TUNNEL ROAD, BEAMINSTER
Please be advised of the following changes that will take place at Tunnel Road and Maiden Newton Surgeries over the next year:
From 24th March 2008, Dr Kettell will be taking 6 months sabbatical. Following this period he will continue his career at Maiden Newton only. Dr V Tingay will care for all his Beaminster patients during this time.
From 23rd September 2008, Dr Sinclair will be working part time until her probable retirement in April 2009 when a new partner will join the practice.
The Surgery
Surgery Arrangements
Telephone Access
Nurse Triage
Home Visits
Dispensing and Repeat Prescriptions
Emergency Contraception
Results
New Patient Screening
Health Screening and Smears
Child Development and Immunisation Clinics
Other Services
Training Practice
Freedom of Information
The Surgery
Beaminster surgery was purpose built in 1989 and offers a range of patients services including Chiropody, Counselling, Dietetics and Physiotherapy. It has a free car park and full wheelchair access for disabled patients.
Surgery Arrangements
Consultation with our doctors and nurses is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Non urgent requests will be offered the first available time. Emergencies will always be seen on the same day. Please make arrangements to make separate appointments for each patient so that you can receive the individual attention you are entitled to. Appointments are booked at ten minute intervals but we realise that some problems may take longer than others. If this does happen please be patient. If you think you require longer please book a double appointment. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND AN APPOINTMENT PLEASE TELEPHONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO CANCEL AS YOUR APPOINTMENT SLOT CAN ALWAYS BE RE-ALLOCATED EVEN AT SHORT NOTICE.
Telephone Access
We realise that many people may only wish to speak to the doctor for advice and so we have se aside specific times for just such occurrences from 08.30 - 09.00am Monday to Friday or after 11.30am.
Nurse Triage
We have two specialist practice nurses who have been trained to triage patients. Triage enables them to assess your medical needs, so that you can have improved access to a health professional when at the surgery.
If you want urgent advice the reception staff may divert appropriate calls to the triage nurse, who may give telephone advice or offer an appointment with herself or doctor as appropriate.
Home Visits
If you are too ill to attend surgery and require a home visit please telephone before 10am so that the doctor can decide how urgent your need is and plan the days visiting. In order to assess the urgency our reception staff will ask you certain questions and your co-operation would be appreciated. Any information given will always be treated in the strictest confidence.
Dispensing and Repeat Prescriptions
We are a dispensing practice and depending on the area where you live you can collect all your medicines from the surgery, either at the time of you appointment or by calling in for repeat prescriptions. Please note that we only dispense previously ordered prescriptions during surgery opening hours. Please allow 48 hours before they are required.
PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE YOUR PRESCRIPTION. PLEASE USE THE RECEIPT SLIP ATTACHED TO YOUR PRESCRIPTION BY TICKING THE ITEMS YOU NEED AND PUTTING IN THE PRACTICE POST BOX.
WE CAN ACCEPT POSTAL REQUESTS PROVIDED YOU ENCLOSE A STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE BUT PLEASE ALLOW ONE WEEK.
IF YOU ARE ON REGULAR MEDICATION IT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR YOU TO BE REVIEWED BY YOUR DOCTOR PERIODICALLY.
Emergency Contraception
Please ask to speak to nurse/doctor urgently if this is required.
Results
Please do not telephone for test results until after 11.30am when the reception staff are less busy. Please note that the receptionist cannot discuss your results unless authorised by the doctor.
New Patient Screening
We like to meet all new patients to discuss their medical history, check on their present state of health and review any medication they are currently taking. If possible we try to do this within one month of registration. This is normally carried out by our practice nurse and takes approximately 20 minutes.
Health Screening and Smears
We encourage all eligible women from the age of 25 - 49 to have a smear every three years and women from the age of 50 - 65 every five years. (It is not necessary if you have had a hysterectomy or are under 25). Please make an appointment via our reception and please bring a sample of urine with you.
Child Development and Immunisation Clinics
The doctor and health visitor carry out child development examinations at the appropriate ages. Immunisation clinics by the practice nurse take place regularly please ask at reception for these times.
Other Services
The practice is also able to offer you the following services which are held at the surgery on a regular basis. Please ask at the reception for appointment times.
|
|
|
|
|
Access to your medical record is required for some of the above in-house services. If you do not wish this, please contact the surgery.
Our team are also able to provide:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training Practice
The practice participates in the scheme to train graduate doctors who wish to specialise in general practice. Each doctor spends a year with us having spent the previous three years working and training in hospital medicine. Practice Registrars are fully qualified doctors in their own right and are part of our practice team sharing in the on-call rota.
Freedom of Information Act
A hard copy of our practice information can be obtained from the practice manager or an electronic version can be downloaded by clicking this link.