Imperial Medical Practice
Spring Newsletter 2010
 Welcome to the Imperial Medical Practice Spring Newsletter. The aim of our newsletters is to keep you informed of news of both the Practice and the Patient Support Group, known as the Imperial Venture Group.
New Practice Manager & GP Registrar
After seven years as Practice Manager, Bob Bryant, has taken a well earned retirement and we welcome in his place Nicola Power. In our last newsletter we introduced our first GP Registrar, Dr Bronwen Goodyer. She has now completed very successfully her six months training at the Practice, and we welcome her replacement for the next six months, Dr Gemma Newman.
Bob Bryant
It is with an element of sadness, but at the same time with a considerable amount of gratitude that we announce that our Practice Manager, Bob Bryant, is leaving at the end of March. Bob joined the Practice back in 2003, and did so as a short term appointment, on his part, to cover the maternity leave of our then Practice Manager.
Now seven years later the end of his `short term appointment' has arrived. Bob has brought his own unique style to the role, always insightful and able to steer the Practice through the many challenges that the health service presents. He has been continuously supportive of the Imperial Venture Group and the very constructive relationship that exists between the Practice and the Patients. We hope that his retirement will be an enjoyable one, and allow him even more opportunity to enjoy his family and to further improve his handicap at the East Devon Golf Club.
Nicola Power
A bit about me! I return to Exmouth after 23 years in the wilderness, exploring the world; but as we all know the pull of home and Devon is a strong one! I was born here and went to Exmouth Community College then Exeter College before going off to study in Liverpool for a degree in Fine Art. I won a fellowship in Sculpture and still love to stone carve when possible.
I then further spread my wings and lived and worked in London, Liverpool (again!) Chester, Southport, Cardiff and Bristol, where I met my husband. My last adventure took us to Amsterdam for five years where we married and had our two young boys.
I have a commercial background with fifteen years of management experience and love working with people. The Dutch approach to life and health is very different to here and I hope to bring some of the positive approaches to life I have learnt there with me. In my spare time(!!) I love reading with a passion, walking, being creative, and spending time with my family.
I am delighted to be working here and look forward to growing in my new role and to meeting you all.
Dr Gemma Newman
Gemma has been with the Practice since the beginning of February, replacing Dr Bronwen Goodyer. Gemma writes:
“When I started working at Imperial I sat in with the other doctors and nurses watching them do a fantastic job. Since then I have started running my own clinics and getting to meet lots of Imperial patients, but please bear with me as I get to grips with the computer!
I was very pleased to find out I would be working at the Imperial Surgery, as working in Exmouth is like coming home to me. I grew up down here and most of my family still live in the area. Like my predecessor Bronwen Goodyer, I trained at Guy's, King's and St Thomas Medical School, London and graduated in 2007 after taking a year out to study Healthcare Management at Imperial Medical School.
I decided General Practice was definitely the career for me when I spent 10 weeks as a final year medical student at Budleigh Salterton Health Centre. I then went on to do my house officer jobs at Derriford, and loved being back in the South West. Working in University Hospital Lewisham in South East London confirmed to me that the bright lights of London no longer held quite the same appeal, and I missed the beach and more importantly the friendliness and sense of community of the people in the South West. So with that in mind I applied and joined the East Devon GP Training Scheme.
Prior to joining the practice I was working at the Emergency Department at the RD&E, which as many of you have probably experienced is pretty hectic. So I am looking forward to working as part of the small friendly team at Imperial and getting to know and being involved in managing patients holistically within the complex bounds of general practice over the next 6 months.”
 Are You Planning A Holiday - Need VaccinationsTo find out if you need any travel vaccinations please collect a Travel Risk Assessment form from Reception (not more than 3 months ahead, but at least 6 weeks ahead, of your holiday). Return the form to the surgery (make sure it includes your contact details) and the Nursing Team will review it. They will arrange your vaccinations, if required, and also travel advice. Please note that travel appointments are not bookable without a Risk Assessment Form having been reviewed.
Imperial Surgery Appointment System
With all appointment systems there has to be an element of compromise between waiting to see a doctor or nurse and finding a convenient time. We thought it would be helpful to explain how we operate our appointments at this practice so that our patients understand the best way to use them.
We have always tried to make available both pre-bookable and same day appointments, so people can plan transport and fit in with their work & domestic commitments. Our appointment system provides the patient with a mixture of such appointments and also advice options, which can be categorised as follows:
1. Appointments within 24 hours for urgent/emergency conditions.
2. Pre-bookable appointments up to one month ahead.
3. Telephone advice for both urgent and non-urgent problems.
1. For urgent/emergency conditions we will always provide an appointment to see a doctor within 24 hours. We cannot guarantee the time or which doctor you will see for these urgent appointments, which is in line with government guidelines. Generally, we aim to see the people who need an urgent appointment within 24 hours in the late morning each day. This is an open-ended clinic so there may be a wait sometimes.
2. There are also appointments which can be booked on the day, in the earlier morning and the afternoon, however, these are very limited because we keep appointments back for people who need to book ahead. In the afternoon, when all available appointments have been used up, we have a system whereby the `duty doctor' will phone you back to either give advice or to arrange to see you that afternoon, if necessary, or book you in for the first available appointment. This may be the following morning.
All the doctors take phone calls every day. The `duty doctor' deals with the urgent issues. If you wish to speak to a particular doctor, this may mean waiting a day or two until they are available.
For people who work, we have some early appointments from 8.30 am and some evening appointments. These generally need to be booked in advance.
We have found over the years that this blend of appointments does serve most successfully everyone's interests. We recognise that some surgeries have used entirely same day appointments, but we feel this causes inconvenience to a significant number of people.
I hope that this is clear and will help you with making your surgery appointments.
Dr Mark Nicholson
New Telephone System
 We are pleased to report that in January of this year we had a new telephone system installed at the surgery, replacing the system that had been in place fo r about seven years. We were conscious that the old system was not perfect and was the source of some frustration with patients not being able to make contact with the surgery efficiently.
We spent a long time investigating alternative telephone systems prior to purchasing this new one, and we are optimistic that the new system will work much more effectively both for the patients as well as the practice.
There will always be peak times, for example, 8.00 am and 2.00 pm when you will need to be tolerant, because the number of people answering the phone is still the same, and no matter what system is installed you will be kept a little at these times. Of course, avoiding these peaks would be very helpful if you are able. Nonetheless we are confident that you will experience an improved service overall.
Carer Health Checks
Carers often put the health of the person they care for before their own. You may be busy looking after someone, balancing that with other commitments to family or work and it can be difficult to take time to think about your own health.
Imperial Medical Practice is offering all carers a free health check for a limited period with one of our Nurses. This check is confidential and personal to you.
If you can't leave the person you care for to have the check, you can have the check at home. If you need someone to look after the person you care for in order to have the check, there is money available to cover the cost of care while you have the check and while you are getting to and from your appointment.
The check, which takes about an hour, will cover your physical health, stress and mental wellbeing, and the challenges of caring.
You will have the opportunity to raise any worries and concerns you have about your health with a trained health professional including any ways in which the caring tasks you undertake are difficult for you.
If you would like to take advantage of this please contact Christine Hodges on 01395 280365 or e-mail her at chrishodges@nhs.net.
Summary Care Records
This is to inform you that you will be receiving a letter from NHS Devon informing you about Summary Care Records (SCR). This record allows for limited personal medical records to be held on a national database, which will help should you become unwell when you are away from home or out of normal surgery hours. As this has been in the media recently we thought it was worth highlighting. The letter will tell you how you can opt out if you choose not to have one of these records. You can also change your mind once you have made an initial decision.
Samples for the Lab….
Patients bringing samples for the laboratory into the surgery are requested that they are:
Clearly labelled with the patient's name & date of birth
Contained in a plastic bag
Delivered to the surgery prior to 12.00 noon.
Samples arriving after 12 noon will not be sent to the hospital for analysis until the following day. Thank you.
IVG = Imperial Venture Group
Yes - a lot of us have seen these initials around and about, on the Newsletter, in the waiting room at the surgery and possibly even seen some people wearing badges displaying this logo.
Those of you who have attended the Flu Clinics will also have seen people with smiling faces and badges on helping to tick your name off lists as you enter the surgery, and telling you which nurse you will see - but have you wondered why they do it or what it's for?
Imperial Venture Group, which is now a registered Charity, was started back in 2002 by Dr Sue Pocklington, a partner of the Practice now retired, and a small number of Imperial patients. There was a meeting for those who might be interested in helping, and names were taken of patients who thought they would like to help, and also what they could offer - or DO.
What does the Imperial Venture Group DO? Well, its more than just serving coffee and helping at the Flu Clinic! We Help…We have raised money, and if you were to ask you would learn that all the hydraulic couches in the consulting rooms of the doctors and nurses were purchased with money raised by IVG. The plants in the troughs at the front of the surgery are tended by the IVG, along with those in the surgery. Last year we won a Best in Bloom competition within the town for these floral efforts and are proud holders of a winners cup.
The library which sells books in the waiting room was started as the result of an initiative by one of the committee. It not only provides a useful service but adds consistently and considerably to IVG.
What we have in common is that we are all PATIENTS, like you. We are Patients participating in the welfare of us all - doctors, nurses, other patients. We are here for the general benefit of the Imperial Surgery.
We would like to know if there are any of you - patients - who think that YOU could help in any way - perhaps, by becoming a Volunteer Driver, one of a group who pick up patients with particular transport difficulties and bring them to the surgery.
The IVG organises things for people to take part in - we've had a Beetle Drive and a Bridge evening in the surgery. We have organised a Self-Help Group, where patients came to learn what is best for them to do to help them with their problems. We've had a Craft afternoon with knitting, embroidery, and learning how to crochet. This might be interesting to ladies who can't get out but would like to meet up for an afternoon - we can arrange to fetch those who can't get in themselves.
We are PATIENTS, just like you…trying to put other patients - like you - at ease to do something they might enjoy and we are also looking for Patients - like you - who might like to join the IVG to help. Contact: Irene Buer, IVG Coordinator (01395) 265862
IVG Secretary Wanted
 Our IVG secretary has been forced to retire as a result of changes in her circumstances so we are urgently looking for someone to replace her. We are  confident that there must be someone, male or female, from within our 4,000 patients who would have the necessary skills, time and inclination to take on this role. We have half a dozen IVG meetings during the year, which last for an hour, for which an Agenda and Minutes are required. It is not, therefore, overly taxing, but provides an essential service in the efficient workings of the IVG. For most of those involved in the IVG it is a way of giving something back to the Practice, and effectively saying `thank you' for the care and attention that the surgery provides to us as individuals, and our health needs. If you would like more information or are eager to proffer your services as Secretary, please telephone either, Jennie Warren - IVG Chairman (01395) 272081, or Christine Hodges - Assistant Practice Manager at the Surgery (01395) 280365.
The Next Coffee Morning
 will be held at the Imperial Surgery on the morning of Saturday, 17th April between 10.00 am and noon. Please do come along and enjoy the fellowship, everyone is most welcome. If you would like to help with the arrangements or are able to make some cakes, scones or cookies this would be very much appreciated. If you have any bric-a-brac or craft items to contribute please contact Annetta Quilter (01395) 271083.
RSPCA Help
 The poor wet doggies at the RSPCA Centre are in need of towels, blankets, bedspreads etc., that can be put in their beds to give them more comfort. I would be very happy to collect from your home any items that you would care to donate to this good cause. Thank you. Mrs Hazel Hamer
(01395) 279988
The next edition of the newsletter will be produced in the Autumn 2010
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