The Surgery
Amersham Health Centre
Telephone
0844 477 8733
Dr
Alan C Dellow, Dr
Simon G Thompson, Dr Andrea Wood,
Dr Nicola J Bennett, Dr Clare Gabe, Dr Vimmi Passi & Dr Paul Layng
| To View Our Patient Participation and Patient Survey Report, click
here |
The
Surgery
Amersham
Health Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5AY
Tel: 0844
477 8733 - Fax: 08444 99 69 76
Opening Hours
The surgery is open from 8.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday and
for a limited number of pre-booked appointments on a Saturday morning from 8.30am
to 12 noon. Phone calls are not taken on a Saturday morning.
Click here for details of our automated telephone system.
Would you like to comment
on the service that we provide?
Please download this survey form, complete and
return to the surgery.
|
Introduction
Welcome to The Surgery, Amersham Health Centre. We hope that
you will find this website useful. We aim to provide a high standard of medical
and nursing care for all our patients, with a strong emphasis on disease prevention,
health education and self-help. There is much that you, the patient, can do to
maintain your own good health and the aim of this website is:
-
To help
you - by giving useful information about the services we offer and advice on how
to manage minor illness in the home.
-
To help
us - by making clear how our services can best be used.
-
To help
us to help you - by encouraging a team approach between the practice and the patients
Practice
Newsletter
This is produced quarterly and informs patients on medical issues, general information and seasonal medical help. If you wish to write a short article for inclusion in our newsletter, please hand your suggestion to the receptionist. If you would like to view the current newsletter click on the link above.
Access
To Medical Records
Patients can request access to their medical
records but the records may not be removed from the practice premises. A charge
will be made for access to records, for copies and for computer printouts. There
are times when notes need to be audited in order to ensure that the quality of
care patients receive is monitored and improved. If you have any objection to
this please write to the practice manager. District nurses and health visitors
have access to medical records of the patients in their care.
Violent
Or Abusive Patients
Violent or abusive behaviour directed towards our
doctors or staff will not be tolerated. Any patient who verbally or physically
assaults a doctor or member of staff will be removed from our list of patients.
Freedom
Of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges
the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide
to the classes of information the practice intends to routinely make available.
This scheme is available on request.
Additional
Services
A wide range of additional services is available.
Please ask at reception for details.
Dr Nicola Bennett has decided to retire from General Practice on 30 June 2012.
Please ask at Reception if you would like to sign her leaving book or if you would like to contribute to the collection for her retirement gift.
Dr Paul Layng will take over Dr Bennett’s list of patients. However, patients can still ask for appointments with any of our doctors as we operate a system of shared care.
Dr Layng will increase his working hours from July and will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He will also take over from Dr Bennett as our lead doctor for diabetes.
We would all like to thank Dr Bennett for her commitment and hard work over the many years she has worked in the surgery and wish her a long and happy retirement.
GENERAL PRACTITIONER TRAINING
DUE TO GENERAL PRACTITIONER TRAINING there will be NO AFTERNOON SURGERIES AND THEREFORE NO ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE DOCTORS ON THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOONS:-
WEDNESDAY 16th MAY 2012
THURSDAY 14th JUNE 2012
WEDNESDAY 18th JULY 2012
THURSDAY 20th SEPTEMBER 2012
WEDNESDAY 17th OCTOBER 2012
THURSDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2012
WE WILL BE CLOSING THE DOORS AT 5PM ON THESE DAYS.
WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE.
If you need medical advice please phone nhs direct:-0845 4647
OR
If you need a DOCTOR in a MEDICAL EMERGENCY please phone:- 08444 778733
Warts and Verrucas
Warts are usually harmless, but may be unsightly. Warts on the feet are called verrucas and are sometimes painful. Warts and verrucas usually clear in time without treatment.
What are warts and verrucas?
- Warts are small rough lumps on the skin. They are caused by a virus (human papillomavirus) which causes a reaction in the skin. Warts can occur anywhere on the body but occur most commonly on hands and feet. They range in size from 1 mm to over 1 cm. Sometimes only one or two warts develop. Sometimes several occur in the same area of skin. The shape and size of warts vary, and they are sometimes classed by how they look. For example: common warts, plane (flat) warts, filiform (finger-like) warts, mosaic warts, etc.
- Verrucas are warts that occur on the soles of the feet. They are the same as warts on any other part of the body. However, they may look flatter, as they tend to get trodden in.
Who gets warts and verrucas and are they harmful?
Most people develop one or more warts at some time in their life, usually before the age of 20. About 1 in 10 people in the UK has warts at any one time. They are not usually harmful. Sometimes verrucas are painful if they press on a sensitive part of the foot. Some people find their warts unsightly. Warts at the end of fingers may interfere with fine tasks.
To treat or not to treat?
There is no need to treat warts if they are not causing you any problems. Without treatment, about 3 in 10 warts have gone within 10 weeks, and most warts will have gone within 1-2 years, and leave no scar. The chance that a wart will go is greatest in children and young people. Sometimes warts last longer. In particular, warts in older people are sometimes more persistent and may last for several years.
YOUR HEALTH CENTRE NEEDS YOU!
If you would be interested in joining our Patient Participation Group and coming to a meeting, please ask at Reception for a contact form to complete or telephone the surgery with your details.
If you aren’t able to attend meetings but would still like to be involved, please let us know and we will contact you by email.
Dr Dellow & Partners
'Think Home not Hospital'
The Rapid Access and Prevention Service, being piloted by Buckinghamshire County Council, has recently joined with Amersham Health Centre. The aim of the service is to deliver a quick response to requests for social care support and in turn, try to prevent emergency admissions to hospital and possible crisis situations.
A care worker is attached to the surgery and is taking referrals directly from the GP's and other health professionals, patients must be over the age of 18 and be registered at Amersham Health Centre. Assessments can take place at your home or at social care clinics that are being held at the surgery on a regular basis.
To book an appointment or for more information please speak with a health professional or receptionist at the surgery.
Gemma Butler – Care Worker – Rapid Access & Prevention Service
Cancelling Appointments – using our automated telephone system when the Surgery is closed
If you have an appointment that you need to cancel, you don’t need to wait until the surgery next opens to let us know. Please call on 08444 77 87 33 and select ‘Option 2’ and cancel your appointment using the automated system. You will be asked the following questions:
· Please say your full name after the tone.
Answer – just say your first name and last name
· Please say the date and time of your appointment after the tone.
Answer – just say the date and time e.g. 1st March at 11.00am
· Please say the name of the doctor you have your appointment with after the tone.
Answer – Just say the name of the doctor or nurse who you are due to see.
This is particularly helpful if you have an early morning appointment and will save you from queuing on the phone when the surgery re-opens. We will then have time to offer the appointment to another patient.
Cancelling an appointment for Specialist Clinics
In order to monitor and maintain the good health of patients who have heart problems, are diabetic, asthmatic, hypertensive etc, our nurses arrange specialist clinics where the appointments are for at least 20 minutes in duration.
Letters are sent to patients at regular intervals asking them to book an appointment at the relevant specialist clinic. Some patients are also asked to have a blood test a week before attending their clinic appointment.
Increasingly, patients contact the surgery to cancel their appointments at very short notice. This is a cause of concern for the practice. As these are specialist clinics that are booked many days or weeks in advance, it is not possible to arrange for another patient to attend without giving advance notice – especially if a blood test is required. Should it be necessary to cancel or alter specialist clinic appointments please advise the surgery at the earliest possible opportunity so that cancelled appointments can be re allocated, and the clinic slots are not left vacant.
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Are you caring for someone who can't manage without you, does Someone Care for You?
If you are looking after a family member, friend or neighbour whose health is impaired by old age, or who is mentally or physically disabled, then you are a Carer.
If you are a Carer, a Young Carer or have a Carer/Young Carer could you please let us have details to record in your medical records.
Carers Bucks
Many family Carers also face isolation, poverty, ill health and depression. Carers Bucks is a charity that works in partnership with family Carers to support them in their caring role by providing information, advice, advocacy and emotional support.
Carers can collect a leaflet about Carers Bucks for the Health Centre, visit their website at www.carersbucks.org or telephone them on 01494 463536
Carers Bucks has a specific team that works with and supports young people aged from 6 to 18 years who care for a family member because of a:
· physical or mental illness
· disability
· drug or alcohol addiction
The cared for person may be a parent or brother or sister, or other relative living in the same household. The child or young person does not necessarily have to be providing ‘hands on’ care to be recognised as a young Carer. Even if there are services in place and other members of the family helping with the care, the emotional impact and restrictions due to the illness or disability can still have an enormous effect on the young Carer.
Young Carers are supported in a variety of ways:
· regular meetings and outings
· family events
· one to one support where needed
· someone to talk to who understands
· access to Carers Grant money for breaks
· newsletter written and edited by Young Carers
The practice would like to thank the various advertisers who have helped to produce this Website. However, it must be pointed out that the accuracy of any statements cannot be warranted, nor any products or services advertised, be guaranteed or endorsed.
