Wuhan Novel Coronavirus

If you are in any doubt, please DO NOT come to the practice or go to A&E - call 111 for advice.

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.

The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time, as members of the public who have visited Wuhan, Hubei province, China are currently in isolation.

Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict regulations. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of the hospital and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others.  Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England at www.gov.uk/coronavirus

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DR MARK HINTON TO RETIRE IN APRIL 2020

Our Senior Partner, Dr Mark Hinton will be retiring on 24th April 2020. He has been working in General Practice since 1988 and will be much missed by staff and patients alike. His patients will be transferred to the care of Dr Daniel Mason or Dr Vicki Goodall.

Dr Karl Bennett will take on the role of Senior Partner, whilst Dr Gareth Robinson remains as our Managing Partner.

The Making Connections Directory is an easy to use directory of local community services. It has been created to help Oakley Health Group patients connect with support services and community groups near to where you live.  Click here

NEW SKILLS CLINIC

A new drop-in clinic takes place at Yateley Medical Centre every Tuesday afternoon 13:00 - 15:00. Vivid Housing working with Hart District Council provide free advice on job hunting, CV building, interview skills, volunteering opportunities and training courses. For more information click here.

FLU VACCINATIONS

We are already seeing cases of flu in Yateley. If you are in the target groups for having a  flu jab, it's not too late - call for an appointment or book online.

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DO YOU HAVE DIABETES?

Visit this NHS website for more information about how you can

BEAT DIABETES

NEW - MacMillan Cancer Support "Drop-in" Sessions

The practice is very happy to support a new initiative from MacMillan Cancer Support.  There will be regular "Drop-in" sessions held at our Yateley Medical Centre site (GU46 7LS)in the Health Education Room.  Anyone who would like to speak to a Macmillan Community Cancer Navigator can just pop in for a chat.

They can help direct patients to over 600 local groups and facilities that can help support them to live well with and beyond cancer.

The sessions run from 10am - 12pm as follows:

• 3rd and 10th January
• 7th and 14th February
• 6th & 13th March

Why not call in?  Our Receptionists can direct you to the Health Education Room.

New:  See link: Macmillan Events Leaflet

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Living with Diabetes - 5 week course
See our Leaflet for details

National recycling scheme for all respiratory inhalers

There is a national recycling and recovery scheme for all types of respiratory inhalers. Patients can hand in their empty, out of date or unused inhaler to a participating pharmacy for recycling. Visit the Complete the Cycle website https://uk.gsk.com/en-gb/responsibility/our-planet/complete-the-cycle for more information, including a pharmacy finder to locate participating pharmacies.

MAKING APPOINTMENTS? HELP US TO HELP YOU

• Phone calls for all 3 surgery sites are answered in our Help Hub Office at Yateley Medical Centre.
• All Receptionists from all 3 surgery sites take turns working in the Help Hub
• Call 01252 872333
• Making a ROUTINE appointment? Try to call after 11:00am to avoid the rush
• Avoid Mondays when you can.
• Call after 11am for Test Results OR
• SIGN UP for Patient Online Access – see your test results and letters from Hospital!
• Making an appointment at the desk? You don’t need to go into the particular surgery you want the appointment at.
• For example -  want an appointment at Hartley Corner and find yourself passing Monteagle near Waitrose? The Receptionists there can do this for you.
• PPG (Patient Participation Group) "Top Tips" for your appointment:  "Top Tips" for your appointment with the Doctor
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Zero Tolerance Policy

The NHS operates a zero tolerance policy with regard to violence and abuse and the practice has the right to remove violent patients from the list with immediate effect in order to safeguard practice staff, patients, and other persons. Violence in this context includes actual or threatened physical violence or verbal abuse which leads to fear for a person’s safety. In this situation, we will notify the patient in writing of their removal from the list and record in the patient’s medical records the fact of the removal and the circumstances leading to it.

We will try to help our patients however we can, but verbal and physical abuse will not be tolerated.

OHG Facebook page

We have a Facebook page now, where we will also post news and information about Oakley Health Group.

www.facebook.com/oakleyhealth 

Please do visit that page and "Like" or "Follow" it if you would like our posts to appear on your newsfeed.

Free NHS Wi-Fi now available at Oakley Health Group!

Friends and Family Test (FFT)

The Friends and Family Test (FFT) is an important opportunity for you to provide feedback on the care and treatment you receive and to improve services.

Please click HERE to enter your feedback (anonymously).