Late Arrivals for Appointments

KILSYTH MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP WINTER NEWSLETTER 2017-18

The practice would like to wish NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH everyone a Merry Christmas SYNEXUS/CPS RESEARCH and a Happy New Year Our governing body GMC We welcome back Dr Liz Stafford (General Medical Council) have in early January following the for some time been encouraging birth of her daughter GPs to incorporate appropriate medical research within the APPOINTMENT primary care setting. They advise ARRANGEMENTS DURING THE that research involving patients is FESTIVE PERIOD vital in improving care and reducing uncertainty for patients Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th now and in the future and December 2017: improving the health of the Normal appointment system population as a whole.

Wednesday 20th – Friday 22nd Accordingly, as a practice, we December: have accepted such an Only emergency appointments opportunity. Medical researchers available from the West of Scotland Science Park will contact eligible patients Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th directly to invite them to be December: involved. Not only can it further Practice is closed invaluable medical knowledge, we are confident that it can be Wednesday 27th – Friday 29th very rewarding for patients who December: choose to participate. Only emergency appointments available TEXT MESSAGING

Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd In an effort to reduce the number January 2018: of appointments where patients Practice is closed fail to attend, the practice has introduced a Text Messaging Wednesday 3rd January 2018 Service. This is being used for GP onwards: and nurse appointment Normal appointment service will reminders, invites to Nurse Led resume Clinics and for health promotion. If you are interested in receiving When the practice is closed, for text message invites/reminders genuine medical emergencies then please collect a registration which cannot wait for the practice form from the reception desk or to re-open, please contact NHS24 download one from our website. on 111

1 KILSYTH MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP WINTER NEWSLETTER 2017-18 ONLINE SERVICES  Self referral to physiotherapy for acute/recent muscle pain or Once again we would like to injury by phoning 0800 917 remind patients of this alternative 9390 method of accessing  Self referral to STRESS MANAGEMENT (0300 303 appointments and repeat 0447) can be very helpful for prescriptions. managing issues relating to Registration forms are available stress and some mental health from reception on request or can problems be downloaded from our website.  Self referral to PODIATRY can be (One form is required for each made by using the referral form family member.) available on NHS Lanarkshire’s All our 48 hour and 2 week in website or by phoning 01236 advance GP appointments are 801685 available to book online.  SMOKING CESSATION advice and prescribing is no longer APPOINTMENTS available from General Practice in Lanarkshire now being As a patient you can help to provided by local chemists improve the availability of appointments in the following SURGERIES RUNNING LATE? ways: Patients have been expressing  CANCELLING APPOINTMENTS concerns that surgeries can run Please cancel well in advance so very late. It is important that that they can be reallocated patients appreciate that in a 10 (Appointments can be cancelled 24/7 by using the minute appointment it is cancellation line 01236 impossible to deal effectively and 828224) safely with more than one or two  Using the MINOR AILMENTS complaints. Therefore, patients SERVICE at local chemists must prioritise what they feel is (available to patients under the important for the GP to deal with age of 16, over the age of 60 in the allocated 10 minutes. years and those on certain benefits). Information about this Patients MUST arrive on time for is available from the chemist and their appointment so as to not in a leaflet available at reception delay the clinician and affect the  Using the MINOR INJURY SERVICE available at Stobhill patients being seen in following Hospital opening time 9am to appointments. 9pm - Monday to Sunday  NEW EYE PROBLEMS are more In emergency surgeries only the appropriately dealt with by ONE complaint can be dealt with. highly qualified opticians. Please remember that emergency Patients can self refer by phoning appointments are only for new or their local OPTICIAN worsening complaints that

2 KILSYTH MEDICAL PARTNERSHIP WINTER NEWSLETTER 2017-18 cannot wait for a 48 hour or two week appointment.