1. COMBS FORD SURGERY Patient Information Screen September 2015

2. STAY SAFE THIS WINTER Book your Seasonal Flu Vaccination now!

3. SEASONAL FLU CLINICS Free vaccinations if you are; Over 65 A Carer Pregnant Or suffer from; Heart problems or a chest complaint Asthma requiring regular inhalers Kidney disease or diabetes Lowered immunity or are a stroke victim

4. SEASONAL FLU CLINICS Saturday 17th October 2015 and Wednesday afternoon & evenings during October Please note that these sessions are for patients eligible for the free seasonal flu vaccination – booked appointments and walk in appointments available

5. FLU CLINICS This year all children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old on the 31 st of August 2015 will be offered a flu vaccine administered via a nasal spray. Please contact reception AFTER 5 th October to book.

6. SEASONAL FLU CLINICS St Elizabeth Hospice will be collecting on Saturday 17 th October and would appreciate your support, thank you.

7. SHINGLES VACCINE….. New shingles vaccination Available NOW Very strict age criteria apply - Please give your date of birth at reception and an appointment will be booked if appropriate

8. PHYSIOTHERAPY ASSESSMENT CLINIC We are pleased to be able to offer a physiotherapy assessment clinic every Friday This clinic can be booked via reception and is an alternative to seeing the GP This clinic is for assessment and advice

9. PHYSIOTHERAPY Patients are also able to refer themselves for physiotherapy advice either online or by phone No need to see your GP! Pick up a card from reception Initially advice and exercises Onward referral if necessary - Via www.ahpsuffolk.co.uk/referralwww.ahpsuffolk.co.uk Or telephone 01473 770066 Or www.ipswichhospital.nhs.uk/itrust/physiowww.ipswichhospital.nhs.uk/itrust/physio Telephone 01473 703312

10. Telephone access– We now have a new phone system to direct patients more quickly to the relevant staff in the practice The options are;- Press 9 in an emergency Press 2 for Reception- for appointments, and results after 11am Press 3 for the Medical Secretaries for referrals and visits Press 4 for Dispensary for medication queries and reviews (this phone will be answered between 10.30-12 and 2.30-4pm) Press 5 for Finance Department Please note that you can press the extension you require at any time during the lead message

11. PATIENT INFORMATION Missed Appointments Over 50 GP appointments were missed during August Please remember to cancel your appointment if it is no longer needed

12. PATIENT INFORMATION Due to the number of missed appointments and following feedback from patients, it has become necessary to implement a Did Not Attend Policy This is available to view on the Practice website and on the noticeboards www.combsfordsurgery.org.uk

13. PATIENT INFORMATION If you cannot attend your appointment for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible. We can then offer the appointment to someone else. Thank you for your co-operation.

14. WHO’S WHO AT COMBS FORD SURGERY Photos of “the team” are now on display in the waiting room to help you identify your clinician or staff members. We hope this helps!

15. SATURDAY MORNING CLINICS – CHANGES…. In response to the patient survey, the Saturday morning clinics will be replaced by an extended hours service on Wednesday evenings until 7.30pm.

16. WEDNESDAY EVENING CLINICS Appointments will be available with the Doctor, Nurse, Emergency Care Practitioner or Health Care Assistant until 7.30pm Appointments can be booked in advance

17. SURGERY CLOSURE- STAFF TRAINING The Practice will be closed for essential staff training on the following dates - Thursday 17 th September 1-6.30pm Wednesday 14 th October 1-6.00pm (followed by late opening 6.00-7.30pm) Thursday 12 th November 1-6.30pm Wednesday 9 th December 1-6.00pm (followed by late opening 6.00-7.30pm)

18. CONSENT Informed implied or expressed consent will be obtained before any procedure or examination is carried out. An explanation will be given to the patient sufficient to understand the procedure. Should the procedure carry a risk that the patient is likely to consider as being substantial, expressed consent (written or verbal) will be obtained. Copies of the consent policy are available on request.

19. ZERO TOLERANCE The Practice operates a zero tolerance policy We will not hesitate to remove patients from our list who: are violent or abusive to any Practice member. use or condone threatening or violent behaviour. cause damage/steal from the Practice's premises/staff/patients. obtain drugs and/or medical services fraudulently. We ask you to treat your GPs and their staff courteously at all times.