Barton Family Practice News – July 2024
We have introduced a new text appointment booking system to make it easier to book routine appointments with a GP for medication or treatment reviews or to discuss test results. After reviewing your test results or when a medication review is needed, your GP may send you a text with a link to make an appointment. You will then be able to choose and book a routine appointment directly, without the need to contact reception. Your doctor will specify whether this should be a face to face or a telephone consultation. The process is simple, and it will make it easier to book these routine appointments. Over time, we aim to increase the number of directly bookable routine appointments. Do not worry if you cannot seem to make an appointment that suits you – you can always phone the surgery reception for an appointment.
The Ambulatory Wound Care clinic is moving. The Midland Partnership Foundation Trust (MPFT) who run the clinics, have informed us, at short notice, that the clinic will be moving out of Barton to bases at Hill Street, Branston and Uttoxeter from the 3rd of June. They are aware that this will be inconvenient for patients from our practice who will have to travel much further to receive care. The clinic provides care for patients with chronic, slowly healing wounds such as leg ulcers, who require repeated and regular appointments for treatments such as dressings. Unfortunately, their decision is out of our control as they are an independent NHS body.
The number of whooping cough cases this year have been rising nationally, and we all need to be aware of the symptoms, of what can be a serious illness, particularly in young infants. The rise in cases is due to the loss of immunity in the population because of the pandemic, low vaccination uptake levels and the natural peak in cases that occurs every 3-5 years. Vaccination is the best protection against whooping cough. For more information about whooping cough see https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough/or Whooping cough – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Best wishes from all the team at BFP.