Holiday injections

If you are travelling abroad and you think you may need injections or other health advice about travel contact the practice. The receptionist will take the details to enable the doctor to complete an advice sheet which will be available for collection a few days later. Some useful travel web site links are provided on our self-help page.

Pneumococcal Vaccinations

Pneumococcal vaccinations are available all year round, if you feel you are eligible please contact reception or discuss it with one of the Clinical Staff.

GP Registrar's

Its that time of year again when everyone changes round! Consequently its time to wish Dr Astle, Dr Ghalayini, Dr Ratnarajah and Dr Sidda every success in their future careers. They leave us at the beginning of August. Taking their places from August 2009 are Registrars Dr Mary Ward, Dr Golda Parker, Dr Rachel Hubber, Dr Shumaila Sarfraz and Dr Laura Freeman. They are all experienced doctors who have completed their hospital training and they will be available for consultations in the usual way.

Saturday Morning Surgery

In line with other GP surgeries in Bolton, we will no longer be opening for Emergency Surgery on Saturday morning. Please ensure that you pick up your prescriptions Monday to Friday. Thankyou

Choose and Book Referrals

If you have been referred by your GP to see a specialist recently, you will have noticed that the system has changed a little. All referrals are generated via 'Choose and Book' which is a system that will allow access to hospital appointments and means that patients will have choice about which hospital they attend for treatment.
 
At the moment it is in its early stages and not fully operational. This surgery is co-operating fully with the new system in the hope that it will benefit our patients.
 
However in the meantime, it is new to us all and can take a little longer to arrange. We appreciate your patience as always whilst we work with this new system.
 
At the time of your referral, the doctor will give you your referral paperwork with a unique booking reference number and a unique password. These details will be needed when you ring the Referral and Booking Management Team to arrange your hospital appointment. Some hospital appointments can now be booked directly from the surgery and the staff will endeavour to do this for you wherever possible.
 
The Booking Management Team ensure that your referral is passed onto the correct department at the hospital of your choice. Their telephone number is 01204 462888. They are also there to help with any problems you might have with your out patient appointment and now also book ambulances for out patient appointments for patients who need them.

Summary Care Record

This practice is a pilot site for the implementation of the Summary Care Record.
 
We are at the forefront of this project. There are many reasons why we are committed to the project and here are just a few.
- Health care staff will be able to get a more complete picture of your healthcare.
- Health care staff will have quicker access to your records so they can provide more effective care, for instance if you have to go to Accident and Emergency or consult with a deputising doctor or attend the Walk-In centre.
- Eventually you will be able to access a summary of your own health care records whenever you want to through HEALTHSPACE (a secure internet site). Please see information below.
 
Initially, your records will only include any acute and repeat medicines, any allergies or adverse reactions to any medicines.
 
Your records will automatically become part of this service unless you object but if you are happy about this, you need do nothing. If you require further information, please contact the surgery.

Health Space

What is HealthSpace?
HealthSpace is a secure NHS web site where you can view your NHS Summary Care Record, once it has been created by your GP.
 
You can also use the web site to keep track of your own health information such as blood pressure, weight and hospital appointments.
 
It's a free service that's available to everyone aged 16 and over who's living in England and registered with a GP.
You can register for a basic HealthSpace account from any PC but to register for an advanced account you will need to visit Bolton's HealthSpace Registration Office.
 
The surgery at Drs Kirby, Page & McMillen is an approved Health Space Registration Office.
 
o More about NHS Summary Care Records
o Basic HealthSpace Account
o Advanced HealthSpace Account
o What ID do I need for Advanced HealthSpace account registration?
o Where do I go to register for the Advanced Account?
o Is my NHS Summary Care Record available?
 
Who can I contact if I have a problem ?
Email - healthspace.feedback@nhs.net
Telephone support - 08453 665665 between 9:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday (calls charged at local rate).

Help The Aged and First Stop

Help the aged is a charity providing advice and support on issues that affect older people, including pensions, benefits, tax, housing choices, healthy ageing and home safety.
The link to to the Advice and Support homepage is http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport.
 
First Stop Advice is a new free comprehensive one stop advisory service for older people, their families and carers covering housing, care, money and rights. One call to the advice line 0800 377 70 70 or one visit to www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk brings together the skills of four highly experienced organisations working in partnership for the benefit of older people,- Help the Aged, Elderly Accommodation Counsel, Counsel and Care and NHFA Care Advice.
 
 
 
The population of the United Kingdom is ageing faster than ever now, with people over 65 now outnumbering those under 16 for the first time ever. FirstStop Advice has been set up in response to a need which was identified over 3 years ago for an integrated information and advice service for older people and provides coverage across the UK.
 
 
 
If you would like further information please visit our website at http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk
 

 

Patient Questionnaire

We recently undertook our yearly patient questionnaire at the surgery and would like to thank all the patients who took the time to complete one of these. The response was very positive
 
As we could not do this without your help, we thought it would be a good idea to let you see the results.
 
GPAQ Summary Report

Late Night Opening

The surgery is now open late on Tuesday evenings with a surgery from 6.30pm to 8.00 pm. Appointments can be booked in the normal way.
 
We will also be open for the ordering and collection of repeat prescriptions.

New Member of Nursing Staff

Sr Jane McNulty has recently joined our Nursing Staff. Jane is an experienced nurse and we are very pleased that she has joined us. She will shortly be available for consultations in the usual way.

Seasonal Flu Vaccinations

Seasonal Flu Vaccinations are now available at the surgery. These vaccinations are offered to people over the age of 65 and to those patients under the age of 65 who may be vulnerable, including those with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, to those with reduced immune systems or are carers.
 
Vaccines are still available at the surgery, please ring to arrange an appointment.
 

Swine Flu Vaccinations

Swine Flu Vaccinations have now arrived at the surgery. These are being offered to patients who are in chronic disease groups such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease, to those who have reduced immune systems, children under the age of 5 and pregnant ladies who are the groups most vulnerable to this flu. If you think that you fall into one of these groups, please contact the surgery for an appointment.