Noticeboard

Violence and Aggression 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. 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

Text Message Reminders

mobile phone You can now register to receive information by text message on your phone.

We are offering appointments reminders, and also your doctor may notify you of the results of any tests you have at the practice.

If you wish to opt in for this reminder service please let the staff or your GP know that you are happy to receive information via SMS text message, and we can amend your record accordingly. Alternatively you can email the practice at slmp@nhs.net - and provide your mobile number. The reception staff will then enroll you for the reminder service.

Please note it is your responsibility to keep the practice informed of any changes to your personal details, to ensure we hold the correct mobile telephone contact details for you.

Urine Samples

There has been a change in thinking about the need for testing urine samples for routine reviews in the wake of more useful blood tests we now have available.

In the future the nurses can advise you if a urine sample is required when you attend for review blood tests – you will not be asked routinely to bring one to your appointment.

This doesn't currently alter the need for urine samples if you think you have a urine infection or 'cystitis'. In these cases, please still bring a sample for testing. White topped urine pots can be collected from the reception desk for this purpose.

We will no longer be asking new patients to bring a urine sample to their new patient check appointment at the practice.

Improving Access

All the staff and doctors at the South Lawn Medical practice want to make sure we communicate with our patients and visitors in the best possible way.

We are looking at developing our letters and leaflets to make sure we have them available in a range of formats so people can choose which they find easier to understand.

For a range of leaflets and advice in an "easy to read format" - you can visit http://www.easyhealth.org.uk/ . They offer a range of leaflets and materials, many of which are free, and all are easy to download and use. Topics include food and excercise, managing health problems and conditions, and certain examinations and procedures.

They also have a range of health videos - all of which are free, which may help with more information about what to expect when you visit the doctor or the hospital.

Please do let the receptionist or doctor know if you would like them to print an easy read leaflet for you, or use it to explain your consultation. If you would like a longer appointment with the doctor or nurse, please ask the receptionist when you book. They will always do their best to help with these requests.

We have just published some useful videos online - these have been made at the practice and help demonstrate things like using an inhaler correctly, how to use the check in machine when you arrive for your appointment and other things you may find useful. You can follow the link to the webpage here from here http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthLawnMed.

We offer an online system for ordering medication and booking apppointments, and we also offer an SMS (text messaging) reminder service for appointments.

Please speak to a member of the reception team if you would like any further help with accessing online services, or if you have any special needs with regards to how we communicate with you, and we will try our best to assist.

Exeter Foodbank

Exeter Foodbank provide emergency food and supplies for patients within the area who are struggling to make ends meet.

Vouchers for Exeter foodbank can be obtained from the Citizens Advice Bureau, or Devon County Council. Unfortunately GPs at the Practice are not able to issue vouchers for the Foodbank, but you can visit the website for more information: http://exeter.foodbank.org.uk/

The South Lawn Medical Practice

We are a friendly, dedicated team committed to providing excellent health care for you, your family and your future.

Our doctors and nurses take pride in offering the highest standard of patient-centred healthcare.We offer appointments for chronic disease care and offer a wide variety of other medical services such as antenatal and postnatal care, minor surgery, childhood vaccinations and well-person check-ups.

Our practice also takes part in high quality medical research, which helps to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation.

In addition to everything you need to know about the practice you will also find a wealth of health-related information in the menu on the right hand side.

Please have a look around and do send us some feedback if you like.

The media has recently drawn a lot of attention to doctor’s receptionists.

We wanted to thank our reception team for the excellent job they do in keeping the practice running smoothly and supporting our patients.

The information we ask receptionists to gather when patients contact the practice is always very important in helping us prioritise our work safely and efficiently, and enabling patients to be seen by the most appropriate person for their needs.

The Doctors - SLMP

Patients of Dr Harrison

Dr Andrew Harrison will be reducing the number of sessions he works at the Practice from 4th September 2017 as part of a phased retirement. He has no plans for final retirement at present.

He will continue to care for half his current patient list and the other half will become the responsibility of Dr Katherine Wood who will be increasing her commitment to become a full time partner. The list will be split alphabetically so those with a surname ‘A to K’ will continue to have Dr Harrison as their usual GP and those from ‘L to Z’ will have Dr Wood as their usual GP.

It is with regret that Dr Harrison will no longer be caring for many patients he has known and cared for over a long period of time, but the split by surname seems the fairest way to make the division. It may be that the changes will result in some households with some members remaining on Dr Harrison’s list and others with a different surname being allocated to Dr Wood. If this is an issue for you please contact reception to discuss.

In all other circumstances the split of the list will relate to surname and there will be no exceptions.

We trust you will understand the need for the changes, and Dr Harrison would like to take this opportunity to say how much he has enjoyed being your GP over the years.

Best in Exeter

July 2017 - The whole Team are delighted to have been found to be the "best surgery in Exeter" in terms of patients rating their general experience as "good" following an NHS-run survey involving hundreds of thousands of patient responses for the SECOND year running!

You can read the full article from 2016 here: http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/revealed-the-best-and-worst-doctors-surgeries-in-exeter-as-rated-by-patients/story-29513596-detail/story.html

NHS Friends and Family Test

Did you know that you can now leave anonymous feedback about our practice? There are forms and a ballot box in our waiting room - please ask a member of the reception team if you would like assistance with completing this.

If you wish to complete this short survey online, please press the "patient survey" button - results will be returned anonymously to the Practice.

Thank you for your help with this.

Please have a look at our latest Friends and Family Results below!

Friends and Family September 2017

EPC

Exeter Primary Care

This Practice is a member of Exeter Primary Care.

Because of funding cuts, demographic changes and workforce reduction, traditional General Practice partnerships will no longer be funded as before. In response to this challenge the 16 Exeter Practices have formed a company called Exeter Primary Care (EPC), to adapt imaginatively to the needs of our times.

We aim to:

Maintain and develop high quality primary care services for the people of Exeter.
Help the local community to improve their health and wellbeing, and to support patients when they are ill.
Encourage people to use the wider health and social care system as efficiently and effectively as possible.

For more information please visit EPC’s website at www.exeterprimarycare.co.uk

Exeter General Practice Access for evenings and weekends

Patients in Exeter can now see a GP or a nurse 7 days a week as Exeter Practices join forces to provide increased cover at weekends and weekday evenings. Participating practices across the City now open on a rota basis on a Saturday and Sunday (9.00 am – 5.00 pm) and weekday evenings (Monday-Thursday) between 6.30pm and 8.00 pm. Early morning cover between 7.00am and 8.00am is being trialled on Friday mornings. For more information and details of opening times please visit

www.exeterprimarycare.co.uk/uncategorized/exeteropeningtimes

Access

disability The Premises have been designed to allow easy access for the disabled. All patient treatment and administration areas are on the ground floor. There are two ground floor toilets for the disabled. A loop system is provided in the waiting room for people with hearing difficulties. The receptionists are happy to provide assistance to people with vision or hearing impairment. Please let the receptionists know if assistance is required. Please see the "Improving Access" section of our website for more information.

If you use our online services to order medicine or book appointments, you can now use an app to view access your account via your smart phone.

Details about the app are available online — search for “SystmOnline—the patient health management app” . Or follow the link using one of the buttons below.

(Site updated 13/09/2017)