NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the current edition of the Overton Medical Practice newsletter

Click the logo to view a downloadable/printable version

Current newsletter

Previous newsletter

OVERTON MEDICAL PRACTICE
NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2009
(www.overtonsurgery.co.uk)

Everyone who works in the Practice would like to wish our patients a very ‘Happy New Year for 2009’

We hope you all had a very enjoyable Christmas, trust Santa paid a visit and that you did not over-indulge too much. Thank you so much to all those who sent us gifts and cards, we will be very good and recycle the cards and we will try to make the biscuits etc last as long as possible - but for all our good intentions we are only human so they could be gone long before Easter!

There does seem to have been rather more than usual number of patients suffering from coughs, colds, sore throats and earache over the past few weeks, but did you know that each of the above usually lasts for:

• Ear Infection  4 days
• Sore Throat  1 week
• Common Cold  1&half weeks
• Sinusitis  2&half weeks
• Cough  3 weeks

Most of these are caused by viruses and will clear up on their own. Antibiotics don’t work against viruses. Of course if symptoms persist or the patient is extremely unwell you will need to be seen by the doctor. The pharmacist can help with advice and ‘over the counter’ remedies.

There does seem to be a decline in the seasonal ailment, Repetitive ECD (excrutious christdingelum melodyopathy) or ‘continuous awful Christmas music’ - this should clear up completely within the next few days but even with medical intervention it will almost certainly re-occur from October onwards - ear plugs when shopping may help or else just accept it and sing along.

If you are making New Year Resolutions please include one that says; ‘I must keep my Doctor's appointment or cancel it beforehand’. DNA's for the year 2008 amounted to: 744 . Although this is a 5% improvement on 2007, it equates to over 60 sessions wasted. Most patients are now fully ‘au fait’ with the booking in system but please, please remember to press the last blue box on the right ‘Tell the Doctor I'm here’ or else everything will be in vain and you will not be registered. You could still be sitting there when we come to close the doors for lunch or at going home time!!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the 250 patients who completed the annual GPAQ Survey. The results will be reviewed during the 1st quarter of 2009.

The first Patient Practice Participation Meeting for 2009 will be held on Monday 16th February at 6pm. At this meeting we will elect a ‘proper Executive Team’. The plan for the future is to develop a larger, more structured, self managing Group in line with N.A.P.P. guidelines. The voluntary Group shall be non-party and non-sectarian in religion. It is hoped that patients of all ages and members of associated local organizations and volunteer groups who are also patients will come along. The Group's aims are to;

• Identify area of general patient/service issues
• Improve communication between patients and Practice
• Promote positive input from patients
• Support and organize health promotion events
• Assure the best service for the community

If you fancy doing something different and worthwhile perhaps you would like to come and join in.

02/01/09