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“CTS — Court Thorn Snippets” W

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Winter Newsletter

Christmas 2017 & New Year 2018

Opening Times

We are open as normal week commencing

18th December.

We close at 6pm on Friday 22nd December and

re-open as normal on Wednesday 27th December .

Friday 22nd Dec - Open as normal until 6pm

Monday 24th December (Christmas Day) - Closed

Tuesday 25th December (Christmas Day) - Closed

Wednesday 26th December - Open as normal until 6pm

Thursday 27th December - Open as normal until 6pm

Friday 28th December - Open as normal until 6pm

2018

Monday 1st January (New Years Day) - Closed

Tuesday 2nd January - Open as normal until 6pm

After this date open as usual.

Christmas Pharmacy opening times can be found on back page

Wishing all our patients and their families a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Recording of Telephone Calls

All calls into and out of the practice are now being recorded for staff training and quality

purposes.

Practice Updates

Carers Clinic Drop In

From February 2018 the day and time of the drop in clinic for Carers will be changing to

the first Monday in every month from 1pm – 3pm

Access to the practice, should you have difficulties

Should you have difficulty in accessing the practice when you attend for appointments,

please do mention it to a member of staff as we can add a note to your patient screen.

We also have a bell at the top of the ramp, on the way into the practice, which if patients

press this a member of staff will assist them when accessing the practice.

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Dr Cheryl Walker

I would like to thank all the staff and patients are Court Thorn Surgery for making the

last 4 months an absolute pleasure.

It has been such a wonderful experience, so much so that I have applied to start GP

training next year, something I had never previously considered.

The doctors at the Surgery have been inspirational, the dispensary staff are so

knowledgeable and the girls who work behind the scenes are always so cheerful and

sorted out all the admin issues I had!

Sadly, the nature of medical training means that we move on every few months and I’m

now on my way to Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Whitehaven for 4 months.

I will miss the practice so much. To all the staff and patients, you have all been

wonderful! I hope you all have a joyful Christmas and a peaceful (and illness free) New

Year.

Dr Walker is the one on the left in this picture.

Practice Updates

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Practice Updates

Court Thorn — A big thank you from us to you

Due to the generosity of recently bereaved families, the practice has received donations

and purchased a Syringe Driver, which will be used by the practice District Nursing

Team.

The equipment purchased will benefit all current and future patients of the practice, and

we would like to say a huge thank you to the families for thinking of us in their time of

sorrow.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has brought us presents for

Christmas, and/or contributed to our Christmas Tree Appeal for Hospice at Home which

we are taking part in this Christmas.

We really appreciate your wonderful gifts and generosity.

Staff News

After 13 years working at the surgery we are bidding farewell to Ann Robinson. We thank

her for all the tireless excellent work she has done over the years and wish her the best of

luck for her future career.

We now have 2 new members of admin staff, who have joined Sharon, Nichola and Gilli-

an. They are Fiona Twigg and Kerry Bulman, you will be hearing about them in future

issues of the newsletter. Fiona and Kerry have already started with us and some of you

may have already spoken to or seen them in the practice.

We also have a new F2 trainee GP Dr Klaudia Lwowska training with us for the next 4

months, after Dr Cheryl Walker has left us to continue her training at West Cumbria.

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Court Thorn — Compliments for us - from YOU !

Dr Grainger is a huge credit to

this surgery. Nothing is ever

too much trouble!

Everyone wonderful, helpful

and kind, Doctors +

receptionists, Nurses &

Pharmacy Girls.

Court Thorn staff are always

very kind & helpful.

Thank you again Dr O’Hare

for putting my mind at rest.

You’ve been so kind.

A wonderful surgery, thanks

for everything.

Thank you Ann for going the

extra mile to get me my

hospital appointment, what a

wonderful practice this is.

So sorry Ann is leaving she has

been a great help to us over the

years. Good Luck Ann.

What a great clinic!! Easy to

get an appointment, excellent

friendly reception staff & Dr

Walker answered all my

questions. You guys rock!!

Cannot fault the care here, my

little one was so brilliantly

looked after, when he was

found to have pneumonia.

Thank you.

As always first rate!!

I would like to say that Dr

Wade is one of the best young

doctors I have met. If a

vacancy comes up you should

give her a job. Very keen to

help.

Sorry to hear Ann is leaving

for pastures new, she has been

an asset to the surgery. Good

Luck in your new job.

A great big thank you to

Dispensary for going the extra

mile for me. Excellent

Service.

Just to say what wonderful and

caring attention is given

whenever we come here.

Thanks to Dr Cheryl Walker

for putting us at ease. Lovely

friendly staff, cant praise them

enough.

Court Thorn staff always go

the extra mile. Olive offered

extra help with my husbands

prescription. Always helpful.

Just wanted to thank everyone

in the practice for getting me

through 2 knee replacements.

Everyone has been

wonderfully professional,

supportive and kind.

Would also like to mention the

success of a referral to

Slimming World, 2 stones

lighter (and continuing) helps

make the most of my new

knees!

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The Patient Participation Group, First Responders and the practice would like to say a

huge Thank You to all who contributed to the massive fundraising events of the Quiz-a-

Long and La'al Big Band. From the purchasing of tickets, raffle tickets and lucky

programmes, to the donations of money, sponsors, prizes, time and so much more that

this list could go on!

We are still waiting for the final figure of the amount raised as funds are still coming in.

When known we will of course celebrate with you.

The amount that you have raised will go some way to continuing the successful volunteer

prescription delivery service for patients who maybe infirm, elderly or housebound. It

will also ensure that the community defibrillators in your village will be maintained

through either replacement batteries or pads. Finally, Court Thorn Surgery will be in a

position to purchase a piece of equipment that will either save a life or keep the patient

pain free.

So finally your PPG would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

Court Thorn Patient Participation Group - Thank

you

Community Defibrillator Locations in and around the practice

Please see below a map which shows locations of the community defibrillators which are

located around and about the practice, which the PPG have helped install and maintain.

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A&E is for emergencies only - Make the right call

Please think TWICE before visiting A&E

With Court Thorn you can :-

Get a routine appointment within 48 hours

Book an appointment at least 4-6 weeks ahead if you want to

We have daily appointments available with the Doctor or Nurse for any

patient who is ill and needs seen urgently. In addition if you are unsure

where to go, or need help assessing how urgently treatment is needed a

member of staff will take some details and arrange for a Doctor to call

you back with telephone advice.

Please do not attend A&E if you have run out of medication or for

anything other than an emergency.

Please ring the surgery first or when we are closed ring 111 to be

directed to the right service for you.

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Seasonal Guidance from Dr Ross Anderson

This is the season where many indulge in their favourite foods and drinks…and think

about the consequences after the event.

Gyms are usually full of new members in the New Year and those of us who are not

members are thinking about how to appease the excesses of the festive season. Whilst

few are able to exercise sufficiently to ‘burn off’ the typical Christmas day’s calories, we

should all think about how much regular activity we are really getting. Ideally, we’re told

as adults we should get 150 minutes of cycling or walking every week, that’s half an

hour a day on 5 days of the week. We should also do some strengthening exercises….and

sit still for no more than 30 minutes at a time. If you’re like me, the best of intentions are

not always borne out by reality. Something that might help you on your way to more

regular activity at a level that ‘counts’ for fitness is in the form of an App for a

smartphone if you have one.

Public Health England made the ‘One You Active 10 walk tracker’, free from iTunes and

Google play. ( https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/active10/home#EGSivqFraOrFy2VF.99 )

Not only might you burn off a few more of those Christmas calories, if you exercise

regularly It can help people with lower back pain and those at risk of high blood

pressure, as well as reduce your risk of serious illnesses like heart disease and type 2

diabetes.

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Many of us will have a cold, sore throat or other minor illness at some point during the

winter and some of us will have flu.

The most common winter illnesses will usually get better without the need to see a doc-

tor. If your symptoms persist, or you are at all unsure, always seek advice from your GP,

nurse or pharmacist.

Here are some tips to help you keep well and self care through the winter months:

1. Treat yourself at home

Colds, flu and most sore throats do not need antibiotics and you can treat your symptoms

at home. Make sure you get lots of rest, drink plenty of water and take pain relievers,

such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, if you need them.

2. Order repeat prescriptions in good time

If you take regular medication make sure you order your repeat prescriptions from your

GP surgery in good time.

3. Speak to a pharmacist

Local pharmacies can recognise many common health complaints. They can give advice

or, where appropriate, medicines to help you manage the symptoms.

If your problem is more serious or you need medical advice, the pharmacist will advise

you to contact your GP.

You can also ask the pharmacist what over the counter remedies to keep in your medicine

cabinet at home to help get you and your family through the winter months.

4. Check online for information and advice

There is lots of information on the NHS websites about how to keep well, check your

symptoms or use self-care to stay healthy and treat common winter illnesses such as

colds, sore throats and flu.

Check your health condition and know what to do next on the NHS Choices website:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pages/hub.aspx

Self care Guidance for the Winter Months

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Dispensary

For repeat prescriptions please telephone (016974) 73553 between 1pm - 5pm.

Please allow 2 working days before collection, as your prescription will be

joining a queue

We are noticing an increasing number of patients who are requesting medication with less than 2 working days notice. If all patients did this it would be impossible for the team to

meet the demand.

It is your responsibility to request your medication in good time. Please ensure you request your prescription allowing at least 2 working days for your request to be processed.

Failure to do this may result in you missing doses of your required medication. Medication often needs to be ordered into the practice and cannot be obtained at short notice.

Medication orders are processed during business hours of

8.15am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

If you order outside of these times the request will not be processed until the next working day. Please bear this in mind when ordering.

Don’t forget, you can order repeat medication and book appointments online, by signing up to Online Emis Access.

Please ask at reception for more details or for your registration paperwork. Thank You

If medication ordered on :- Will be ready to collect from :-

Monday Wednesday

Tuesday Thursday

Wednesday Friday

Thursday Monday

Friday Tuesday

Saturday or Sunday Wednesday (the following Week)

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The number to call if you need a doctor in an emergency when we are closed has changed to 111.

Obtain Blood Results

In order to make things easier and more convenient for you, we are starting a new system for obtaining blood results. We are asking patients where possible to ring the surgery between 1pm and 3pm in order to ensure that any results we do have

back have been checked by the GP’s.

Thank you for your help.

Home Visits

Just to remind patients that all requests for home visits are to be made

before 10am. We can not guarantee home visits can be given if arranged

after this time due to service demands.

Newsletter by E-mail

If you would like to receive our newsletter by email, please click on the link on our website www.courtthornsurgery.co.uk and help us to

reduce our carbon footprint.

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Court Thorn — Updates

Protected Learning Time

Like all practices in Cumbria we will be closed from 1pm on the following days, for

staff training:-

2018

Wednesday 17th January

Thursday 8th February

Wednesday 14th March

Contact Details

Please remember to update any details you may change such as telephone numbers.

We would also like your e-mail address, if we do not have yours please speak to recep-

tion and we will update your details.

GP Clinic Times

Dr Grainger - Monday to Thursday all day

Dr O’Hare - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday all day

Dr Anderson - Tuesday and Friday all day

As a training GP Practice we often have training GP’s in the practice on rotation with us,

they will also have appointments available for you to see them. Whilst we appreciate

that you may wish to see the doctor of your choice this may not always be possible,

within the time frame requested. However we do aim to offer you an appointment

within 48 hours.

The above clinic times are subject to change to factor in holidays, training etc.

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