Despite the Government’s recent £11 million survey of 2.3 million patients showing great satisfaction with GP services, they have decided to force through measures to ‘improve access’, and have moved to unilaterally alter the GP contract from April 2008. These measures include cutting funding from daytime services in order to partially fund late evening or Saturday surgeries. These proposals are so that commuters and working people who can’t get to their doctors during the day can see their GP more easily. This is a problem in London and inner cities, but not really relevant to Paignton. What effect could these changes have? Far from improving access for patients, these changes are likely to result in fewer appointments during the day and making it harder to see a GP of your choice.

Why the changes in the service? These appear to be part of a purely politically inspired campaign for late evening surgeries. This is in spite of the fact that locally there is little demand for these surgeries and we already have an excellent Out-of-Hours service from Devon Doctors, which is still run by local GP’s unlike many parts of the country. This Government more than any in the past has taken away control of medical services from doctors and local Health Authorities and imposing ideas thought up by politicians and civil servants in London, which have no relevance to Torbay. This will result in a loss of continuity of care and personal service and will particularly affect elderly patients and those with long term chronic illness. As your GP’s were extremely concerned by this situation I feel that our patients need to be aware that local medical services are increasingly being dictated from London. We feel that local medical services are best managed by local GP’s working with local Health Authorities. Your could support us in this by sending your views to your local MP:

Adrian Sanders MP C/o 69 Belgrave Road, Torquay TQ2 5HZ  -  E-mail: http://www.adriansanders.org 

SATURDAY 26TH JANUARY 2008 -

This was a great success and a big thank-you goes out to everyone who had the time to attend. We made an outstanding profit of:

£172.14

With all proceeds going to the Cherryaiders Patient & Carer Group for the benefit of our patients. We even managed to get ourselves in the local press!

took place at the surgery on 24th October 2007. It was a well attended meeting. Dr Green thanked the volunteers for their hard work throughout the year. Book sales and coffee mornings raised an extremely healthy £595.71 and a big thank you goes to all who contributed, both buyers and donators alike! - Pictured below Committee Members 2007

As feedback to our patient survey taken at the end of 2006, we now share with you how we have strived to improve items of concern.

Some patients wanted late appointments for working people there are now two late surgeries operating on a Monday & Wednesday evening reserved for working people only.

Some felt appointments were difficult to book in advance.We now have a combination of appointments, allowing patients to book up to 6 weeks in advance, or on the day if the problem will not wait. We understand that it can be difficult getting through on the phone first thing in the morning, please make an allowance for this and persevere. We have two incoming lines and our staff do their utmost to accommodate everyone wherever possible.Patients sometimes find it difficult to speak to a GP. We have now added telephone consultation time to daily surgeries, so that patients may speak to a clinician instead of coming to the surgery if they feel this is appropriate.

Saturday Morning Surgeries -  All GP surgeries ceased to open on a Saturday in November 2004. For urgent out of hours problems we are covered by Devon Doctors (based at Torbay Hospital), and you can ring them on 08456 710270. If you forget this number and ring the surgery this number will be repeated on our answerphone message. Or alternatively, for advice only ring NHS Direct which is a 24 hour help service on 0845 4647

Receptionists ask too many questions, they are not the doctors’.Our receptionists are encouraged and trained to ask patients for an idea of their problem, to ensure that the booking is made with the appropriate member of the Primary Health Care Team. All reception and administration staff are bound by the same strict patient confidentiality rules as clinical staff and their aim is to assist both the patient and the clinician.

A PLEA

Please remember to cancel your unwanted appointments. We have many hours of clinical time per week wasted, when patients simply fail to turn up for their appointments.

NB: If you have any concerns about our appointment booking system, please let the Practice Manager know.

CHILD HEALTH & BABY 'WALK-IN CLINIC'

Thursdays - 9.30-11.30 - Health Visitor Christa Brewer

Memory Café

HELP FOR PEOPLE WITH MEMORY PROBLEMS & THEIR CARERS

Mondays between 1:45pm & 3:45pm - St Paul's Church, Torquay Road, Paignton

What is the Memory Café? It's a drop in service for people with memory problems and for those who care for someone with memory problems. You can call in for: Advice, support, to meet others or just to have coffee and a chat. When is it held? Every Monday (except bank holidays) between 1:45pm and 3:45pm at St Paul's Church Hall, Torquay Road, Paignton TQ4 2DW. Buses no. 12,12a and X46 all stop within walking distance of the Church. The Memory Café is run by staff from the Chadwell Centre. They all have experience of working with people who experience memory problems. Hot and cold beverages are available free of charge (donations gratefully received). There is no meal service available at the Memory Café.

Contact: 01803 528672 for further information, or just turn up!