1. Comments & Suggestions
The Beacon Health Group
Newsletter Edition 8
We would like to welcome a new G.P. who will be based at Danbury medical Centre, Dr Katie Trathen.
We have three new registrars; Dr Beenish Khan, Dr Rosie Adlington and Dr Hema Patel. Dr Adlington AND Dr Patel will be based at Danbury and Dr Khan will work across both sites.
Rhonda Phoenix has come on board as our new Health Care Assistant and will be based across both sites.
Comments & Suggestions
We have had suggestions off the back of our alarming number of DNA’s to fine our patients that consistently do not attend their appointments, unfortunately, we are not permitted to fine patients under our GMS contract.
We have attached a copy of our DNA policy to the back of this newsletter.
We had a comment from a patient to say our surgery feels very sterile and not welcoming. We were really disappointed with this comment as we work hard to keep the building clean and update our patients of all relevant surgery information.
We have had numerous requests for a water cooler in the waiting rooms at Danbury. We are pleased to inform our patients that we are investigating this.

2. SATURDAY FLU CLINIC WILL BE HELD AT DROP IN FLU CLINIC
Danbury Medical Centre on Saturday 23rd September 08:00am – 15.30pm
Mountbatten House Surgery on Saturday 30th September 08:00am – 15:30pm
We also have clinics to be booked running during the week at:
Danbury Medical Centre on Monday 18th September 08:00am – 12.30pm
Mountbatten House Surgery on Monday 18th September 14.00pm – 15.30pm
Mountbatten House Surgery on Friday 22nd September 14:00pm – 15.30pm
PLEASE BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT AT RECEPTION
DROP IN FLU CLINIC
We will also be offering a drop in clinic 08:00am – 10:00am at Danbury Medical Centre on Monday 25th September & Monday 2nd October.

3. During August our Chairman, David Stewart, met with Dr Tania Brasse from The Beacon Health Group to present them with some new medical equipment. The Patient Involvement Group are delighted to have been supported by local people in our fundraising efforts over the last year and after careful consideration with DMC have purchased several pieces of new and much needed equipment. Items include an additional 24-hour ECG machine which allows patients to be monitored from DMC rather than from hospital. Two Ear Syringe Irrigation System machines which will replace an aged machine, which is in high demand within the surgery.  An Ultrasound Monitor, which can be used to detect foetal heartbeat and also to provide patient care in a wide range of clinical environments.  Finally a Resuscitation Trolley so that each floor of the new Medical Centre has immediate access to equipment needed in an emergency.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the PIG group for their very kind donations.

4. Message from Reception
Appointments
Our appointment system allows patients to access a GP up to four weeks in advance or with our Nurse Team up to eight weeks in advance. Patients
needing to be seen urgently on the day will
be triaged by the Duty Doctor. 
We would like to remind patients of the following times lines:
Blood test results
take 7 days from the date of your test.
X-ray results
take days
Private referral
letters to be written take at least 48hrs

5. To use this facility the patient must first obtain a user name and password from the surgery in order to log in.  This must be done in person at the surgery and will only be provided by the receptionist upon production of photo ID by the patient - such as passport, photo driving licence or student card. 
(Once you have received your password please allow 24 hours before you can access the system)
A significant amount of appointments are now available to book via this system which are not able to be booked by a receptionist, some of these appointments are for the next day or the within the week, with a choice of GP, and can only be accessed online. There is also a wide range of phlebotomy appointments to pre-book. We are developing this online booking system further and are constantly monitoring the online appointments to ensure that they meet patient demand.  
Please ensure that you select an appointment at your preferred site before booking. 

6. DISPENSARY UPDATE Message from your Local Pharmacy
When requesting your repeat medication on-line via system-online, please be aware that any comments left unrelated to your repeat medication request are not able to be responded to. Therefore please do not add anything in the ‘additional comments’ section unrelated to your repeat medication request.
Message from your Local Pharmacy
The Beacon Health Group complete your repeat requests in 48 working hours from receipt of your request either to collect from our dispensary or sent to your nominated pharmacy.
Our local pharmacies would like to advise our patients of the following timelines:
NEETI – 1 Clematis Tye, Springfield
Patients who's prescription requests are sent electronically to Neeti Pharmacy have requested 5 working days from the date they receive your prescription for collection.
Boots – Eves Corner, Danbury
Patients who's prescription requests are
sent electronically to Boots Pharmacy have
requested 7 working days from the date they
receive your prescription for collection.

7. Breast Screening notice
DNA’S
The Beacon Health Group have sadly once again had an alarming number of DNA’s reported for the month of August 2017.
A total 275 patients did not attend their appointments in August; 182 at Danbury Medical Centre & 93 at Mountbatten House Surgery
PLEASE remember to cancel an appointment if it is no longer needed to allow other patients the opportunity of filling the appointment.
As a reminder, to cancel an appointment please call the surgery and press option 2 to leave your name, date of birth, date and time of appointment.
Please DO NOT reception as although this mailbox is checked daily it is not checked continuously throughout the day.
Breast Screening notice
Should you receive an appointment for breast screening at a location that is NOT convenient for yourself, PLEASE contact the breast screening department on and ask the receptionist when the breast screening unit will be at your preferred location.
Unfortunately The Beacon Health Group do not control where your appointment is made.

8. PPG Update
You are invited to join our next Patient Participant Group meeting at Mountbatten House Surgery on Monday 2nd October 2017 at 18:30pm.
BEACON HEALTH PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP
Are you aware that there are a number of options open to you to help with your own or your family's care before deciding whether or not you should make an appointment with your GP, a Nurse, or go to your local A & E Hospital.
Come and find out what you can do for yourself at a talk on    
"SELF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY"
Monday 18th September 2017, starting at 7.00 pm at
The Boleyn Room
Springfield Parish Centre
St Augustine's Way
Springfield
CM1 6GX
Pedestrian Crossing outside Danbury Medical Centre
The Parish Office had been advised that the crossing was due to be installed by Essex County Council Highways during the school summer holidays after it was due to go in during May.
Unfortunately, this has been delayed again and may now be carried out during the October half term. The Parish Council is very frustrated and disappointed that this work has been delayed yet again and is working with Essex County Cllr John Spence to ensure that the crossing is installed as soon as possible. Please check the Parish Council website for updates

10. Information for Patients who do not attend their Appointments
Introduction
Due to the increasing number of appointments wasted through non-attendance the Practice have, with the support of the Patient Participation Group (PPG), introduced the following policy effective 1st April 2014.
STAGE ONE.
Patient has failed to attend a pre-booked appointment (1st in a twelve month period).
Patient will receive DNA1 letter and a copy of this leaflet.
STAGE TWO
Patient has failed to attend a pre-booked appointment (2nd in a twelve month period) OR patient has failed to attend a “same day” appointment i.e. an appointment booked for attendance the day it’s booked.
Patient will receive DNA2 letter and a copy of this leaflet.
STAGE THREE
Patient has failed to attend a pre-booked appointment (3rd in a twelve month period) OR patient has failed to attend a “same day” appointment i.e. an appointment booked for attendance the day it’s booked for the second time.
What will happen if a patient reaches Stage 3?
At this stage, one of two things will happen:
The Partners will request the removal of the patient from their Practice List and will write to the patient advising that this is the course of action they have taken. OR
The Partners will write to the Patient advising that they may remain registered at the Practice on the condition that all appointments are attended thirty minutes before their allocated appointment time. This allows us the opportunity to offer the appointment to another patient should this not be adhered to.
Should the patient opt to remain registered at the Practice they will be requested to sign an agreement stating that they understand and will comply with the conditions applied to their continued registration at the Surgery.
What will happen if a patient does not arrive THIRTY MINUTES before their appointment time?
Patients not arriving thirty minutes before their allocated appointment time will have their appointment cancelled.
Patients subsequently attending the Surgery once their appointment has been cancelled will not be offered another appointment for that same day.
Patients not arriving thirty minutes before their allocated appointment time and not offering any explanation for this will be written to and removed from the Practice List.

11. How long will these conditions remain valid for?
Stage Three will remain in place for a minimum of three appointments and a maximum period of one year.
CANCELLING YOUR APPOINTMENT:
Should you wish to cancel your appointment please give us as much notice as possible but certainly no less than thirty minutes allowing us adequate time to offer the appointment to another.
TEXT MESSAGES:
Effective Monday 1st July 2013 we started sending text confirmation of your appointment to your mobile number (if you have given us your consent). Please ensure that the reception team have your current mobile phone number for this purpose.
For children under 16 we will be texting the parent whose number is on that child’s record.
Please note that it is your responsibility to remember your appointment and to ensure you let us know in good time if you cannot attend.
Should you have any queries regarding this policy, please address them to the Practice Manager, Mrs Samantha Young.