Village Voice April/May 2013 | Page 25

The Alresford Surgery Newsletter Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9JL Telephone No. 01962 732345 Fax: 01962 736034 Web site – www.alresfordsurgery.co.uk For general advice or reassurance NHS Direct 0845 46 47 OUT OF HOURS 0300 300 2012 Voluntary Care drivers needed Our voluntary care organisations have seen a marked increase in the number of patients asking for help to get to appointments and would be grateful to hear from any new drivers who may be able to join their team. Please contact Jackie Elvins on (01962) 735660. Users of the group are reminded that it is manned by volunteers and they cannot always cover every request, particularly if made at late notice. A donation towards each journey is needed to cover costs. 111 Out of Hours Service This service is now up and running. Patients needing out-of-hours medical care should now dial 111 to obtain help. Repeat Prescriptions We have received a number of comments recently regarding the policy to prescribe only one month’s worth of medication at a time. According to the Department of Health ‘A 28-day prescribing interval is recognised by the NHS as making the best possible balance between patient convenience, good medical practice and minimal drug wastage’. are some drugs which are packaged in three- monthly amounts and continue to be dispensed in these packs, for example, contraceptive pills and HRT. The vast majority of patients collecting repe