Wolverley Surgery Information
Consultations are by appointment only
Telephone
01562 850800
Business
01562 852577
Fax 01562
852575
District
Nurses 01562 852818
Web site www.wolverleysurgerykidderminster.co.uk
E-Mail
practice.m81608@gp-m81608.nhs.uk
Practice Management
Mr Paul Copsey is the practice manager who looks after the day to day running of the practeice. If you have any problems which the receptionists cannot help you with, or have any suggestions to make, please ask to see Paul who will be only too happy to help you.
Receptionists
Our receptionists organize appointment times, answer your telephone enquiries and welcome you when you come to the surgery. They should be able to help you with most of your queries, and, although they are not qualified to give medical advice, can consult a Practice Nurse if necessary.
Making an appointment
Routine 10 minute appointments are available during morning and afternoon surgery. Booking an appointment to see a doctor or a nurse can be made either in person with the receptionist, or by telephoning the surgery between 8am-12.30pm and 2pm-6.30pm (mornings only on Thursday)
Each day there are a limited number of 5min. appointments available for urgent problems only.
In order to keep surgeries running as smoothly as possible please remember the following points:
1.
Please arrive in time for your appointment
2. Please let us know if you cannot keep your appointment, in plenty of time
so that the appointment can be given to another patient.
3. Please do not save too many problems for one appointment.
Disabled Patients
There is good wheelchair access to the surgery and also inside.
Requesting a Home Visit
Please
make your request for a home visit before 10am if a visit is required that
day. Only emergency visits will be arranged after that time. This enables
the doctor to plan home visits efficiently.
Home visits are only made at the discretion of the doctors, so please do not
ask for a visit unless the patient is genuinely too ill to come to the surgery.
Please remember that, particularly in the case of children who have fevers
or rashes, the problem can be dealt with more quickly and efficiently in the
surgery and that any treatment, which may be prescribed, can be collected
at the same time.
When you request a home visit, please give the receptionist full details of
the patient's name, address, age and the reason for the request. We also need
a telephone number where you can be contacted. This information enables the
doctor to prioritize the house calls.
Phoning for Results of Tests
If you wish to check the results of a test or of an investigation that has been carried out, please phone the surgery after 10.30am. remember that under no circumstances will you be given the results for anyone other than yourself, except in the case of a child. From time to time the test results are difficult to understand and, if this is the case, the receptionist will make an appointment for you to go over the results with the doctor who requested the test.
Repeat Prescriptions
We have a dispensary on the premises. Patients who live more than a mile from a commercial Pharmacy are allowed to have their prescriptions dispensed at the surgery.
Patients
who have regular medication may request a further month's treatment by:-
1 Depositing your request at the dispensary.
2 Posting a letter with your repeat prescription request.
3 Communicating with the dispensers either in person or by telephone after
10.30am Monday-Friday.
Please use the computer counterfoil to indicate your requirements and only order the items you require.
Please allow 24 hours for prescriptions only or 3 working days for dispensed items.
If you have difficulty attending the surgery to collect your medication we will post it to you if we have a stamped, addressed envelope from you.
Occasionally, the doctor may wish to see you before a further repeat prescription is issued. If that is the case, the dispenser will ask you to make an appointment.
What to do when the Surgery is closed
If you need medical treatment outside normal surgery hours between 6.30pm - 8.00am Monday to Friday and from 6.30pm on Friday until 8.00am on Monday and for 24 hours on all Bank Holidays, the surgery answer phone will direct you to Wyre Forest Out Of Hours Service
Telephone 0845 609 0669
The Out Of Hours Service is located alongside the Minor Injuries Unit at Kidderminster Hospital but operates independently from it. This service is open 6pm-8am Monday to Friday and from 11am on Saturdays to 8AM on Mondays and on Bank Holidays.
Although
the Out Of Hours Service is staffed by General Practitioners and specially
trained nurses, it is not a substitute for your own doctors surgery.
If you have a problem that will not wait until normal surgery hours,
please telephone the Service and the nurse or doctor will advise you what
to do next.
Please do not just"drop in".
NHS Direct, a nurse-led advice line can be contacted for confidential advice and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone 0845 4647
Practice Nurses Services
There
is a Practice Nurse in the surgery Monday to Friday from 8.30am-12pm and 2pm-5pm.
A Practice Nurse is available for cervical smear tests,travel vaccines. blood
tests, dressings etc.
They offer advice on family planning, women's health, men's health. diet,smoking
cessation, healthy living and weight control.
As well as general nursing clinics, the Practice Nurses also hold specialist
clinics:-
* Diabetes
* Asthma/COPD
* Hypertension
* Cardiovascular disease
* Childhood immunisations
* Leg ulcer treatment
Appointments are ALWAYS necessary.
Vaccinations
*
Tetanus
Please
remember to keep your protection up to date. You should have a booster every
10 years, up to five in total, providing that you have had the full initial
course. This will then give you life-long protection. Check with a Practice
Nurse if you are not sure if you are fully protected.
*
Influenza
Flu/ is a problem that seems to come around most years. We advise
our patients who are over 65 years old and those over 16 with asthma, chest
troubles, diabetes or heart disease to be immunised each year in October/November.
If you think you need this service, please tell your doctor or a Practice
Nurse who will advise and arrange this if necessary.
*
Foreign Travel
We would advise you to contact our Practice Nurses several weeks
in advance of foreign travel so that any necessary vaccinations can be given
and a course completed well before your departure.
Contraception
We are able to offer confidential advice and help
on a variety of contraceptive methods,prescribing the method most suited to
you. Appointments can be made either with a Practice Nurse or with your doctor.
The practice is "young-person friendly."
Minor
Surgery
We
provide a rapid service for minor surgical procedures, which can be carried
out in the practice, thus bypassing waiting lists at the hospital. Your doctor
will advise you,on any problems or queries you may have relating to this service.
We also provide cautery for the treatment of warts and other minor skin problems.
Children
We
provide a full child surveillance service with specially trained medical staff
and a Health Visitor. Vaccinations can be completed at the baby clinic. If
you have any doubts at all as to whether your children are completely vaccinated
please speak to the Health Visitor or a Practice Nurse,
who will check the appropriate records and advise you.
Baby Clinic Tuesday 2.00pm-3.00pm
Antenatal
We
provide a comprehensive Ante natal service with the help of our attached midwife
Jackie Fletcher.
Antenatal Clinic Monday 2.00pm-3.30pm
Cervical
Cytology
Examinations
can be completed by the Practice Nurses or,if preferred, by the doctors. The
Health Authority operates computer based recall system and will inform you
when your next cervical examination is due. However, please phone to make
an appointment.
It is very important that you have a smear test every 4 years.
Patients
Participation Group
This group consists of 6 patient members registered
with this Practice supported by Dr o'Connor as the GP representative and Paul
Copsey,the Practice Manager.
The group meets about every three months to discuss Practice and other NHS issues and any suggestions for improvements are made. If you wish to contact any of the group. for any reason, ask at reception.
Your
comments and suggestions
We
are always pleased to hear your comments on the services we provide. There
are forms and a suggestions box located in reception.
All comments will be reviewed by the Patients Participation Group or GP's
as appropriate
Data
Protection
We
ask for information about you , so that you can receive the best possible
care and treatment. We keep this information, together with details of your
care, to ensure that your doctor or nurse has accurate and up to date information.
It may also be needed if we see you again.
There are times when we have to pass on information about you to other people
such as hospitals, Social Services or the Health Authority.This is always
done confidentially or by removing your identifying details when they are
not essential. Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to maintain the
highest level of confidentiality concerning patient information.
If at any time you would like to know more about how we use your information, you can speak to Paul Copsey our Practice Manager.
Self Treatment of Common Illnesses and Accidents
Many aches and pains can be treated at home without the need to consult a doctor.
Back
Pain
Back
pain causes up to 13 million working days to e lost in Britain each year.
The spine, being made up of 24 fragile bones and associated cartilage and
tendons, supports the whole weight of the upper body and therefore it is understandable
that it sometimes goes wrong.
If, as is usual, the pain has been caused by abuse, i.e. lifting too heavy
a weight etc., be sensible and take things easy. Take care to sit as upright
as possible with a support for the small of the back. Take Aspirin or Paracetamol,
which not only relieve the pain but will help to relieve inflammation. If
it does not settle in a few days it may be advisable to consult your doctor.
Burns
Apply
large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and
maintain this until the pain subsides. This may take as long as 15 minutes!
If the skin is unbroken but blistered apply a loose, dry dressing. If the
burn is larger than 4 or 5 inches in diameter, or if the skin is broken, consult
your doctor.
Colds
Even
in this day and age there is still no magic cure for the common cold. Go to
bed. take plenty of drinks. If you have a headache or are feverish, take Aspirin
(if over 12) or Paracetamol. Do not bother to take antibiotics you may have
in the house-these will have no effect.
Fever
(Burning up)
Most
infections have a fever as part of the symptoms. In children give Paracetamol
elixir. Adults (over 12 years)can take Aspirin or Paracetamol. If the fever
does not settle, consult your doctor.
Chicken
Pox
On the first day
a rash appears as small red patches about 3-4mm across, within a few hours
of these developing small blisters appear in the centre of the patch. during
the next 3 or 4 days further patches will appear and the earlier ones will
turn "crusty" and fall off. Oily Calamine Lotion may be applied
to soothe the often severe itching. Cool baths may also help. The most infectious
period is from 2 or 3 days before the rash appears and up to 5 days after
this date. Children may return to school as soon as the last "crusts"
have dropped off.
Minor
Cuts and Grazes
Wash
the wound thoroughly with water and a little soap. To stop the bleeding, apply
a clean handkerchief or dressing firmly to the wound for about 5 minutes.
Cover with a clean dry dressing.
Gastroenteritis
In
adults, diarrhoea is usually caused by a virus infection and is therefore
not treatable directly. The symptoms can usually be eased by the traditional
Kaolin and Morphine mixture or by medicines containing codeine. Consult your
doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a few days. Large quantities
of water, orange juice or thin soup should be taken to counter the effects
of dehydration. Diarrhoea in very young children and babies needs careful
attention. Most babies have loose bowel action during their first six months
because their diet is mainly liquid. Sudden bouts of unusually watery diarrhoea
should be treated by taking the baby off solid foods and feeding it with a
solution of boiled water together with a a teaspoon of sugar and half a teaspoon
of salt to the pint. If the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, or are
accompanied by vomiting or weakness, consult your doctor.
Measles
The
rash is blotchy and red and appears on the face and body around the fourth
day of the illness. It is at its most infectious from 2 to 3 days before the
rash appears until 8 or 10 days after that date.
German
Measles (Rubella)
The
rash appears during the first day and usually covers the whole body,arms and
legs in small pink patches about 2-4mm across and does not itch. No other
symptoms are usually present, apart from occasional aching joints. It is infectious
from 2 days after the rash appears, until the rash disappears in about 4 or
5 days from that date. The only danger is to unborn babies and, therefore,
it is important that anyone who has been in close contact with you is informed
so that anyone who is pregnant should contact their doctor.
Mumps
The
main symptom is the swelling of the glands in front of one or other ear often
followed, after a couple of days, by swelling in front of the other ear. It
is infectious from day 2, or 3 days before the swelling appears until 8 or
10 days after that date. If the pain is severe you should consult your doctor.
Nose
Bleeds
Sit
in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just
below the bone for approximately 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should
have stopped. Avoid hot drinks or food for 24 hours. If symptoms persist,
consult your doctor.
Sprains
First,
apply a cold compress, containing ice if possible, for 15 to 20 minutes, to
reduce the swelling. Apply a crepe dressing firmly and give the joint plenty
of rest until the discomfort has subsided. Further strain will inevitably
lead to further swelling and a longer recovery period.
Stomach
Ache
Most
attacks are not serious and are usually caused by indigestion or wind. A hot
water bottle will often relieve the symptoms and, in the case of indigestion,
a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in half a glass of water will help. If the
pain lasts for longer than 8 hours or increases in intensity you should consult
your doctor.
Sunburn
Treat
as for other burns with cold water to remove the heat. Calamine lotion will
relieve the irritation, whilst Paramol will help the pain. Children are particularly
susceptible to sun burn and great care should be taken to avoid over-exposure
to the harmful, effects of the sun.
Headlice
These
creatures, contrary to popular belief, prefer clean hair and are therefore
not a sign of poor personal hygiene. Before seeking medical advice it is usually
advised that the hair is coated with conditioner and fine tooth combed every
3 days for a fortnight. Medicated head lotion can be obtained from a chemist
without a prescription.
Insect
Bites and Stings
Antihistamine
tablets can be obtained from the chemist without prescription and will usually
relieve most symptoms. Note: Bee stings should be scraped away rather than
"plucked" in order to avoid squeezing more venom into the wound.