Latest News

Winter 2012

Do you have a few hours to spare each month?

Ryder-Cheshire Volunteers (RCV) aims to give people with a physical disability the opportunity to pursue a leisure, learning or sporting activity of their own choice. They have many different activites but in particular are looking for the following.

A lady in Cropredy who hardly ever sees anyone, would love someone to play cards or board games with. Her body may be tired and worn but her brain is sharp. Prepare to be beaten!

For more information call Susan Linnett on 07518/300387 or email susan.linnett@rcv.org.uk

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PAWS - Parents autism workshops & support

Paws workshops are designed to provide parents with the information and long-term support for sourcing, choosing, handling and training a pet dog specifically to benefit a child with an autism spectrum condition, and the family as a whole.

For more information contact PAWS@dogsforthedisabled.org ring 01295/759836 or go to the website http://paws.dogsforthedisabled.org

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RESTORe

Restore is a mental health charity that is part of the Oxfordshire Recovery Service, commissioned by the Oxfordshire PCT and Oxfordshire County Council under Keeping People Well. They offer a range of structured interventions including gardening, woodwork and crafts.

The official launch of The Orchard, north Oxfordshire's Recovery Service will be at 11.00 am on 17 February at 28 Calthorpe Street, Banbury. Telephone 01295/709414.

The centre will be open  Monday to Friday 9 am - 5 pm. Wednesday is women only day.

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Surgery HOLIDAY closures

The surgery will be closed on 6 and 9 April for Easter, 7 May for the bank holiday, 4 & 5 June for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Holiday, 27 August for the bank holiday, 25 & 26 December for Christmas and 1 January 2013 for the New Year holiday.

We do have other closures for staff training and meetings and these will be posted on the surgery door.

Please be prepared for the closures and make sure that you order your repeat prescriptions well in advance. We will do our best to make sure that you have your medicines but please help us to help you.

Our usual urgent service will operate when we are closed so please call the surgery number. (See our Out of Hours page for more information.)

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CHOOSE WELL

Additional information about local services and opening times can be found here

www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk/choose-well

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Chip and PIN Machine

We have installed a Chip and PIN machine in reception for patients who would like to pay for their prescriptions or other services by credit or debit card.

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 Overseas Visitors Access to Hospital Treatment

There is much confusing information about NHS services for patients who are classed as overseas visitors. The link below will take you to a Department of Health page where there is more information about the eligibility of e.g. a UK state pensioner living overseas, former UK residents working overseas, visitors to the UK and others coming to the UK to study.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074373

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oXFORDSHIRE cLINICAL cOMMISSIONING gROUP (OCCG)

The OCCG will be taking over buying services on behalf of its patients from April 2013. Dr Wright is the deputy lead for the local GPs in this area and will be representing us in meetings. The GPs are already involved in improving services for patients by working with the existing members of the Primary Care Trust.

A communications and engagement strategy has been published for consultation and all patients and professionals are being asked to comment on the strategy. If you would like to take part in this consultation please follow the link below.

http://www.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/news/article.aspx?id=10 

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In case of emergency (ice)!

The ICE App lets you store all your medical information in one place so that people trying to help you have all your details in one place in case you need assistance. You can list your allergies, state your donor preferences and store your insurance policy information all in one place.

You can now download the ICE App from the iTunes App Store.

If you do not have an iPhone, you can still list the ICE numbers in your phone for the people who you would want to be contacted. Try listing three different people as ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 so that if one doesn't answer there are two more to call.

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Charges for Private Prescriptions

We will be making a charge of £10 for private prescriptions that we issue from 1 September 2011, to cover our administration costs. Patients who have their private prescriptions dispensed at the surgery, however,  will only pay for their medicines and will not be charged for the private prescription too.

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Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals' Home for Lunch discharge arrangements

The ORH is attempting to improve the way in which patients are discharged from hospital. They have produced new information for patients to help with speedy discharge, aiming to get them home for lunch on the day of discharge.

• Patients will be given an estimated date of discharge within 24 hours of being admitted
• All patients will receive a leaflet and have the arrangements for their discharge clearly explained to them
• Patients will be moved to a day room early in the day where they can wait in comfort for their medicines and transport

To see the leaflet click here

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Go oxfordshire active!

Go Active offers high quality, fun and affordable activities, for people getting back into exercise or those wanting to try something new.

Activities include

• Nordic walking - social walking (poles provided)
• Seated exercise for those with limited mobility
• Social cycling - two hours including a refeshment break
• Post-natal exercise at Britannia Road Children's centre
• Just jog - jog leaders to help you get started

For more information go to www.getoxfordshireactive.org or email hazel.field@cherwell-dc.cgov.uk call 01295/221715 (Tuesday - Thursday)

Go Active! Seated Yoga in Banbury

This is a chance to stretch and strengthen your muscles and joints, while you focus and train your breathing; all done seated on chairs. Classes are held at the Education Centre in South Bar House, Banbury on Mondays from 1.15 - 2.15 pm from 5 November. Charges are £3 a session with carers attending free of charge. For more information contact Sam on 07876/792404

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Extending our Opening hours

We have extended our opening hours to improve our accessibility for patients who have difficulty booking an appointment during normal opening hours.

We have extra doctors' appointments on Monday afternoons from 6.30pm - 7.15pm and on Wednesday mornings from 7.30 am - 8.00am. In addition, we have extra nurses' appointments from 7.30 am - 8.00 am on Wednesday mornings.

Clearly, if you are someone who is able to come to the surgery during the normal surgery times, please do, so that those who, for example, have to be in work during the day can access the surgery.

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Patients' Group

Are you interested in how the Surgery is developing? Would you like to take part in shaping the progress of our services? We already have a small Patients' Group that meets in the surgery twice a year and would now like to expand the input from interested patients.

We are keen to hear from anyone who has ideas and suggestions for improvements so if you would like to be part of a 'virtual' patients' group contributing through other means than in person, please email us at cropredy.patientgroup@nhs.net.

We are particularly interested in hearing from young people who may not use the surgery very often and who may feel that the usual methods of contacting us are not for them. We also have a good proportion of patients who are aged 60+ using our online services through EMIS Access who may be able to give us lots of ideas so please contact us using the email address above.

We will be adding a survey to our website so that you can give us views on various aspects of our services, and from which, we will be able to test how well we are doing.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Virtual Patients' Group!

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BIRTHDAY REVIEWS HAVE ARRIVED!

If you have regular reviews for your long-term health problems, we are now calling patients for a review in the month of their birthday and doing everything in one appointment; a kind of birthday MOT.

The appointment will be a little longer but you won't need to keep repeating the same tests for each problem. This should cut down on the number of times that you have to come to the surgery and make it easier to remember when it's time to come again.

We will write to you with an invitation to see either Janet or Steph so that you don't forget.

This is a new way of working for us and so please let us know what you think of it by emailing cropredy.surgery@nhs.net

Thank you

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 Prescription charges rise

 Prescription charges rose to £7.40 an item from 1 April 2011. Annual prepayment certificates stayed the same at £104 but three-monthly prepayment certificates have risen to £29.10.

Charges for elastic stockings, tights, wigs and fabric supports supplied by the hospital will also increase.

The following list give details of others who are exempt.

•  Children under 16 years of age
• Full time students aged 16, 17 or 18
• Anyone aged 60 or over
• War pensioners with a valid certificate
• Anyone in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Anyone with a partner in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• Anyone with one of a range of exemption certificates
• From 1 April 2009 patients with cancer are entitled to exemption from charges. If this applies to you, please ask for the forms at the surgery.
• Certain other medical conditions also entitle a patient to exemption.
  Discounts are available for patients requiring longer courses of medicines, via "Prepayment Certificates".
  
  For more information visit the Department of Health website.

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 APPOINTMENT MAtters

Have you ever thought about how long an appointment is? 

 Routine appointments with the doctor are for ten minutes and for one ailment. That means that s/he has time to listen to what you have to say, take some details of how long it's been going on and what else is happening that might be causing the problem.

Then you may need to be examined, a test could be needed and finally you may need a prescription. All of this needs the ten minutes allocated to you. If you have more than one problem, ask the receptionist to book a double appointment so that you can have a proper discussion and be treated for everything.

If, on the other hand, you have something that is urgent and needs to be seen on the same day when there are no routine appointments free, you may be given an emergency appointment. This is a five minute appointment and can only be for something that really is urgent. If it can wait until the next day then please book a routine appointment.

 Patients who come in and stay longer than their allotted time keep others waiting past their slot and that’s no fun if you aren’t feeling well.

 Finally, please don’t bring along the rest of your family for the same appointment time as the doctor will not be able to deal with four people in the time allocated for one!

 Missed Appointments

 In the last month (mid-December to mid-January) we had 52 missed appointments where patients did not arrive and told us just a few minutes before so that we were not able to book in other patients. That is the equivalent of three whole surgeries where we might have seen 60 patients.

Not all of these appointments were with the doctor; some were with the nurses and the phlebotomist. A nurse’s appointment can be up to 40 minutes if it is for a dressing or a review of a long-term condition so it is a major problem if the patient doesn’t arrive.

If you cannot make your appointment, please let us know in plenty of time so that we can offer it to someone else and ease the problems at busy times when there are no free appointments.

Please help us to help you.

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Control your condition, don't let it control you

The Expert Patient Programme offers free courses for people living with long-term health conditions where you can

• learn new skills to manage your health condition

• develop confidence in the daily management of your specific condition(s)

• meet others and share similar experiences

• learn about developing more effective relationships with healthcare professionals

Two six-week courses are running on Tuesday mornings from 31 August to 5 October and again from 12 October to 16 November at The People's Church Centre, Horsefair, Banbury OX16 0AH.

For more information and to book a place call FREEPHONE 0800 988 5520 or email enquiries@eppcic.co.uk

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patients wanted for oxfordshire link

 From doing outreach around Oxfordshire this summer, Oxfordshire LINk has found that making appointments at the GP surgery is a major talking point. We would like to invite members of the public with an interest in this topic to take part in a focus group to talk about GP surgeries and access to appointments.

We will look at questions like...

• How easy is it for you to make an appointment?
• What do you think of your surgery's opening times?

At the end we'll look at how best to present this information to surgeries. With our help what would you do next?

Oxfordshire LINk is an independent organisation. This is a voluntary role but all travel expenses will be reimbursed and lunch provided.

Please email the LINk at oxfordshirelink@makesachange.org.uk if you wish to take part. We look forward to hearing from you!

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CAncer care choices for young people

If you are aged between 19 and 24 and have been diagnosed with cancer you may have a choice about where you receive your care. The Cancer Care Choices website aims to guide you through some of the decisions you're able to make.

For more information go to http://www.nhs.uk/young-cancer-care/Pages/index.aspx

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ANNUAL PATIENTS' Survey

The Department of Health has published the results of its latest annual patients' survey based on questionnaires issued to a sample of the population. The results and more information about the survey can be found online at
http://www.gp-patient.co.uk/results

Thank you all those patients who took the time to complete and return the questionnaires which gave such positive responses to our services.

Please let us know how you think we can improve our services further by emailing Cropredy.surgery@nhs.net or writing to Lynne Jones, Practice Manager, Cropredy Surgery, Claydon Road, Cropredy, Banbury OX17 1FB

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Surgery Training Sessions

 Occaionally the surgery closes at lunchtime for staff training or meetings. We will be closed from 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm on the following dates

16 February,19 March, 19 April, 14 May, 14 June, 16 July, 16 August, 17 September, 18 October, 19 November and 13 December

We will still be answering urgent telephone calls during this time.

Thank you for your understanding

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NEW CONTACT NUMBER FOR AMBULANCE TRANSPORT FROM JUNE 2010

Patients wishing to request ambulance transport to attend hospital appointments should ring 0300 100 0015 (open from Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm). You will need your appointment letter to hand when phoning and you will be asked a series of questions to assess your eligibility .

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SICK NOTE TO FIT NOTE

The old medical certificates or 'sick notes' will be replaced on 6 April with a different form known as a 'Fit Note'. This form will still allow the doctor to record whether a patient is fit or not fit for work but will also give a new option to show that someone is fit for some work now.

The doctor will be able to recommend a return to work with some support from the patient's employer. This help could be, for example, a phased return to work, altered hours, changed duties or adaptations to the workplace.

It may not always be possible for your employer to act on the doctor's advice and you will not be able to return to work until you have recovered. You do not need another certificate from the doctor to confirm that you are fit to work unless you have been told that a further assessment is needed.

For more information go to www.direct,gov.uk

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 Please see our Swine Flu information page.

Advice for the Public - click here

The Late Shift

Mind in Cowley offers a safe place for people struggling with work-life balance. people who visit are in employment, between jobs or looking for new employment. An evening meal is included as well as wellbeing activities, computer literacy and other services selected by the participants.

Meetings are every Thursday from 7.30 pm - 9.00 pm and you can attend all or part of the programme.

For more details call 01865 604368 or go to www.oxfordshire-mind.orh.uk/lateshift.htm

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Anaesthesia

Are you waiting for surgery and concerned about the anaesthetic, its risks and side effects?

 The Royal College of Anaesthetists has arranged for patients to be able to find information from the RCoA website www.rcoa.ac.uk (click on the link at the top of the page “for patients” then “information for patients” and choose from the list below).

 Leaflets available include

• Anaesthesia explained (a detailed general booklet)

• You and your anaesthetic (a shorter version)

• Your anaesthetic for aortic surgery

• Your spinal anaesthetic

• Epidurals for pain relief after surgery

• Local anaesthesia for your eye operation

• Your tonsillectomy as day surgery

• Headache after an epidural or spinal anaesthetic

• Anaesthetic choices for hip or knee replacement

• Your child’s anaesthetic   

• Your child’s general anaesthetic for dental treatment

 A further range of leaflets gives information about specific risks from ‘Feeling Sick’ to ‘Death and Brain Damage’. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions section for some more common questions.

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Private Screening Programmes

The following information has been recently received from Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust. Patients are free to choose whether they take up private health screening but Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust does not recommend such programmes.

When making your decision to be privately screened you should consider the following.

• Is the test effective - will it tell me whether I have a disease or not?

• Is there treatment available that will make a difference?

• Is the test a one-off or will I need to have repeat tests?

• If I need repeat tests will they recall me or do I have to remember to attend?

• Is the information that they are supplying to me correct?

• Will they inform my GP of the results?

• Will I be able to have treatment on the NHS for the condition, if detected?

More and more of these services are being offered and whilst some may be useful, to most patients they are not necessary.

If you would like more information about screening programmes, their effectiveness and why certain programmes are not offered on the NHS visit
http://www.screening.nhs.uk/policies

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help during a POwer cut for priority users

If you depend on electricity for home medical care, you could register with the Priority Service Register. This service means that your electricity supplier will do everything possible to help during an emergency power cut.

You should register if you are using any medical equipment, particularly any of the following

• Nebuliser

• Heart and lung machine

• Kidney dialysis machine

• Oxygen machine

• Ventilator

• Apnoea monitor

• Any other medical dependencies

To register you can collect a leaflet from the Surgery waiting room or, if you would just like to know, more call the general enquiry line on 0800 096 3080

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YOUR NHS NUMBER IS IMPORTANT

Everyone registered with the NHS in England and Wales has their own unique NHS number which is printed on their medical card. The ten-digit NHS number helps healthcare staff to find your health records.

 All letters that come from the surgery will have your NHS number on them and so you might want to record it in a safe place.

 Where will I find my number?

If you do not have your NHS number, you can be given it by the Surgery but you may be asked for proof of identity such as a passport or driving licence to protect your privacy. If you are not currently registered with a GP practice the Primary Care Trust will be able to look it up for you. You can find your local PCT by visiting www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx select ‘NHS Trusts’ and enter your postcode or alternatively call NHS Direct on 0845/4647

 What about my Baby?

Babies born in hospital in England and Wales are given an NHS number soon after birth. If your baby was born at home, you will receive an NHS number when you register your baby’s birth.

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Chlamydia Screening
You may not know that you have it. You don't have to be examined and the test is simple, painless, totally voluntary. It is available to anyone who is a patient of the practice, sexually active and under 25 years old.

The test is available now in the practice so ask the receptionist, doctor or nurse for a testing kit and they will tell you what to do.

Year 8 girls must have their vaccine in school; it is not available from GP surgeries as the doses of HPV have been given to the school nurses. Any girls in year 8 who are not in school on the day of their vaccine session will be picked up in the 'mop up' clinics run by school nurses.

If you want to know more about chlamydia or the test go to www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk/index.htm

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Arm against cervical cancer
From September 2008, the HPV vaccine will be offered routinely to 12- to 13-year-old girls (school year 8). Over the next three years there will also be a catch-up programme for older girls aged 13-18 starting with 17- to 18-year-olds this autumn. Oxfordshire PCT has decided to deliver the vaccine via a school-based programme for the 12 to 13 year-old girls.

For more information follow this link
http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV

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BANBURY HEALTH CENTRE

The Banbury Health Centre opened at 58 Bridge Street, Banbury on 15 October 2009. An NHS dental suite is also now open on the ground floor of the Centre.

The contract to provide the new GP led Health Centre in Banbury was awarded to Principal Medical Limited (PML), a limited company set up by a group of Oxfordshire GPs in 2004 and currently managing the out-of-hours GP on-call service for Banbury. It also provides a range of primary and community services for the NHS during the day, operating from the Horton General Hospital.

Who can use the Centre?
Registered patients: people living within a five mile radius of Banbury Cross may register to use the service.
Non-registered patients: anyone can use the walk-in service including visitors and commuters to the area. Appointments will usually need to be booked.

What are the opening times?
8.00 am - 8.00 pm every day

What difference will it make to Cropredy Surgery?
Patients living within a five mile radius of Banbury Cross may register as patients with the practice. That could include some of our current patients if they live in Oxfordshire. Patients from counties on the Oxfordshire border will not be accepted as registered patients at the new centre. Patients frequently using the walk-in centre, and who live in the catchment area, may be invited to register there to ensure that they have continuity of care.

More information is available from Oxfordshire PCT on www.oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk you can email newhealthcentre@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk ring 01865/336800 or write to Sarah Adair, Freepost RRRK-BZBT-ASXU, Oxfordshire PCT, Jubilee House, 5510 John Smith Drive, Oxford Business Park South, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2LH

You may find out more from the BMA site at http://www.supportyoursurgery.org.uk/index.php

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NHS Constitution

The Government is proposing to introduce a set of principles and values that should guide everything that is done in the NHS. It includes a commitment to providing a comprehensive service, available to all without discrimination, and based on clinical need not the ability to pay. This is what has been described as the Constitution.

Some of the main points for patients contained in the Constitution are as follows:

• Your right to drugs approved for use if recommended by your doctor, and to an explanation of all decisions made about funding your treatment

• Your right to make choices about your NHS care and to be given the information that you need to do so

• Your right to have your say in the planning and development of local services

You can find out more from www.dh.gov.uk/consultations obtain copies from www.orderline.dh.gov.uk by email from dh@prolog.uk.com, by ringing 0300 123 1002, or by post from PO Box 777 London SE1 6XH

Comments are invited to nhsconstitution@dh.gsi.gov.uk or by post to NHS Constitution Room 611aRichmond House79 WhitehallLondon SW1A 2NS

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Decided to give up smoking in 2011?

If you are thinking that this is the time to give up smoking we can help. We have three smoking cessation advisers who can give you information on the free support that you can have from the NHS.

Janet, Sue and Siobhan are our trained smoking cessation advisers at the surgery and they will be able to support you. Nicotine replacement therapy is also available on prescription.

So call 01295 758372 or ask at reception for more information.

You can also call 0800 169 0 169, visit http://gosmokefree.nhs.uk/ or www.smokefreeoxfordshire.nhs.uk to get unhooked.

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Accessing our Services Online

EMIS Access is a new way of ordering prescriptions, booking routine appointments with the doctor, phlebotomist (for blood samples) or the dispensary manager for reviews of the use of medicines (DRUMs). You can also let us know if you change your address or other contact details. We have also started opening up access for patients to view their electronic medical records online.

Click here to read more on this service.

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Beating the DRUM for patients' medicines

As part of our dispensing service we are offering a Dispensing Review of Use of
Medicines (DRUM) to some of our patients.

This review is a face-to-face meeting with Kate our dispensary manager or one of our dipensers, and is an opportunity better to understand your medicines and their uses. You may be invited for a review when you collect your medicines.

This is an extra service that we offer and not a replacement for seeing the
doctor or the nurse so you should still come along for your regular
appointments.

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Do you have a Hospital Appointment?

Patients who do not keep their hospital appointments and who do not call to
cancel, cost the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals up to £1/2million or around 37,000
appointments a year.

In an effort to contain the problem, from 1 January 2007 a new policy is to be
introduced. If a patient does not attend their appointment and does not contact
the Hospital to let them know, they will be given seven days to call to arrange
another appointment. If they do not make contact within the seven days, they and their GP will be told that the patient has been removed from the waiting list.

This will not apply to cancer patients and other urgent referrals.

Maternity cases will be offered one further appointment.

There are many appointments within the surgery that are also lost because people do not let us know that they are not coming. If we do know, it allows us to offer the appointment to someone else and cuts down the time people have to wait to see the doctor or nurse.

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Childhood Immunisations

There were important changes to the childhood immunisations schedule in 2007 intended to give young children the best protection against serious, vaccine-preventable diseases.

One significant change is the introduction of a new vaccine to protect against
pneumococcal infection. All children born after 4 September 2006 will be invited
to the surgery to receive the immunisation.

Those children who are born before 4 September are being offered the
vaccinations through our 'catch-up' system.

If you would like more details on the changes or the catch-up campaign, leaflets
are available at the surgery.

• For more information visit the NHS Immunisation Information website.

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