Newsletter Meadowside SUMMER 2004

We welcome the beautiful sunny clear days we have had in May, some of the best spring blossom and May bushes seen for years,

Out of hours changes

Like all practices throughout the country ,Meadowside Practice will be changing the way that we care for our patients in the evenings and at weekends. The important fact is that there will always be a doctor available - evenings and weekends.

The first difference that you will notice is happening very soon - is that we will not be holding Saturday morning surgeries .Up till now the four partners have taken it is turns to be available every Saturday for telephone advice and prescriptions and emergency surgery and emergency visits.The new arrangement is that Saturdays will be staffed by an emergency service , to cover all the surgeries in the area.

You will only be able to obtain routine prescriptions , and make appointments during Monday to Friday in the future, and we are starting to do this now, so that you can adjust to the change.

Nights and weekends will be covered by an experienced team to include nurses,community midwives, community psychaitric nurses,doctors, physiotherapists etc and the trained reception staff will aim to put you in touch with the most appropriate health professional depending on the problem that you have.

Information about medical problems that arise for our patients over night or weekend will be passed on to us before we resume our surgeries on Monday morning.

NEW STAFF

Dr Chris Lam Cham Kee has started with us in April , as our PreRegistration House Ofiicer, he trained in Manchester having spent his youth in Mauritius ,speaking Creole. He is doing surgeries and home and hospital visiting whilst gaining experience in general practice ,and will be videoing some of his work in order to watch how he is consulting. Please do tell him about yourself and oyur illnesses - he has longer appointments than the other doctors.

Nurse Visitor the Elderly

wirites :

Hayfever !

THIS MONTH is the worst hayfever time for people who are allergic to grass pollen, so make sure you have your antihistamines ,eyedrops or nasal spray available now-you can buy them (or get them on precription.)

It can be a rather miserable month if you have runny itchy eyes and nose, and incessant sneezing. People can develop this allergy at any time of life.You can ring for prescriptions and advice . you do not need to be seen unless you wish.

It is intersting that about the time this surgery was built it was not known why people got hayfever and one treatment found in a homely medical book of the day , was staying indoors and smoking a cigar!

Summer Raffle

Following the success of the Easter Raffle for our Equipment fund, we have been asked when the next one is (seeing it is over six months to our Christmas one) we are going to have a Summer Raffle to be drawn just as schools go back, the theme is BLUE, PINK AND LAVENDER colours .Please - raffle items gratefully received, anything in these colours would be lovely,soft toys , candles , silk flowers , craft items -the choice is yours !