DR DAVID M BEGG

Dr David M Begg has announced that he plans to retire from the Practice at the end of March.

If anyone wishes to contribute towards a retiral gift we have opened a bank account, details below.

Royal Bank of Scotland, Pencuik

sort code 83-26-10  account no 00609727

We would like to take this opportunity wish Dr Begg all the best in his retirement

PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT START MAKING APPOINTMENTS UNTIL 8.30 EACH MORNING.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING APPOINTMENTS ONE DAY IN ADVANCE AND ON THE DAY, WE ALSO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BOOK APPOINTMENTS FROM FOUR TO SIX WEEKS IN ADVANCE

• Adults and children over six months of age who have a long-term health condition and normally receive the seasonal flu vaccine;
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy; and
• People who live in the same house as someone whose immune system is compromised by disease or treatment. 

SWINE FLU INFORMATION 

For most people it's a mild illness

So you should stay at home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids, and you can take over-the-counter remedies to help relieve the symptoms.  You should feel better aftrer a few days without needing to see a GP.

The best way to check if you really do need advice from your GP is to take your temperature with a thermometer.

If your temperature is below 38 degrees, you can probably handle this flu at home.  For most people it will get better in a few days with normal flu remedies from the supermarket or chemist.  You will not need Tamiflu.

If you do have a high temperature of 38 degrees or above, and particularly if you or your relatives are very young (less than 5 years old), over 65 years, pregnant or have long-term conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, please stay at home and telephone the surgery on 01968 672612.  Tell the Receptionist that you have flu like symptoms and we will arrange for the Duty Doctor to contact you to assess you further and decide what the best course of treatment is in your particular case.

DO NOT COME INTO THE SURGERY UNLESS YOU ARE ADVISED TO DO SO, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT SPREAD THE ILLNESS TO OTHERS.  STAY AT HOME AND ASK A FRIEND OR RELATIVE TO GO OUT FOR YOU TO THE SHOPS OR CHEMIST.

Check your symptoms on www.nhs24.com.

Call the Swine Flu Information Line on 0800 1 513 513 to hear the latest advice.

You can also call NHS24 on 08454 24 24 24

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP AVOID SWINE FLU?

You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by:

• Always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
• Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face, or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces, such as door handles, frequently using a normal cleaning product.

 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2009/2010

Monday 5 April Easter Monday

In the event of a life threatening emergency, dial 999 for an ambulance.  For other medical problems that can't wait until the surgery reopens please telephone NHS24 on 08454 24 24 24

 PRACTICE CLOSURE DATES IN 2010
The Health Centre will close for training purposes on the following days at 12.30 pm and will not reopen until the following morning: 

When the surgery is closed you can still phone NHS24 on 08454 242424. However, you can also consider getting advice from your pharmacist.

MEDICAL STAFF

 We are pleased to welcome a new Foundation Doctor - Dr Katy Stewart, who replaces Dr Zoe Venables, and who will be with us for four months. 

DO YOU LOOK AFTER SOMEONE?

Carers provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.

1 in 8 people in Scotland are carers and each carer's situation is unique.  You may be caring for someone constantly - perhaps you elderly parent becoming frail, your partner who has developed an illness or your disabled child.  Or you may be helping someone out on a regular basis by picking up prescriptions and checking them every day.

You may also be juggling the demands of family life, a job or education with your caring role.

If you are providing unpaid care (whether or not the person you care for is a patient in this practice), please let us know.  Being aware of your caring responsibilities helps us to provide a better service to you as a patient and to the person you care for.

We can help by, for example:

• providing a health check and, if appropriate, an annual flu immunisation to ensure your are as healthy as possible.
• arranging appointments at a time that fits in with your caring responsibilities
• organising a repeat prescription service direct to your pharmacy
• providing you with information on ways in which you can access practical and emotional support in your caring role.

Our practice values the unique and significant contribution made by unpaid carers.

We are committed to supporting you and working in partnership with you and to providing the best care and support to unpaid carers and those they look after.

If you would like to tell us you are a carer, or require further information, please contact:

Mrs Gillian McKenzie

Practice Manager

01968 672612

  SATURDAY MORNING SERVICE

As part of the Government led extended hours initiative we are now providing a nursing service as well as GP appointments on a Saturday morning    Please be advised that the following are NOT available on a Saturday morning:

• Telephone access to the Practice
• Results
• Appointment bookings
• Blood tests
• Collection of Prescriptions

Appointments for a Saturday will be pre-booked and, as there will be no telephone access, cancellations will need to be done in advance, or by a note posted through the door.  The doors to the Health Centre will be kept locked and patients with appointments should come to the Back Door of the Health Centre and ring the bell.

As before, in a life-threatening emergency dial 999 for an ambulance.  For other problems that cannot wait until the surgery reopens please contact NHS24, or go to your local pharmacist for some advice.

The Appointments Office is open Monday to Friday from 8.30 am - 6.00 pm when we will be very pleased to help you.

ONLINE REPEAT PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS 

We have introduced email requests for repeat prescriptions! We hope that this will make it easier to get regular medication on repeat prescription. Just go to the home page on the website and use the online form there. We think most of the glitches have been ironed out, but please let us know if you have problems with it. You do need to fill in your email address so that you can get confirmation that your email request has been sent to the practice.

RESULTS AND OTHER QUERIES

We would appreciate if you avoided phoning for results and other queries before 11 am. This will help free up the telephone at a busy time for people who want to make appointments. If you are phoning for results please do this between 3 and 5 pm as this will allow the doctors to check results that have come in that day.

PATIENT SELF CHECK IN SERVICE

In order to cut down queues at the Reception Desk the practice has introduced a self check in service using a touch screen system. This is very easy to work. You can, however, still check in at the Reception Desk if you prefer.

APPOINTMENTS

You have a choice of appointments. As well as a face-to-face consultation with a doctor you can:
Come to our nurse practitioner clinic
Have an appointment with the practice nurse or treatment room nurse.

This means that:
You do not have to wait as long for an appointment
You see the person who is best able to help with your problem.

The Nurse Practitioner treats problems including coughs, colds, sore throat, earache, diarrhoea & vomiting, flu, feverish children, skin infections, vaginal discharge & thrush, period problems, urine infections and smoking cessation. You can make an appointment on the day or in advance.

Many illnesses can be helped by treatments from your Pharmacist.
Phone advice is available from:
Lloyds 01968 673633
Rowlands (Edinburgh Road) 01968 676868
Rowlands (Precinct) 01968 673939

 MINOR AILMENT SERVICE AT YOUR COMMUNITY PHARMACY

OUT OF HOURS

Should you need medical attention outwith the practice hours,
please contact NHS24 on 08454 24 24 24.
In a life threatening emergency please call 999

WORKING IN PENICUIK HEALTH CENTRE

The practice employs medical reception staff, medical secretaries, practice nurses and staff to take blood samples, blood pressures, etc. We offer excellent pay and conditions in a busy but friendly team with opportunities for career development. If you would like to be considered for a vacancy when one becomes available, please speak to Gillian McKenzie, the Practice Manager, and let her have a copy of your CV.