Latest News from Slateford Medical Centre, Edinburgh

Practice Newsletter July 2008

1. Extended Opening Time- From the week beginning Monday 23rd June 2008, the practice will be open for pre-booked routine appointments from 7am every Tuesday and Wednesday. If you require an early morning appointment with a GP, please contact our Reception Staff on 0131 442 8700.

2. Vandalism- In our last newsletter we reported having experienced numerous acts of vandalism towards our new building. I am pleased to report that after close consultation with our Community Police Officer, the vandals have been brought to justice.

3. New Staff- We are please to welcome two new members of staff to our Administration Team. Janette Smiles has been employed as a Medical Secretary/Receptionist and Ashleigh Pitcairn as a Medical Receptionist. Janette has many years experience of working within an NHS setting and Ashleigh is currently a student at Heriot Watt University working part time in the practice. We are also pleased to welcome Mary Swan, Community Staff Nurse to our Health Visiting Team, Karen McGrath, Community Staff Nurse to our District Nursing Team and Lorraine Shekleton to our Community Midwifery Team.

4. Ford’s Road Care Home- We have recently become the Lead Practice supplying care to the Ford’s Road Care Home in the Balgreen area. We visit the Care Home on a weekly basis and work closely with the Care Home staff to provide an excellent standard of care to the residents.

5. Same Day Appointments- We currently have a same day appointment clinic which is managed by our 2 Nurse Practitioners, Mary Horne and Ellen Sutherland. If you require an appointment the same day as you contact the practice, please advise our Reception Team. You will be supplied with an appointment to see either Nurse Practitioner who have full access to our GP Team and will be able to provide you with medication should you require it. Both Nurse Practitioners are able to refer you to secondary care should the need arise. The service is available Monday to Friday.

6. Breast Feeding Support Group- Our Community Midwives are planning to start this new support group from Wednesday 23rd July. It will be open to all new breast feeding mums. If you would like to come along, there is no need to make an appointment. The group will meet in our Health Education Suite, on the ground floor.

7. New Patients- The practice is currently registering new patients. This is a quick and easy process. Patient are asked to complete two forms, bring along some form of identity along with proof of UK residency. When the form has been given to the Receptionist all new patients are able to make an appointment to see a clinician. Practice Information Booklets are available at the Reception Desk or view the full range of services on our website.

8. Wasted Medicines Campaign- NHS Lothian has launched its first campaign in a bid to reduce the amount of prescription medicines wasted each year. It is estimated that wasted medicines cost the health board around £3 million each year. Medicine wastage is a serious problem. Medicines are often wasted due to people ordering more than they need or ordering medicines they are no longer taking. NHS Lothian highlights that the savings made from wasted medicines could pay for 75 more nurses, or 460 more hip replacements or 260 more heart bypass operations. Unused medicines, even if unopened, cannot be reused by another patient and can pose a safety risk, particularly to children, if kept at home. The campaign started the week beginning 16th June 2008. Posters are being advertised in practices and pharmacies along with adverts on Forth FM & Forth 2. Bus advertisement will start the week beginning 23rd June 2008. To aid the campaign please think before you order what medication you may need.