Meadowside Medical Practice

New Year Newsletter 2004

Welcome to the New Year 2004 and to all our new patients. We value suggestions for improvements. We are always trying out new ideas to help provide the best possible health care.

BABY NEWS:

Congratulations to our Practice Manager, Vicky Jameson, and her partner Jeff on the birth of their newborn son, Oliver Thomas, who is brother to Alice who is nearly 2!

Hello to:

Dr Ayesha Rahim

Dr Rahim is our Pre-Registration House Officer who started in December and works with us until April. She then returns to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary to join the medical wards. She has 20 minute appointments and will be videotaping her consultations. Ayesha writes:

“I am originally from central Manchester and graduated from the university there. Eventually I hope to pursue a career in hospital medicine, although I’m finding working in the community very rewarding. I am enjoying my time in Lancaster and have found it to be a friendly place to work and live in and I look forward to the rest of my time at Meadowside.”

Vicky Frost

Vicky is our new receptionist and you will find her smiling and welcoming in reception and will hear her voice on the telephone when you book appointments. Vicky writes:

“Before I started at Meadowside I worked in a similar position at another practice in the local area. I also work as a receptionist for the emergency out of hour’s service, which operates at the weekend on Saturdays and Sundays. I have done this for approximately 6 years now. I am married with two teenage children. My interests are reading, doing tapestries and spending time with my family. I also invigilate during examination times at a local school.”

Goodbye and very best wishes to:

Jean Holland

Jean has been our receptionist now for 14 years. Jean knows a great deal about the running of the practice and we will miss her tremendously. We thank her for her quiet, helpful, loyal and kind service to the practice. Jean writes:

“There is a saying ‘time goes quickly when you enjoy yourself’ and it certainly has for the 14 years I have been at Meadowside. During this time I have seen many changes and worked for 8 partners. I shall enjoy all the free time ahead and being able to visit my grandson in London. I have been lucky to work with some great girls, Dion, Nurses and the Health Visitors. I will miss them. Thanks to all those patients who became friends over the year and made my job so much easier with a smile and a word. Best wishes to all. Jean”

Dr Gayle Knights

Dr Knights was our Pre-registration House Officer from August until December. She was a most enthusiastic doctor who is back on the wards and she hopes to be a future GP.

Sister Cath Jackson

Sister Jackson has decided, after the birth of her third child, to return to her original nursing career, which was midwifery. Those of you about to have a baby may see her on the delivery suite. Thank you Sister Jackson for the hard work and sound advice as a practice nurse over the past 8 years.

Sister Sue Garrett

Sister Garret was helping out in the treatment room whilst Sister Jackson was on maternity leave, and then agreed to do just a few hours for us each week. Unfortunately she has been offered a permanent position nearer to her home in Kendal and decided to cease working at Meadowside. We thank her and send our best wishes for her new job in Kendal.
STAFF NEWS:

Heather Pilling (previously Heather Barnes)

Heather is our Nurse Practitioner and is now permanently on the staff, working 3 days per week. She is able to consult, diagnose, advise, organise prescriptions and refer. She is a highly experienced member of the team and will take emergency and routine appointments alongside the doctors and nurses. She writes:

“Nurse Practitioners are experienced nurses who have undergone additional training in assessment and diagnosis of patient problems. I have worked in Primary Care since I moved to live in Lancaster approximately 3 years ago, originating from the Fylde Coast. Nurse Practitioners are a new “breed” of nurses and can function very differently (that’s my excuse!) so if anyone has any questions about my role, feel free to express them!”

Christine Caton

Chris is extending her role in the practice, to become part of our nursing team. She writes:

“Just reached the age when life begins! Married to Phil with 2 teenagers (arrgh) Emma 15 and Daniel 13.

I have been nursing for 22 years, starting my career at Liverpool Royal (just so I could go to a match or two!). I am however a Lancaster lass and returned home in 1987. I work at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary most Sundays to keep up to date by working on all the different wards and this gives me my holiday money to travel around the world. I am going to South Africa in August this year on a church mission to increase awareness of HIV, Diabetes and Depression.

I have been working at Meadowside for the last 6 years as part of the Primary Health Care Team, working with the over 75 caseload. I am now leaving this post to take over some of the chronic disease management here at Meadowside. This is mainly going to be with the diabetes, replacing Sister Jackson. I am also going to continue doing the medication reviews that I have been doing over the last 12 months. I am looking forward to the different challenges that this new position will give and looking forward to meeting all my new patients.”

Eileen Hankey

Eileen is our practice phlebotomist who is now available to take your blood (an armful!). She has trained in the practice over the last year and is providing a valuable service.

FLU VACCINES

A reminder if you have not had your influenza vaccine yet, YOU HAVE UNTIL APRIL ONLY. This is when the current vaccine is no longer effective. If you are 65 or over, and/or have other medical problems – please let reception know and we will get your jab done!

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

Thank you to all contributors for this raffle (reminder there are still some uncollected prizes!). You came up with some generous gifts and £125 has been raised. We are saving for a new spirometer. This measures your lung function and is a useful piece of equipment when dealing with patients who have respiratory problems.

APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

We keep trying to perfect our appointment system. Every day we keep lots of appointments for immediate use. We can still book ahead, especially if you need medication review or a discussion about your condition. If you think you are going to need extra time, please say on booking as we can make “double appointments”. This allows the doctor more time with you.

PRAM PORCH

Please do not leave anything of value here. This warning follows the theft of shopping left on a pushchair in the porch. Prams and pushchairs should always be left secure with the padlocks we provide – ask at reception. We cannot be held responsible for any items left unattended in the porch.

DR MURGATROYD

Dr Murgatroyd has been working on Ward 23 (rehabilitation ward) at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for about an hour every day since August 2003. This is one of the wards for patients from all over the hospital who are recovering from, for example, stroke illness, falls, broken bones or anything that requires more recovery time. So if you see her dashing out or in to the surgery wearing a white coat – now you know why! This is as well as being a full time GP!

WORD ABOUT SPOTS AND SKIN RASHES

If you have an appointment and you or your child have an unidentified rash, please tell the receptionist. You will be asked to sit away from the main waiting area, because it could be that someone in the waiting room would suffer greatly if they caught the illness, should your rash be infectious. Examples of illnesses going around at present:

· Roseola (infant spots with slight fever)

· Chicken Pox

· Scarlet Fever