If you do get flu or flu-like symptoms the official advice is as follows:-
# Stay at home and rest. DO NOT GO TO THE SURGERY, WALK-IN CENTRE OR ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY!!
# Take medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines). Children under 16 must not be given aspirin or ready-made flu remedies containing aspirin.
# Drink plenty of fluids.
# Phone your GP or NHS Direct if you have recently travelled to Mexico or the US or you have been in contact with someone who has confirmed or probable swine flu.
# Phone your GP or NHS Direct (Tel: 0845 4647 or online at www.nhs.uk) if you develop complications such as shortness of breath.

To help prevent the spread of the disease good hygiene is the key. You can reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading influenza by:

• Using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Disposing of used tissues promptly and carefully.
• Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, or to other people.
• Cleaning hard surfaces (eg kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.

More information on Swine Flu can be found at www.nhs.uk

If you have a booked appointment with a doctor or nurse then you can use this rather than queue to tell a receptionist that you have arrived.

By responding to a series of simple questions (e.g. sex, date of birth) you can let us know you are here. A number of languages are also available on the screen.

If you are unsure, one of the receptionists will help you and show you how to use it.

You do not have to use it to check in - you can always wait and talk to the receptionist - but at busy times this may save some time.

Good Friday (April 10)

Easter Monday (April 13)

May Day Bank Holiday (May 4)

Spring Bank Holiday Monday (May 25)

Please remember to book early and submit any repeat prescription requests in good time.

When the surgery is closed you need to call the Out of Hours Service on 01926 888 026

• question a panel of clinicians and senior managers about the future of your diabetes care
• get advice on how to maintain your health
• talk to others living with Diabetes

This will be held on WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2009 at the Salvation Army in Upper Well Street, Coventry at 7.15pm

For more info see www.diabetes.org.uk, tel: 01922 614500, E: w.midlands@diabetes.org.uk

This year the survey will run from 26 January 2009 for approximately 3 weeks, and visitors to the surgery may be asked to complete a questionnaire.

Members of our Patient Panel often help with handing out the questionnaire, so it is an opportunity to provide feedback both through the questionnaire and by chatting with Patient Panel members.

The questionnaire is completely anonymous - we will not know who has scored us high or low, nor who has made any additional comments (good or bad). But we do value this feedback which gives us a snapshot as to how we are doing (or not) as a practice - and provides feedback for individual doctors on how their patients feel about their care and treatment.

When the results are analysed (in late February) they are shared with the Patient Panel, with whom we meet to agree a programme of objectives for improving our service.

Please help if you can - it is an opportunity for you to let us know what you think!!

Dr Anita Patey joined us as a GP from 17 November 2008

Julie Binney joined us as a Practice Nurse from 22 December 2008.

But of course, this is one of the busiest times of our year, especially with the high levels of colds and flu now being experienced, so we may still not be able to offer appointments with the doctor of your choice on the day you choose -  but in the longer term this should become easier.

As the NHS heads into the busiest time, West Midlands hospitals and emergency services are already reporting record numbers of patients calling 999, and high levels of very sick patients attending accident and emergency departments (A&E) at local hospitals.

The NHS is always prepared and is used to planning for winter, and this year is no different. According to the Met Office, the recent period of very cold weather is expected to continue over the next few weeks. Frosty mornings, and freezing frosty nights, chilly winds and even the possibility of some snow flurries are forecast across the West Midlands for the next two weeks up until Christmas.

People can help the NHS during these busy times by making sure they use NHS services appropriately. If it’s not an emergency, please don’t go to A&E or ring 999.

Generally, you should treat the situation as an emergency if, for example:
• someone has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped,
• the person is experiencing severe chest pain or is having trouble breathing,
• there is severe bleeding from any part of the body,
• the person is, or has been, unconscious,
• there is a suspected broken bone or dislocation,

Cuts, bruises and sprains are not normally considered to be emergencies. They can usually be treated at home, by your GP or in an NHS walk-in centre or a minor injuries unit. If you are not sure if it is an emergency, you can call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice on what to do.

As hospitals throughout the region become busier, health chiefs today issued some easy tips to help people to stay safe and healthy.

“This year Winter has struck early with a vengeance – and so has the seasonal round of colds, flu and other ailments that can develop into serious illness for older people or those with long-term health conditions.

“There is a lot that people can do for themselves and their families to avoid becoming ill or having accidents,” said Dr Rashmi Shukla, Regional Director of Public Health at NHS West Midlands.

“Some visits to A&E are avoidable but can lead to delays in people being seen in the emergency departments. We’re sure that most people would much prefer to avoid a trip to A&E if they possibly can.

“So we hope our guidance will also help patients to seek the right medical advice, whether that means a visit to A&E or treatment nearer to their homes, like visiting pharmacist or a GP that can help you. By making the right choice at the right time, patients will get the fastest, best possible treatment.

“If people are unsure about where to go for treatment, NHS Direct can help them make the right choice to meet their needs.

“As always, NHS staff are doing a fantastic job in highly pressurised environments.
Paramedics, ambulance drivers and doctors and nurses and other staff working in A&E departments are, as always, working incredibly hard to care for very sick patients that are coming through the doors”.

Tips for staying healthy and getting the right treatment if you need it:

• Winter always brings more coughs, colds, sore throats and flu – but this year it has arrived earlier than usual. If you start to have the symptoms of flu or a heavy cold, stay at home, keep warm and take plenty of non-alcoholic drinks.

• Make sure you have cold and flu medications in the house, as well as other basic first aid supplies such as painkillers, plasters, bandages and anti-diarrhoea medication. This is especially important over the Christmas period when your local GP surgery and pharmacy may be closed on Bank Holidays. When stocking up with flu remedies, check first with your GP or pharmacist if you are on other medication to make sure the medicines are right for you.

• NHS Direct – on 0845 4647 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk – is available 24 hours a day to give confidential advice and information on what to do if you, or a member of your family, are ill.

• Your local pharmacist can advise you about minor medical problems. Check for the opening times at your nearest pharmacy or call your PCT for the latest information.

• All GP surgeries offer an emergency out-of-hours service. If you call when the surgery is closed your call will be automatically diverted to the Out of Hours service.

• For more serious injuries or illnesses, hospital Accident & Emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including all bank holidays. Examples of serious injuries or illnesses include critical or life-threatening situations such as head injury, broken bones or dislocation, severe chest pain or breathlessness, choking and difficulty breathing, ingestion of toxic substances and severe bleeding.

• The best way of warming up is to keep active, which is also good for the heart. A few gentle exercises at home can keep the blood flowing properly. Extra layers of clothing, including wearing a hat to go out, and regular hot drinks and meals are just what the doctor orders for the cold weather! Keep your home warm.

• Check on any elderly relative or neighbour living alone

• Norovirus and other stomach bugs can usually be best dealt with by rest and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Most people make a full recovery within 1-2 days, however some people (usually the very young or elderly) may become very dehydrated and require hospital treatment.

• Wash your hands regularly. Correct respiratory and hand hygiene (RHH) practice is one of the most effective actions the public can take to protect themselves and others from infection and the spread of germs that can lead to cold, flu and other illnesses.

• at 07.30am  and 07.45 am every morning Monday to Friday
• and at 6.30pm and 6.45pm on Mondays - Thursdays.

This is part of our attempts to offer patients greater choice and availability of appointment times.

Please note however that the surgery will only be open to other patients and visitors between 8.00am and 6.30pm and the telephone lines will be open between 8.00am and 6.30pm as now. Patients with pre-booked appointments before 8.00am and after 6.30pm will need to ring the doorbell to gain access to the building.

Outside of 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday - Friday you will need to call the Out of Hours service or visit A&E or the Walk-In Centre - we shall not have the resources to deal with emergencies before 8.00am or after 6.30pm weekdays.

These sessions are restricted to our patients who are aged 65 or over
or if you have any of these problems (however old you are):
· a serious heart or chest complaint, including asthma,
· serious kidney disease,
· diabetes, or
· lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
If you do not fall into one of these groups you will not be given a flu jab!

For more info on influenza and vaccinations view, download or print the booklet.

 BUT….. the changeover, planned for the period between Monday 27 October and Friday 7 November 2008 will involve some disruption as the new system is installed, all patient records are transferred to the new system, and as doctors, nurses, receptionists and other staff are trained in using the new system.

We shall try to offer as full a service as possible, but on some days we may only be able to offer “urgent” appointments. However, as always, if you feel you need to see a doctor urgently then you will be invited to come down to the surgery and wait to be “fitted in” as an extra at the end of morning or afternoon surgery.

Please bear with us over what may be a difficult period - I am sure it will be worth it in the longer term and enable us to offer patients a better service.