Patient Satisfaction Survey - we need your help!

For two weeks a questionnaire is available for patients to complete.

Please click here to download the questionnaire and e-mail your completed survey to wil-pct.boasecretaries@nhs.net or alternatively drop it into the surgery.

We need as many questionnaires completed as possible, your input is invaluable!

The results of the survey will be made available on the website sometime during March 2012.

Please click here to view the 'did you know' document which is mentioned in the questionnaire.

Posted: 7.2.12

FREE drop in sessions for Counselling & Psychotherapy

On Saturday 25th February and Saturday 24th March, 10am-12noon, Jane Saunders, will be available to answer your questions or to see you in confidence for a FREE(no obligation)15 minute consultation at Green Tree Health.

No need to book, just turn up!

However, if you would prefer to book a time on these days or arrange a full appointment at another time, please telephone Jane direct on 07773 074861.

greentree100 For more information about Green Tree Health, click here.

Posted: 6.2.12

Patient Information

We are in the process of collecting the 'smoking status' of our patients at the practice.

If you are happy to do so, please complete the 'Your clinical record' form which is available underneath the On-line services (bottom left of the screen) or click here.

Posted: 27.1.12

Stressed, anxious, depressed?

The practice have a team of Mental Health Practitioners who are able to provide patients with support when going through a difficult time.

Click here to read more about Mental Health Services and other Specialist Services.....

Posted: 26.1.12

Health Video's

We have videos on our website to provide you with information about some popular health issues.

To view them, click on one of the following links (or go to the orange section below - bottom right of the home screen):

Your Health

Long Term Conditions

Minor Illness

If there are any other subjects you would find useful, please complete the feedback form and we will forward them to the website development team for review.

Posted: 19.1.12

Avoid the queues and cancel your appointment direct!

Did you know that we have a designated appointment cancellation line, which is available 24 hours a day (even at weekends!)

PHONE or TEXT 01225 860025

These messages are collected regularly throughout the day.

You can also cancel your appointment on-line by clicking on the 'cancel appointment' button on the home screen, below left.

Posted 13.1.11

Ordering prescriptions on-line.

If you would like to order repeat medication on-line, please take proof of ID (passport/driving licence/utility bill) to the receptionist who will be able to register you and provide you with a password.

For more information about the repeat prescription service, please click here.

Posted: 11.1.12

Text message appointment reminders!

silver_phone

We are pleased to announce that from Wednesday 11th January, at 11.45am each week day, patients who have an appointment for the following day will receive an instant SMS text message appointment reminder.

To receive this service, please inform the receptionist of your mobile telephone number.

If you would prefer NOT to receive ANY text messages from the practice, please ask reception staff to mark this on your record.

Posted: 11.1.12

Many thanks....

The doctors and staff would like to give a BIG thank you to the patients who gave us Christmas gifts this year.

We are most grateful for your generosity.

We wish you a very Happy & Healthy New Year!

Posted: 9.1.12

Staff raise money for charity!

Each year the staff at The Health Centre, Bradford on Avon, donate money to charity instead of sending each other christmas cards.

This year we are proud to report they have raised £55 for Dorothy House Hospice and £55 for Bath Cats & Dogs home .

Posted: 6.1.12

Latest Newsletter available now!

Click here to download the Newsletter.

Posted: 3.1.12

Are you fit to Quit?

Please attend our STOP SMOKING CLINIC with one of our trained advisors - Ruth Randall & Sharon Padfield.

You are 4 more times likely to quit with help from an advisor.

Please ask the receptionist to book you an appointment at The Health Centre or at St Damian's Surgery.

Posted: 30.12.11

Patient Voice e-mail group

We are pleased to announce that we now have 101 patients in our e-mail group.

The first e-mail was sent to patients today asking for their opinions and feedback on various subjects.

It is not too late to join the group!

Please read earlier posts for more information.

Posted: 29.12.11

Magazines for the waiting room

We would like to up-date the reading material in our surgery waiting rooms.

If you have any recent magazines which you no longer need and would feel happy to donate them to the practice, we would be very grateful.

Posted: 9.12.11

Green Tree Health

There are a variety of alternative therapists and counsellors working at Green Tree Health. For more information click here and then click on the Green Tree Health tab.

Posted: 6.12.11

Patient e-mail group

We are thrilled to announce that 68 patients have already signed up to be part of the practice e-mail group!

If you would like to join in or find out more, please read the post below.....

Posted: 5.12.11

We would like your ideas and opinions

Are you interested in supporting your practice in delivering and developing patient services?

The Surgery is looking for patients from all age groups, social and cultural backgrounds to help us.

To achieve this we are looking to create an e-mail group whereby we can contact members, without the need for people to attend meetings at the practice.

register_now If you are interested in being involved, please contact the surgery during December, using the e-mail address below. Your contribution will be valued.

boamhp.patientvoice@nhs.net

If however, you do not have access to the internet, please attend one of the regular Patient Participation Group Meetings. The date of the next meeting is Wednesday 7^th December, 7.00pm at The Health Centre, Bradford on Avon.

For more information about the Patient Participation Group, please click here.

Posted: 26.11.11

Text message appointment reminders

silver_phone The practice will soon be sending patients appointment reminder automatically by text message, 24 hours prior to the appointment.

To receive this service we will need your mobile phone number on your records. To tell us this number please complete the contact details form (on the bottom left of the screen).

The practice also has the facility to send text messages to patients with any general practice information too.

If you would prefer NOT to receive ANY text messages from the practice, please ask reception staff to mark this on your record.

Posted: 26.11.11

Booking your appointment on-line

This facility is currently under construction and will be coming soon to the website.

Please check back here for future posts to find out more information of how the service will work & when the service will be available for patients to use.

Posted 26.11.11

Results Service

If you are awaiting the result of a test, please contact the results service.

Bradford on Avon patients:

01225 867876

Melksham patients:

01225 898490

For the opening times & for more information pleaseclick here.

Posted 8.2.12

Older posts...

To review archived messages please click here

Health Charities

01 Dec - 28 Feb
Marie Curie

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

Diabetes patients miss key tests

More than 1.3 million diabetes patients could be missing out on vital and potentially life-saving health checks, the BBC learns.

US record kidney donor chain ends

The world's largest chain of organ transplants ends in the US after 30 patients received kidneys from living donors.

Government 'not trusted on NHS'

Over two-thirds of people do not trust the government's handling of the NHS, a poll commissioned for BBC Radio 5 live suggests.

Brain damaged girl awarded £7.3m

A girl left severely brain damaged by complications after her premature birth is awarded £7.3m.

'Promising' pancreas cancer drug

Scientists report promising results for an experimental pancreatic cancer drug treatment.

Manager resigns amid staff strike

A manager at Swindon's Great Western Hospital resigns prior to a 24-hour strike by support workers.

PIP implant women meet minister

Women with breast implants which have been linked to a health scare are to meet Scotland's Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

Lansley heckled by NHS protesters

David Cameron says there are "myths we need to bust" after Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is heckled by protesters before a meeting on NHS changes.

Doctors warn over alcohol deaths

Failure to reform alcohol laws could lead to 210,000 preventable deaths in England and Wales in the next 20 years, doctors warn.

Mother's tears at death inquiry

The mother of one of five children whose deaths are being investigated by a public inquiry broke down as details of her son's final hours were discussed.

Health Protection Agency

Level 2 cold weather alert 17 February 2012

The Met Office has forecast that in at least the next two to three days there is a 60% chance of temperatures in the North East and North West regions.

Measles outbreak declared on Merseyside

A measles outbreak has been declared on Merseyside. There are 13 confirmed and 16 suspected cases ranging in age from nine months to adults aged in their 20s. Six people, four children and two adults, required treatment in hospital. This compares to just one confirmed case on Merseyside in the first six weeks of 2011 and one in the corresponding period of 2010.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

10 February 2012, 1400hrs. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has this week been alerted by the Spanish public health authorities about a further case of Legionnaires’ Disease in a UK resident who stayed at the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca, as well as two French cases. This brings the total number of UK residents associated with this cluster to 12, with three deaths.

Development made in breakdown of a Meningitis B vaccine component

Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

Your Test Results

Providing Samples

Blood Tests

X-Ray

Your Test Results

blood_tests We offer a dedicated telephone line for test results. The number is 01225 867876 and can be accessed Monday to Friday during 8.30am-12.30pm & 2.00pm - 5.30pm.

However, if you are a patient of St Damian's Surgery, please contact your surgery direct on 01225 898490.

The nurse, doctor or other health care professional carrying out the test will advise you when the results will be available.

It is then the responsibility of the patient or their carer to telephone for the results of the tests.

The doctor will have given the receptionist specific instructions regarding any follow-up that may be required and what information they would like conveyed to you.

The receptionist may tell you what the result is, they may ask you to make a telephone consultation with the doctor, they make ask you to make a face-to-face consultation with the doctor, or it may be that the doctor telephones you direct.

If the receptionist is in any doubt whatsoever about the instructions that have been left, she will ask the doctor for clarification and telephone you back.

Time taken for results to reach your doctor

Please note that these times are only a guideline.

*Test*	*Approximate waiting time*
Blood test	5 days
Hepatitis B	7 days
Urine test	5 days
Swab	5 days
Stool sample	5 days
Fungal test	14 days
Virology screen	14 days
X-ray/MRI/CT scan	2-4 weeks (although can take longer)

Providing a stool sample

Clearly label the blue sample bottle with name & date of birth
Record date and time of when sample taken
Wash hands and relevant area before you start
Sterilise (swill out with boiling water) a container which can be used to catch the stool
Using the spoon attached to the lid of bottle transfer some of the collected stool into the bottle
Secure the lid firmly shut
Before 12.00 noon take the sample to the surgery.

Providing a mid urine stream sample

Sample must be fresh the same day, the lab will not process samples that are taken the day before
Clearly label the sample bottle with name & date of birth
Record date and time of when sample was taken
Wash the genital area and hands
Sterilise (swill out with boiling water) a container that can be used to pass urine into & then transfer to the sample bottle
A mid-stream urine sample means that you don’t collect the first part or the last part of urine that comes out.
Before 12.00 noon take the sample to the surgery.

Blood Tests

test tubes containing blood A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

assess your general state of health
confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

X-Ray

doctor examining an x-ray An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.

Further Information

Patient Participation Group

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services