Wanted! We are thinking about setting up a ‘Patient Reference Group’ in order to get some feedback about the practice, pinch any ideas you might have that could improve things etc. The idea would be that a number of willing patients could be asked to comment and feedback ideas via email. It would also involve in-house surveys of a wider group of patients. If you are interested, please contact the practice either by collecting and completing a contact form at the front desk, or check the website to which it will be added in the near future. Don’t all rush at once! No, seriously, don’t all rush at once. From those who volunteer, we would have to make sure the group is representative of the practice as a whole – but keep details of all who apply in case some participants drop out. Please only reply if you genuinely wish to help and regularly check your emails. Practice Nurse Carmel will be off sick for a few weeks from early May. All patients who usually attend for blood tests will have to attend the various phlebotomy clinics. All those for injections should give their names in at reception so they can be added in around doctor’s surgeries. All ear syringing will need to go to the Walk In Centre (appointments needed). Baby clinic will be run by Dr E MacRae (ear plugs needed!). Chronic disease management patients will be given appointments on the doctors’ half days (when we will come in and not just leave you sitting!). We wish Carmel the best of luck and a speedy recovery (especially the last bit!) Lab Results Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you get your results – unless the doctor has specifically said you will be contacted once all results are in. We can get over 100 results a day and cannot phone patients with these – unless dangerous and need acting on immediately. Patients on Warfarin If admitted to hospital, please take your yellow book with you and insist that any INR results are entered into the book along with dosage recommendations at the time your blood is taken. We do not have access to this information and invariably if we phone to check after discharge, the notes will have ‘gone for scanning’ and no information is forthcoming. Measles Alert There have been outbreaks of measles in the UK, France, Switzerland and Belgium – France having over 3000 cases so far this year. Are your children fully vaccinated? Bank Holidays Despite working on three of the four bank holiday mornings, we have still lost some appointments and waiting times will have inevitably increased. Please do not vent your frustration at the reception staff. We are working as hard as we can! Lost Gold cross with amethyst stones. In the vicinity of the surgery – if found, please hand in to front desk.
Whenever i look back upon what’s happened, whenever I recall this unlikely and appalling series of events, I’m always taken back to the same moment. It’s a perfect Friday afternoon in November, I’m cycling around Sydney’s beautiful Iron Cove and, for the first time in my life, I have nothing to worry about at all. Honestly, nothing. As I take in the untroubled sky and the water that’s