Brunelbriefing

NEW FACES APLENTY JOIN BRUNEL TEAM

OPTIONSAPLENTY

H MEET THE NEW STAFF MEMBERS WAITING TO ASSIST YOU – PAGE 2 H SERVICE IS LIVE – PAGE 3

Issue No.4 May 2015

CQC report looks on us favourably

VISIT BRUNELMEDICALPRACTICE.CO.UK FOR MORE NEWS & INFORMATION

LAST year saw our first inspec-tion under the new pilot scheme launched by the Care

Quality Commission [CQC].The report we received from a

supportive and constructive CQC team was overwhelmingly positive, although it did identify one or two areas in which there was room for improvement.

One of these concerned appropri-ate checks on staff which has since been dealt with and a new proce-dure put in place.

Two of the treatment rooms at Babbacombe were recommended for refurbishment and we are cur-rently going through the tender process in readiness for our new fi-nancial year starting on May 1, 2015.

There were comments on the handling of complaints and whilst the CQC was happy with our process overall there were some pointers as to how we could improve it further.

Our perennial problem with regards to telephone access was highlighted and we have been work-ing with our Patient Participations Group [PPG] to look at ways in which we can improve that area of our service.

Part of this is about patient educa-tion and what you should be seeing your GP for, eg acute and ongoing medical conditions. The service is not for coughs and colds, sore throats, virus or other mildly uncom-fortable but temporary conditions that will clear up in a couple of days

with the help of a pharmacist and rest.

With this in mind, please see our guide on Page 3 to the alternatives to booking a GP appointment.

Copies of the report can be found on our website, and on the CQC website, as well as in the blue folder in each of the waiting rooms. Regret-tably, we are unable to print reports for individual patients because of the cost involved.l Friends and families surveys are now available in all three surgeries, as well as via our website. These involve a very brief questionnaire to ascertain whether or not you would recommend the practice to a family member or friend. The responses are anonymous.

Feedback is encouragedBRUNEL briefing editor Karen Lewis would welcome your feedback about what you would like to see in future editions.

Karen would also welcome contributions, for example personal interest stories that might inspire others, news of unusual hob-bies, or tales of travel to far-flung places.

Looking ahead, we aim to publish the Brunel briefing at least once a quarter and the deadline for the next edition is Tuesday, June 30. Contributions should be no longer than one side of A4, typed, with double spacing and emailed to brunel.torquay@nhs.net

Our first report from the CQC was overwhelmingly positiveOur first report from the CQC was overwhelmingly positive

Website is a useful toolIF you have access to a computer please spare a few minutes to take a look around our web-site, www.brunelmedi-calpractice.co.uk, which is full of very useful information regarding the practice.

You can join us by registering for the Wait-ing Room, which then allows you to update your details, book early morning appointments and order repeat pre-scriptions.

The website also offers you the op-portunity to cancel appointments, partake in our practice survey, and complete the new friends & family test.

VISIT BRUNELMEDICALPRACTICE.CO.UK FOR MORE NEWS & INFORMATION

Brunelbriefing2

New recruits aplenty bolster the Brunel team

I started as a Medical Receptionist in December, having worked as an Event Organiser for 14 years, and am really enjoying learning something new and getting to meet lots of members of the general public. Outside of work, my time is mostly taken up by family life and, in particular, my two children, four-year-old Harry and Jes-sica, aged one.

I was born in Torquay and have lived here all my life. I have been at Brunel for near-ly a year after taking a break to bring up my children. Returning to work was daunt-ing at first, but the team here made me feel very welcome. Moreover, I enjoy helping the patients on the telephone and face to face and find it very satisfying that no two days are ever the same.

I grew up in Swindon before moving to Plymouth a few years ago to study BA Pho-tography. After graduating, I moved to Torquay where I have been living for just over one and a half years. I joined Brunel in March 2014 and am enjoying my time here – especially doing the prescrip-tions for the surgery.

I started at Brunel in Oc-tober and am really enjoying it. I was born in Torquay and at-tended Westlands Sixth Form, where I completed childcare diplomas and also a B-TEC health and social care course. I have a Saturday job looking after children with special needs. In my spare time I like to exercise, socialise, plan holidays and adventures, eat out and live life to the full.

I’ve spent most of my life in Torquay, bar-ring 10 months in Tenerife and six in Bristol. I worked for Dorothy Perkins, starting as a part-time sales assistant and ending up as store manager, before mov-ing into hospitality at The Grand Hotel. I got married in 2013 and went on honey-moon to Italy. I enjoy walking my two dogs Peaches and Freddie and going skiing.

I grew up in South Yorkshire and moved to Torquay aged 15, since then I have also lived in London for four years. I was a Nursery Nurse and a Nanny for a while before moving into administration. In my spare time I like to make jewellery and I love going to the cinema!

I was born in Torquay and have lived here for most of my life. I have had a variety of jobs, including Bluecoat, Restau-rant Supervisor, Nanny and mum to four amazing chil-dren. Before joining the team, I was a patient for 30 years, giving me a good knowledge of who is who within the sur-gery. I work with a fab bunch of people who have all made me feel very welcome.

I have lived in Torquay for the past seven years. My background is in administra-tion and I previously worked for the Civil Service and a local security company. My hobbies include cooking, dog walking, enjoying the local countryside and I am learning Spanish. I recently became an allotment holder and am attempting to grow my own produce.

I joined the team at Brunel from the War-berry Church of England Foundation Primary School, after retiring from the role of School Busi-ness Manager / Clerk to the Governors in August last year. My position is a maternity secondment, covering for Dr Haugh and Dr Veale’s secre-tary, Tracey Young.

WE would like to take this opportunity to introduce a number of

new staff.As you can see, a number of

new faces have joined us since the last edition of the Brunel briefing.

Lucy Tipton, Frances Hill, Zoe Barton and Emma Long have come aboard as medical Receptionists, Gill Etherington and Christine Roope as medical secretaries, and Jacqui Peake and Sarah Woffinden as medical administrators. In addition, while Karen Lewis’ main role will be as a medical receptionist, Karen will also be part-time PA to both the practice manager and carer support worker.

And a number of staff have taken on new roles: Cheryl Map-stone, who was previously a St Marychurch medical reception-ist, has now joined our nursing team as a phlebotomist; Hannah Keeley is now in a dual role as a medical receptionist and medi-cal secretary [job sharing with Kate Palmer, who returned from maternity leave last year]; Vic-toria Cox, previously one of our receptionists at Babbacombe, has become a prescription clerk; and Victoria Corbishley, who was a phlebotomist at Babbacombe, is now back working full-time within reception.

At the same time, a couple of staff are moving on. Having joined us in 2008, since when she has taken on a large range of responsibilities and involved herself in the partnership, Dr Katherine Quinton is moving to a practice in Exeter, where she lives.

Dr Kieran Leddy, who joined us earlier this year and has shown himself to be an en-thusiastic and committed GP, is moving to a new practice in Salcombe.

We are very sorry to see doc-tors Quinton and Leddy go and would like to take this opportu-nity to wish them every success in their new roles.

Lucy Tipton Medical Receptionist

Gill Etherington Medical Secretary

Emma Long Medical Receptionist

Francess Hill Medical Receptionist

Zoe Barton Medical Receptionist

Sarah Woffinden Medical Administrator

Karen Lewis Medical Receptionist / PA

Jacqui Peake Medical Administrator

Christine Roope Medical Secretary

VISIT BRUNELMEDICALPRACTICE.CO.UK FOR MORE NEWS & INFORMATION

Sales of cakes boost funds

Prepare now for your hols

Health pods a helpful tool

General info

OUR support group will be holding cake sales on the last Friday of each month at St Marychurch Surgery. The next one will take place on Friday, May 29, at 9.30am.

As you may be aware, the support group provides patients with trans-port to and from the surgery and also offers a befriending service.

Previous fundraisers saw mem-bers of the support group present-ing our Babbacombe surgery with a cheque for a new electronic couch.

OUR thoughts are now turning to the summer holidays.

So, just remember to book your travel clinics at the surgery at least six to eight weeks prior to departure.

This allows the surgery time to check your vaccines are up to date and if more are required that they are given plenty of time to provide optimum protection.

The only thing we want you com-ing back with is a healthy glow!

WE have a health pod at each sur-gery. When attending an appoint-ment with either a GP or nurse, please use our health monitor to keep your records up to date.

The health monitor is very simple to use and is located in a private booth within the reception area at each surgery. It records your height, weight and blood pressure.

YOU may well be aware that we routinely send out annual review appointments on or around the date of your birthday. If your birthday passes and you don’t hear from us then please get in touch.

GP surgery is one of a number of options

Brunelbriefing 3 News in brief

Pharmacies can offer advice on a number of conditionsPharmacies can offer advice on a number of conditions

There will be a cake sale on May 29

Y OUR GP surgery can provide a huge range of advice, examina-

tions, treatment, vaccinations, prescriptions and other routine healthcare. At the same time, there are a number of other local services that you can go to directly for help without the need to see your GP first.

So, with primary care coming under ever-increasing pres-sure to see more patients with complex medical needs, we’d like to take this opportunity to signpost you in the direction of some of the alternatives.l Minor ailments and condi-tions: You can get rapid advice and treatment from your local pharmacy. Under the Phar-macy First scheme, participating pharmacies can also prescribe medicines for these conditions [normal charges and exemp-tions apply]: ear-ache; athlete’s foot; teething and nappy rash; diarrhoea; threadworms, skin rashes / impetigo; hay fever; eye infections; coughs, colds, sore throats and blocked noses; and thrush and uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Just drop in to your local pharmacy and ask to see the pharmacist. If you have difficulty finding a pharmacy, you can use the NHS Choices website, www.nhs.uk, or dial NHS 111. Those taking part in the Pharmacy First scheme will display the logo – Boots at Wren Park, Shiphay Pharmacy and Babbacombe Pharmacy are among those who have signed up.l Podiatry / foot care: Patients aged 60-plus can refer themselves for podiatry and foot conditions by phoning 01803 217712 between 08:45 and 15:45 Monday to Friday.l Minor Injuries Units: MIUs are able to help adults and children aged three-plus. Your GP surgery is not contracted to handle minor injuries so please phone your nearest unit: Paign-ton Hospital, 01803 547171, Monday to Friday, 08:00-17:00; Brixham Hospital, 01803 881399, Monday to Friday, 08:00-16:00.

l Muscular / skeletal prob-lems: You can refer yourself to the NHS physiotherapy service for conditions, including back and neck pain. Staff will always try to offer you a same-day ap-pointment. Call 01803 655354.l Babies, children and parenting: You can go straight to your named health visitor for advice and guidance on any concerns you may have as a parent. Please call your Health Visitor team on 01803 312505 for further information.l Sexual health advice and treatments: Call the Castle Circus Health Centre on 01803 656500 in confidence.l Mental wellbeing con-cerns: Over-18s can refer them-selves, in confidence, straight to the local specialist NHS anxiety and depression service. Call 01803 696600 during normal office hours.

l Community nursing sup-port: If you are a housebound patient who is already on the Torbay locality district caseload, you can get direct help with many things. Call your local community nursing patient direct line on 01803 219700. If you are not currently on the caseload then, in the first in-stance, you will need to ring the surgery for a referral.

Of course, please do not hesitate to dial 999 for all life-threatening conditions, such as: severe chest pain; choking; se-vere difficulty in breathing; sus-pected stroke; unconsciousness; fitting or concussion; severe loss of blood; severe burns or scalds; and severe allergic reactions.

And if you aren’t sure, for advice on all health conditions as well as information on the availability of local services day and night, you can call NHS 111.