains, sore throat, teething, temperature/fever,
threadworm, vaginal thrush, warts & verrucas. Please enquire at your
local pharmacy.
Named GP:
As of 1 April 2015 all patients will have a named GP. Please ask at
reception who your named GP is. This is done on an alphabetical basis,
so there is no scope to change your named GP. You are, however, at
liberty to see any GP for a consultation.
Revised: May 2015
Adults and older children should have plenty of clear fluids and eat
nothing solid for 24 hours. Sickness should clear within 12 hours. If the
diarrhoea shows blood or there is severe pain or high fever, contact your
doctor. Your doctor will advise how to treat small babies and young
children. If the sickness is prolonged or severe and the patient is not
drinking enough, it is possible he or she may become dehydrated. In
children if you can match the following questions and answers, serious
dehydration is not likely.
If you pinch the skin on their tummy and let go, does it immediately spring
back flat?
YES
Is your child's mouth and tongue moist with saliva?
YES
Are your child's eyes sunken?
NO
Has your baby's soft spot on top of their head sunken in?
NO
Has your child passed urine in the last 12 hours
YES
Is your child lethargic?
NO
Rashes
Infection, allergy, drugs or sometimes no obvious reason can cause
rashes. They only need urgent medical attention if your child has a very
high fever or the rash does not change from red to white when the skin is
pressed firmly.
Coughs, colds and flu
Coughs are rarely an emergency unless the patient is breathless, in pain
or suffering a high fever. Take paracetamol for aches and high
temperatures and drink plenty of fluids. Cough medicine will be soothing
and you may find a steam inhalation helpful. Do not worry if you do not
want to eat anything for a few days. Flu should respond to complete rest,
lots of fluid and regular painkillers. Consult your doctor if the fever is
persistent, you produce coloured phlegm or you have visited a Malaria
region in the last year. Coughs, colds and flu are caused by a virus and
will not be treated with antibiotics.
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Pathology opening times:
Emergency Contraception
Listed below are the opening hours of all local laboratories where patients
can deliver specimens or have bloods taken:
There is help for those women who have had unprotected intercourse or
their present form of contraception has not worked, missed the pill, unable
to feel the coil threads, the sheath has burst or slipped etc.
However, it does require a prompt response from you. You need to
consult your GP, by telephone or emergency appointment, most certainly
within 48 hours of the first episode of unprotected intercourse in that
cycle.
If you have been asked to have a fasting-cholesterol blood test, please do
not have anything to eat after 10pm the night before the test. You can
drink water.
Kettering General Hospital:
Mon - Fri
8:30am - 5:00pm
Emergency contraception may also be purchased from a pharmacy. You
need to be over 16 and may be required to provide proof of age.
Rectory Road Rushden INR and Blood Clinic:
Contraception
Mon - Fri
8:00am - 12:00pm
Warfarin clinic:
To make or cancel an appointment please call 01536 492701
Isebrook Hospital:
Mon - Fri
8:00am – 3:30pm including lunchtime
Nene Park, Irthlingborough:
Monday – Friday 8:00am to 3:30pm including lunchtime
Nuffield Corby Diagnostic Centre:
Mon - Fri
8:00am - 4:00pm (last outpatient 3:45pm)
Please note that afternoon sessions are for consultant clinics
Northampton General Hospital:
Mon - Fri
If you are under 50, from the time you start your periods until the time you
have not had a period for 2 years, or, if you are over 50, from the time you
have not had a period for 1 year, you should regard yourself as fertile
unless told otherwise by your GP or Gynaecologist.
If you would like to discuss contraception please make an appointment
with a doctor.
NHS 111
NHS Direct is a confidential 24-hour advice and health information service
staffed by nurses and professional advisers. You can call NHS Direct at
any time, for advice on what to do if you or a family member feels unwell.
NHS direct also provides information on particular health conditions; selfhelp or support organisations; and local health services (such as your
nearest GP, dentist or out-of-hours pharmacy).
Telephone number 111
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
9:00am - 12noon and 1:00pm - 3:00pm
By appointment only – 01604 544190 ext 4190
Revised: May 2015
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Practice prescribing policy:
Practice administration
When prescribing medicines to you, we are committed to quality and cost
effectiveness. We will try to optimise your individual treatment, balancing
this against the need to spread fairly the NHS cash limited resources. We
operate a 28-day dispensing policy in accordance with national
guidelines.
The admin team support the GPs. Our receptionists are here to help and
guide patients to the most appropriate service. Any information given to
any member of staff is treated as confidential.
You can help us to help you by being careful to take your medication as
directed and by reading any patient advice leaflet that is often enclosed
with your medicine and reporting back any side-effects as necessary.
Repeat prescriptions:
If you require repeat medication, please use your repeat prescription slip,
which can be left at reception, posted or faxed to the surgery. Telephone
requests for repeat prescriptions are not accepted. If you require your
prescription to be posted, please include a stamped addressed envelope.
Please allow up to 48 hours (2 working days) to collect a prescription from
the surgery.
Who has access to patient medical records?
GPs, nurses, practice staff and hospital consultants and their staff. Some
referrals to secondary care are made electronically using secure NHS
communications. Before we are able to disclose information to any third
party other than those above, we require signed consent from the patient.
Medical information will not be disclosed without written consent.
This practice has a contractual arrangement with NHS Nene Clinical
Commissioning Group (CCG) and information concerning Primary Care
Medical Services may be obtained from the CCG by contacting:
NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group
Francis Crick House
Summerhouse Road
Moulton Park
Northampton
NN3 6BF
Tel 01604 651100
Revised: May 2015
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