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OUTBREAK OF MEASLES INFECTION IN
SCOTLAND
NHS
Public Health has informed us
concerning an outbreak of measles in
Scottish travelling families in
Midlothian and Dunbartonshire. There
are 7 confirmed cases in total and
14 yet unconfirmed. Due to the
mobile nature of the lifestyle of
these families they may also have
links to sites in Highland. Indeed,
2 weeks ago a confirmed case of
measles of a young woman in the
Lochalsh area has been confirmed.
Therefore the MMR immunisation is
offered to all patients of 25 years
and under who have not been fully
immunised yet. If you are in this
category, please contact the surgery
for an appointment with a GP to
discuss.
Staff
Training
The practice closes for 9
afternoons a year to allow time for
staff training. This is an
initiative that is supported by
Mid-Highland Community Health
Partnership and by NHS Highland. On
these training days the practice
will close at 1.00pm. Emergency
medical cover is provided and if you
need urgent medical attention or
advice you can access this by
phoning the usual practice number –
0844 477 2497.
The training dates
for 2008/2009 are:
- Tuesday, 11
March 2008
- Tuesday, 8
April 2008
- Wednesday, 14
May 2008
- Tuesday, 3
June 2008
- Wednesday, 20
August 2008
- Tuesday, 2
September 2008
- Wednesday, 1
October 2008
- Tuesday, 3
February 2009
- Wednesday, 4
March 2009
Training dates are
also advertised in the local press
and in the practice prior to
closure.
Patient Notice
It is with pleasure
we can announce the appointment of a
second Practice Nurse to work
alongside Joy Macgregor. Nurse Ann
Foster will join the Practice on the
29th October and initially work 2
days per week. (Thus enabling us to
offer nurse appointments 5 days per
week.) An experienced nurse she has
worked for the past 5 years at both
Beauly and Nairn Practices and
previous to that with Practices in
England.
Scottish Executive Healthcare
Discussion Document
The Scottish
Executive is commencing a discussion
phase concerning healthcare in
Scotland. It is an opportunity for
both healthcare professionals and
patients to express their views and
come forward with ideas. To read
more and become involved go to
www.scotland.gov.uk/betterhealthbettercare
Please take the opportunity to “have
your say” but please respond to the
Executive and not the
Practice.
Dr
Iain Forth
Dr Iain Forth has agreed to join the
practice team from the 1st
September. Some of you will
already have been treated by Dr
Shona Forth, and the surname in
common is no coincidence! I am sure
you will join me in welcoming Dr
Forth to the practice and the
practice team is very much looking
forward to working together with him
for the benefit of our patients.
TELEPHONE
APPOINTMENTS
The practice now offers telephone
appointments with all GPs which can
be booked exactly the same way as
normal face-to-face appointments.
These appointments are offered for
patients who want to discuss issues
that do not need physical
examination only. The receptionist
will ask you when booking an
appointment if it is for a
face-to-face or a telephone
appointment and can help you to
decide which is most suitable for
your needs. You will be asked to
give a contact number where you will
be available to talk confidentially
at the time of your appointment
(please allow up to 60 minutes in
case a GP has to attend
emergencies and runs late).
The use of telephone appointments
will be monitored and the number of
available appointments will be
increased/decreased depending on
demand.
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