The Surgery
Amersham Health Centre
Telephone
0844 477 8733
Dr
Alan C Dellow, Dr
Simon G Thompson, Dr Andrea Wood,
Dr Clare Gabe, Dr Vimmi Passi, Dr Paul Layng & Dr Jo Willot
| 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.
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To help
us - by making clear how our services can best be used.
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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 a particular newsletter click on the appropriate link above.
Access
To Medical Records
Patients can request access to their medical
records but they 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.
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-
THURSDAY 18TH APRIL 2013,
THURSDAY 16TH MAY,
WEDNESDAY 19TH JUNE
WE WILL BE CLOSING THE DOORS AT 5PM ON THESE DAYS.
WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE.
If you need medical advice or a DOCTOR in a MEDICAL EMERGENCY when the surgery is closed please phone - 111
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May Bank Holidays 6th and 27th May 2013
Prescription Requests
Please order your repeat medication in plenty of time.
We always ask you to allow at least 48 hours when requesting any repeat medication.
Please note that the Surgery and the Collins & Jervie pharmacy at Amersham Health Centre will be closed for the three days over both May Bank holiday weekends.
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The New NHS 111 Service is Here!
In our last newsletter we reported that this new service would be coming soon. The service was officially launched on 12th March and replaces NHS Direct for health information and advice.
NHS 111 will also take calls from patients needing urgent medical help or advice when the surgery is closed but in a life-threatening situation you should phone 999 instead.
The NHS 111 service is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers, supported by experienced nurses. They will ask you questions to assess your symptoms, then give you the healthcare advice you need or direct you straightaway to the local service that can help you best. That could be A&E, an out-of-hours doctor, an urgent care centre or a walk-in centre, a community nurse, an emergency dentist or a late-opening chemist.
Where possible, the NHS 111 team transfer you directly to the people you need to speak to.
If the NHS advisers think you need an ambulance, they will immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.
Calls to 111 are recorded. All calls and records created are maintained securely and will only be shared with others directly involved with your care.
Simply Call 111 to be connected to the service. Calls to NHS111 are free from both landline and mobile phones.
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Accident and Emergency (A&E) Units
As you may already know, there is no longer an A&E Unit at Wycombe General Hospital. The nearest A&E departments are at Stoke Mandeville Hospital which is in Aylesbury, Wexham Park Hospital in Slough and John Radcliffe Hospital at Oxford.
There is a 24 hour Minor Injuries and Illness Unit (MIIU) at Wycombe Hospital which deals with minor injuries and illness unsuitable for a GP appointment. If you are unsure about this service, NHS 111 will be able to advise you.
For diarrhoea, runny nose, coughs and headaches it may not be necessary to see a doctor as your pharmacist may be able to advise you.
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CONTACTING THE SURGERY
We have six main telephone lines into the surgery on 08444 778733. Our system will allow a further twenty patients to wait in a queue. If you prefer to call us on an 01494 number, we now also have a single line to the surgery on 01494 415922. Please note that as this is a single line, it may well be busy when you call.
Telephone calls to 0844 numbers are charged at the BT local call rate, i.e. the amount charged by BT for calls to 01494 numbers from a landline. Mobile call charges vary.
Telephone Contact Numbers
Patients are often out when we telephone them – the call might only be to reschedule an appointment. Please help us to contact you more easily by letting us know your mobile telephone number as well as your home number. Please ask the Receptionist for a Contact numbers form.
We may use your mobile number to send you text messages. If you do not wish to receive any text messages from the surgery, please let us know or tick the box on the Contact numbers form.
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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
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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:
Answer – just say your first name and last name
Answer – just say the date and time e.g. 1st March at 11.00am
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.
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
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CARERS BUCKS
Carers Bucks is a local charity that supports carers of all ages, from all communities who are looking after a friend or family member who could not manage without them. We support carers in Buckinghamshire from the ages of 6, with our Young Carers service, through to people who are in their 90s. They might be caring for someone with dementia, a physical or learning disability, serious illness or mental health problem. Whatever their caring role we can help.
Many people do not recognise themselves as carers – they are just a mum, dad, husband or daughter doing what any family member or friend would do. However carers have rights and are entitled to information and support for themselves.
Carers Bucks provides:
· up to date information and advice on carers’ issues including benefits
· help to get a break
· training to help carers with their caring role
· an In Case of Emergency service (ICE) if carers are suddenly taken ill or have an accident.
· opportunities to meet other carers at support groups and events
· someone to talk to in confidence
· advice and support for working carers
· a Young Carer service for children and young people caring for a family member.
For more information contact Carers Bucks on 0300 777 2722; email mail@carersbucks.org or visit our website at www.carersbucks.org
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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.
