Compiled by your Patient Participation Group – all content is either gleaned from the NHS websites and/or approved by the Practice management.
To ensure you, our patients, are kept informed of all the necessary changes in a busy, modern GP practice, we will regularly update this newsletter.
PPG Meetings
Twice a year we organise an ‘All You Need to Know’ evening at the surgery on topics of interest or concern.
Our recent evenings have included Hypertension and Menopause and have been well attended and very popular.
Do let us have your thoughts on subjects you would like to hear about and discuss in future.
Please email chairqueensviewppg@btinternet.com or text to 07748 986517.
Staff Changes
As a fast moving teaching practice for GPs, we regularly have changes to our team.
Please go to ‘Team’ on the tool bar of this website where we regularly update our team members details.
Of course, we will always keep you up to date with any major changes which will affect your treatment.
Feedback from iWantGreatCare
At Queensview we are keen to ensure you get the best treatment as quickly as possible.
With this in mind, when you have had an appointment with a clinician, you will receive a request to complete a short survey.
All of your comments are quickly published, anonymously, on the home page of this website and we will make every effort to act on concerns you may have.
The feedback particularly highlights the challenge of making appointments with a number of comments on the time it takes to get through at busy times.
Don’t forget, our phone system offers a call-back if there is likely to be a long wait – do use this, it does work and you will not lose your place the queue.
To illustrate the challenge, our very experienced receptionists regularly speak to 1600 patients a week, Mondays alone accounting for almost 500 calls!
Monday and Tuesday are busiest and afternoons are quieter than mornings.
All of our receptionists are trained in Care Navigation which ensures that you will always be directed to the most appropriate clinician available; to enable us to do this we will need some medical details from you – be assured there is nothing that will not have been heard before.
If your call is not very urgent try phoning after 10.30am or after 2.00pm, you will get through much more quickly and our lovely receptionists will do everything they can to help you – do be kind to them.
Please do not phone for test results before 2.00pm, these need to be read by the GPs and added to your records after we receive them. NB All test results are added to your records in real time – save yourself a phone call – go to SystmOnline – personal records.
Ear Wax Removal
We get a number of requests for ear wax removal, we are sorry but this is a service we no longer are able to provide.
If you enter ‘Ear Wax Removal, Northampton’ in your search engine you will find a number of local clinics offering microsuction. It’s safe and should be painless, although all clinics charge for this procedure.
Topic of the month – COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties. It includes:
- emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
- chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways
COPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people do not realise they have it.
The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.
Symptoms of COPD
The main symptoms of COPD are:
- shortness of breath, particularly when you’re active
- a persistent chesty cough with phlegm – some people may dismiss this as just a “smoker’s cough”
- frequent chest infections
- persistent wheezing
Without treatment, the symptoms usually get progressively worse. There may also be periods when they get suddenly worse, known as a flare-up or exacerbation.
Find out more about the symptoms of COPD.
Treatments include:
- stopping smoking – if you have COPD and you smoke, this is the most important thing you can do. Remember, two in tree smokers die from smoking!
- inhalers and medicines – to help make breathing easier
- pulmonary rehabilitation – a specialised programme of exercise and education
- surgery or a lung transplant – although this is only an option for a very small number of people
Find out more about how COPD is treated and living with COPD.
Outlook for COPD
The outlook for COPD varies from person to person. The condition cannot be cured or reversed, but for many people, treatment can help keep it under control so it does not severely limit their daily activities.
But in some people, COPD may continue to get worse despite treatment, eventually having a significant impact on their quality of life and leading to life-threatening problems.
If you are concerned about COPD please contact the surgery. Our friendly and experienced team will be happy to give advice, or if necessary, make an appointment for you with a clinician.