The Alresford Surgery
Newsletter (continued)
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medication you are taking is still the
best way to manage your medical
condition.
Do not stockpile medicines at home;
only order those items that you will need
until your next prescription is obtained
(usually 28 days).
Return any unwanted medication to the
pharmacy for safe disposal.
To allow for possible delay, please
order when you still have a few days of
medication in hand. It usually takes 48
hours to complete a prescription
request.
Patient Hospital Transport
Some patients may be eligible for nonemergency patient transport services
(PTS). These services provide free
transport to and from hospital appointments
for people who have a medical need for it.
If a patient does qualify for hospital
transport we at the surgery can only book
this for the first outpatient appointment,
thereafter the hospital must make the
booking.
To qualify for non-urgent transport a patient
must:
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Require a stretcher or the support of
two or more ambulance personnel, OR
Require to lie down for part of the
journey, OR
Have no alternative means of private
transport
(car,
friends,
family,
community scheme or taxi) and have a
condition that would make them a risk
to themself or others or compromise
their dignity by using public transport,
OR
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Have no means of private transport as
described above and use a wheelchair
or walking aid AND be unable to
transfer into a car or taxi.
Given these strict guidelines we anticipate
that very few patients will meet these
criteria. Unfortunately patient transport is
not available if a patient is unable to afford
the cost of public transport or a taxi. If a
patient receives certain benefits they may
be entitled to financial help with the cost of
getting to a hospital appointment under the
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. Most
hospitals have a cashier’s desk where
refunds can be requested.
Communication with Patients
At the end of 2012 we carried out a patient
survey on the subject of communication
with patients. The results of the survey
were discussed by the Patient Forum who
recommended some action points for us to
address:
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Publish information to help patients get
the best from their surgery, particularly
in terms of seeing the most appropriate
clinician at the most appropriate time in
order to improve continuity of care.
Widen the distribution of paper copies
of the newsletter.
Re-record the telephone message
using a shorter message and a female
voice.
Keep patients better informed about
doctors and nurses running late during
surgeries.
Re-publish information about 28-day
prescribing.
Purchase a screen for the waiting room
to provide health information and
surgery news.
Doctors to review the use of courtesy
titles when calling patients from the
waiting room.