Noticeboard

Online access update

Don't forget to request your medication and book your appointments online. We now offer web bookable appointments for blood tests (phlebotomy), INR (warfarin monitoring) and smears (well woman clinics). These should be booked only when a doctor or nurse has requested you have one of these tests or if your smear is due. We will soon be offering web bookable appointments for the pre-school booster vaccination for children.

You are now also able to message your GP via this service. This can be used for simple queries, such as a medication query, checking if you need a blood test/review, results query.

New members of staff

Jo Matthews, our new paramedic practitioner has now joined the practice. Jo has years of experience working in the ambulance service and has spent the last year working in GP practice. She will be undertaking home visits, triage, consultations and will be helping to look after our more frail patients.

We also have a new GP, Dr Poorvie Hewa Pathiranage, doing one surgery a week. She is currently a partner in a practice in Borden, and will be increasing her number of surgeries later in the year. She is interested in all aspects of general practice, specialising in women's health and minor surgery. She is also involved in training junior doctors.

Surgery closure

We will be closed for staff training on 2nd May 2019 from 12.30pm to 4pm.

Ask the pharmacist!

Many common illnesses can be treated at home. Ask your pharmacist for advice on the best medicines and treatments for minor ailments. To find your local pharmacy and its opening times - many are open late into the evening - see www.nhs.uk or call 111. For further information see the "Self help" and "Where to go for NHS care" links on this page.

Prescriptions

PLEASE ASK FOR YOUR PRESCRIPTION IN GOOD TIME . ALLOW 48 HOURS/2 WORKING DAYS BEFORE COLLECTION (Electronic prescriptions only)) Paper prescriptions will take 3- 4 days. If you are using paper prescriptions, please consider signing up for the electronic service.

Evening Surgery

We are open for evening appointments every Wednesday until 8pm (Appointments for this clinic must be booked in advance).

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

Your employer can ask you to confirm that you've been ill.You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. This is called self-certification.

If you're sick and off work for more than seven days, your employer will probably ask for proof of your illness. Most employers ask for a fit note from your GP.

However, this will also depend on your employer's company policy on sick leave (or sickness absence). This policy should tell you how many days you can be off sick before you need to provide proof of illness or a fit note.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)