WELCOME TO THE ABBEY MEDICAL CENTRE
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) website has been hacked and is spamming patients. An example of an email received is below:
“Dear [email address removed] We have been sent a sample of your blood analysis for further research. During the complete blood count (CBC) we have revealed that white blood cells is very low, and unfortunately we have a suspicion of a cancer. We suggest you to print out your CBC test results and interpretations in attachment below and visit your family doctor as soon as possible Sincerely, Dr. Avery Ernie Copyright 2013 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. All rights reserved. “
Please do not attempt to open the attachment and note we would never email you results.
Abbey Medical Centre
Our Patient Participation Group meets to discuss patient needs and practice issues.
Our next Patient Participation Group Meeting will be held at the Practice on Wednesday 2nd July 2pm. All patients are welcome to attend. Please speak to reception for further details.
NHS England London Dental Service introduces a more localised Out of Hours Urgent Dental Services across North East London.
Out of Hours Urgent dental treatment services are available at five locations across North East London. The area covered is shown in red on the map below.
To access these services you must telephone 020 3594 0938 and a dental professional will then assess your dental needs over the phone.
If you require urgent dental treatment, you will be offered an appointment as near to you as possible, either the same day or the following day.
The telephone lines will be open Monday to Friday 18:00 to 21:00 hours and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 09:00 hours to 14:00 hours. For especially busy periods (such as some Bank Holidays), phone lines will be open between 09:00 and 16:00 hours.
ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTION SERVICE
This practice is now able to offer the Electronic Prescription Service, so if you nominate a pharmacy, your GP will send all future prescriptions electronically to your preferred pharmacy. If you would like to take advantage of this service and haven’t yet completed a nomination form at your chosen pharmacy, you should ask your preferred pharmacy to set your nomination. You don’t need a computer to do this.
This will not affect the way that you order/ request prescriptions from us.
Benefits for you
If you get a repeat prescription, you will not have to spend your time going to your GP practice each time to pick up your paper prescription. Instead your GP will send it automatically to the place you choose, with less chance of it getting lost.
Nearly all pharmacies will be connected to the service, so you will be able to get your medicines from any pharmacy you choose – whether it’s near home, work or the shops.
You may not have to wait as long for your prescription items, as often there will be time to get your repeat prescription items ready before you arrive, If any of the medicines on your prescription are out of stock when the pharmacist receives your prescription, the can be ordered in ready for you.
What happens if you do not wish to use the service?
Nothing – You will continue to get paper prescriptions as you do now.
Trial of new appointment booking system at the Abbey Medical Centre from 01.05.2014
What is the new appointment system?
To trial a system whereby half the Book on Day appointments are reserved for those queuing in the morning at 8am and the remainder for those phoning in.
Why are we trialling a new appointment system?
We have decided to trial a new appointment system after a discussion with our Patient Participation Group based on the feedback from our recent patient survey. The results have enabled us to highlight areas that we may need to improve. By trialling this system we are trying to take steps to develop our quality of care and to ensure that we continue to offer services that are agreeable to our patients.
Anticipation is building for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil, if you are going, plan ahead for a healthy and safe trip.
Make an appointment withour travel health nurse Krisztina for advice well in advance of your trip and remember to check you are up to date with your routine vaccinations.
Ideally, seek advice four to six weeks before you go. However, even if you are travelling last minute, it’s still not too late to get advice; some vaccines can be given at short notice and antimalarial tablets, if needed, can be started just before travel,including on the day you travel.
Are you up to date with your vaccinations? If not you should consider having a Yellow fever, diptheria tetanus,polio, Hepatitis A vaccinations and enquire about malaria tablets.
Please click here for more information.
Yellow fever
There is a risk of yellow fever in many parts of Brazil. We are a certified yellow fever centre so youcan get advice from our travel nurse on whether or not you need the vaccine and can have it done here.
Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included inthe services provided by the NHS. For more information on Prices please contact us.
Appointments for Citizens advice are now available at the Abbey Medical Centre Wednesdays 10am -12.30pm.
Please speak to reception to make an advanced appointment with an advisor.
Have Your Say on 111 and Harmoni/Care UK services ....
We would like to hear your feedback on the 111 service and Harmoni/Care UK, we are looking for feedback both positive and negative.
FOR HARMONI/CARE UK:
You can give your feedback via Email (preferred) ncladminteam@nhs.net or send via Fax (safe Haven) on 020 7387 5652. You can send your postal responses to: Admin - Harmoni HS, The Bloomsbury Building, St Pancras Hospital, 4 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PE or alternatively you can chose to speak to someone, then please call 020 7391 6388.
For 111:
You can feedback via www.patientopinion.org.uk and leave your NHS 111 feedback or personl story online. Youcan also contact the relevant 111 services using the details below:
By email (preferred): lcw111@nhs.net
By Fax: (safe Haven) 020 8962 4401
By post: 111 Clinical Governance Lead, c/o LCW, St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Exmoor Street, London, W10 6DZ
Your opinions count, help make a difference to the services we provide.
Welcome
Self management uk is the new name in self management support for people living with long-term health conditions. We are the leading self management organisation in the uk and have over 10 years’ experience working with patients, carers, healthcare professionals, clinicians and commissioners.
We work with PATIENTS & CARERS to help you manage the day to day impact of living with a long-term condition. We give you the tools, skills and support you need to improve your wellbeing. Learning about self management gives you the confidence to manage your health and puts you in control of your condition.
We deliver self management courses in local community venues as well as online. We also have an online patient community and social media sites where you can learn more about what we do and get support from other people living with long-term conditions. Talk to our team to find out how self management can help you.
self management uk collaborates with COMMISSIONERS & CLINICIANS to improve clinical outcomes for patients with any long-term health condition including diabetes, arthritis, and COPD. We offer high-quality, sustainable, flexible solutions that are quality-assured, patient-centred, value for money and help you to deliver the NHS Outcomes Framework.
Our Consultancy Service helps commissioners identify patients who will benefit most from self management support and what service packages will deliver the best outcomes for you. Talk to us about our ‘end-to-end’ self management service, tailored to your local needs and budget.
Self management is a term that covers a whole range of things you can do to help yourself if you live with a long-term health condition. On average, people living with a health condition spend just 3 hours per year with their health care team; the rest of the time they are managing day to day life with that condition by themselves – or self managing.
Self management uk is here to help you manage your long-term health condition better by yourself. We give you the tools, skills and support you need to improve your wellbeing.
Self management does not mean having to do it alone. We help you make informed choices about what services and support you want and need. It is important to work in partnership with your health care professionals but what you do for yourself in between consultations can have a massive impact on your life.
Self management encourages you to:
- find out more about your condition
- learn new skills and tools to help you manage your health
- work better, and in partnership, with your health care professionals
- take charge of your health care and choose what is right for you
- get support from other people in a similar situation to you
Self management can support people with any kind of long-term condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, chronic pain, and many others. You may have more than one condition, as many people do, or you may be caring for someone living with a long-term condition. Whatever your situation, find out how self management uk can help you.
How information about you helps us to provide better care
Confidential information from your medical records can be used by the NHS to improve the services offered so we can provide the best possible care for everyone.
This information along with your postcode and NHS number but not your name, are sent to a secure system where it can be linked with other health information.
This allows those planning NHS services or carrying out
medical research to use information from different parts
of the NHS in a way which does not identify you.
You have a choice. If you are happy for your information
to be used in this way you do not have to do anything.
If you have any concerns or wish to prevent this from
happening, please speak to practice staff or ask at
reception for a copy of the leaflet “How information
about you helps us to provide better care”.
More information can be found here
WALK IN FLU CLINICS AUTUMN 2013
P
lea for Toy Donations
I f you have any unwanted toys or books we would greatly appreciate them to liven up our children's corner. We are extremely thankful for all donations, but due to safety and infection-control reasons we can only accept larger (nothing that would pose a choking hazard or that could find it's way up a nostril!) easy clean toys and books. Sadly we can't accept cuddly toys!
Welcome to the Abbey Medical Centre Website
Noticeboard
We recently updated our noticeboard outlining our appointment system. On your next visit take a look and feedback on your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is now fully rolled out.
This means that most people in their sixties will have already received an invitation from the programme.
It is important that you send back the FOBt kit, even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. For further information please visit www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/bowel-cancer.html
Screening is for people without symptoms.
If you are concerned about any symptoms, please contact your GP or visit NHS Direct Online.
There were 37,514 new cases of bowel cancer diagnosed in England in 2009, 18,538 males and 15,066 females. This represents rates of 57.3 per 100,000 males, 37.6 per 100,000 females and 46.6 per 100,000 overall.
What are the risk factors?
- Age: Bowel cancer can occur in younger people but 8 out of 10 people who get cancer of the bowel are over the age of 60.
- A previous bowel polyp
- Personal history of chronic bowel inflammation: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease will slightly increase the risk of developing bowel cancer.
- Diet: A diet that is high in red meat and fat and low in vegetables, folate and fibre may increase the risk of bowel cancer.
- Lack of exercise: Moderate exercise may help prevent bowel cancer.
- Obesity: Being overweight or obese may increase the risk of bowel cancer.
- Smoking and alcohol: Although not as strong a risk factor as for other cancers, smoking may also increase the risk of bowel cancer, particularly in heavy drinkers. Alcohol consumption may increase risk, especially in those with low levels of folate in their diet.
- Family history: Fewer than 1 in 10 cases of bowel cancer are due to an inherited gene defect. However, there are certain families who have an increased risk of developing bowel cancer due to a variety of conditions including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).
- Personal history of bowel cancer: Having had bowel cancer before increases the risk of a new cancer developing.
For a more detailed discussion of the risk factors see Cancer Research UK - risk factors .
Questions about Bowel Cancer Screening?
Call the HELPLINE: 08007076060
Want to STOP SMOKING......
Are you ready to give up smoking? Need some help? Our smoking advisor can give you advice and support as well as provide you with Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Speak to one of our receptionists to book an appointment with our Smoking Cessation Advisor. For more information on the service we provide at the practice kindly click on the tab clinics & services there is a tab to Smoking Cessation.
Self Check-in
Please use our touch screen to self-check-in.If you have an appointment there is no need to queue at reception to be marked in!! Try our new touch screen self-check-in situated in reception just as you come in through the door on your left.
Please do not hesitate to ask one of our receptionists who will be glad to help you
Transport and Access
Car parking on Abbey Road is restricted to double yellow lines. Parking meters are in operation on Boundary and Belsize Roads.
Public transport is available by buses 139 and 189 on Abbey Road as well as bus 31 on Belsize Road.
Kilburn Park, Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage and St John’s Wood Underground Stations are the nearest tube stations.
This practice provides suitable access for Disabled Patients
(Site updated 27/06/2014)