Summer · vital for vitamin D production in our bodies and it can lift our mood. However getting sun burnt carries the immediate consequences of pain, peeling skin, blisters and sometimes

1 - S UM ME R NEWS LET TE R

Summer

in Cumbria

“CTS — Court Thorn Snippets” S

UM

ME

R N

EW

SL

ET

TE

R

NO

RT

H

CU

MB

RI

A

Summer Newsletter



The last few months have been busy in the practice, with some

changes and new faces for you all to get to know.

We said a fond farewell to Dr Ken Sutton & Jennie who retired at the

end of March, they are now busy travelling, fostering rescue dogs

and spending time at home with Ken tinkering on his projects!!

Dr Sally Brading has been with us since Easter and has been putting

us all to shame by making the daily commute to work on her

pushbike!

Dr Rana Mehdi will be leaving us in August to continue her training,

read about her time with us further on in the newsletter

Hilary & Donna will also be familiar faces to you all now and have

become valued members of the Court Thorn family.

We will be joined in August by Dr Laura Munro who will have

appointments available for you to see her.

Dr Maria O’Hare, who some of you may have come to know, is

leaving us in August for 6 months, but will be back in February to

continue her training.

Court Thorn — Highlights


Court Thorn — Updates

Protected Learning Time 2016

We will be closed between 1- 5 PM on the following days:-

Wednesday 20th July

No August date

Thursday 22nd September

Wednesday 19th October

Thursday 24th November

No December date

Contact Details

Please remember to update any details you may change such as telephone numbers.

We would also like your e-mail address, if we do not have yours please speak to reception and we will update your details.

GP Clinic Times

Dr Harris - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday all day

Dr Grainger - Monday to Thursday all day

Dr Brading - Tuesday all day, Wednesday morning & Friday all day

As a training GP Practice we often have training GP’s in the practice, and they will also

have appointment available for you to see them. While we appreciate that you may wish

to see the doctor of your choice this may not always be possible, within the time frame

requested. However we do aim to offer you an appointment within 48 hours.

The above clinic times are subject to change to factor in holidays, training etc.


Provided by the Patient Participation Group

We offer a prescription delivery service for housebound and elderly patients,

who otherwise would not be able to collect their medication.

This is a FREE service which is delivered by kind patient volunteers

(who are trained and DBS checked).

Could you help the vulnerable in Your Neighbourhood?

1 morning a month (minimum requirement)

Full training given

Delivery takes place in pairs

Mileage will be paid

Be part of this successful and valuable service

Please express your interest to reception, who will pass your details to Rachael,

Business Manager who will chat to you about the service.

PPG - Free Prescription Delivery Service


Are you passionate about our country's health services?

Would you like to make a contribution to the running and development of your

Surgery?

We are Court Thorn Surgery Patient Participation Group.

We hold bi-monthly meetings so please keep an eye on tour webpage if you'd like

to

attend the next meeting to see what the PPG is about and how you can contribute.

Meetings are held at Court Thorn Surgery, Mondays 1-3pm.

Our aim is to form a group from as broad a spectrum as possible to get a truly rep-

resentative sample of patients from the Practice area.

Currently the group requires:

Young people 18 years – 40 years

People with long term conditions

People from non-British ethnic groups.

If you would like to get involved, please contact Nichola on reception and she will

be happy to provide you with more information on how to join.

PPG - Calling all Court Thorn Surgery Patients


I can clearly remember one holiday when I burnt by feet in the sun. So

painful were they that I slept for a couple of nights with a cold flannel on

my feet. Not a good example I hear you cry.

Sunburn is the commonest type of burn in this country. We rush outside as soon as the

skies clear and the days warm up. There are benefits of being in the sun, for example it is

vital for vitamin D production in our bodies and it can lift our mood. However getting

sun burnt carries the immediate consequences of pain, peeling skin, blisters and

sometimes even vomiting and fever as well as the long term risk of skin cancer. Here are

some points to consider:

You are most likely to get burnt if you have fair skin, are at altitude (eg walking on a

Lake District fell) or out between 10am and 2pm. Snow, sand and water reflect the

sun so the effect is amplified. Cloud does not protect you.

Covering skin, using sunscreen and avoiding being out in strong sun are the

best ways of protecting yourself. Sunscreen takes around 40 minutes to work

so apply it in good time.

If you do get burnt try the following: drink plenty of water, rest (out of the

sun), apply cool compresses to relieve pain and itch. A bland moisturiser (eg

E45) will help peeling and paracetamol or ibuprofen can help pain. Seek

medical advice if you consider the burns to be severe (eg covering a wide area of

the body).

Being out on a hot day can also cause heat exhaustion or worse heat stroke. Heat

exhaustion is where the body becomes too hot and you lose salt and water.

Symptoms and signs include feeling generally unwell, headache, nausea, abdominal

cramps, a fast pulse and dark urine. This can lead to heat stroke when the body’s

regulation of temperature fails completely affecting our vital organs and causing fits or

unconsciousness.

First of all think of the problem if you or someone else is feeling unwell and has been

outside on a hot day or become hot through excessive exercise. Stop, find shade, drink

water/rehydration drinks/dilute fruit juice and use a fan or cold flannel on the body. Most

people should be improving within 30 minutes. Seek medical advice urgently if

confusion/fitting/unconsciousness or within a few hours if symptoms worsen despite

doing the above first aid.

Further information can be found on the NHS website http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions

and search under heat exhaustion or sunburn. If your symptoms are severe or are

not helped by this NHS advice you can seek advice by visiting us at the surgery,

requesting a phone call from a GP or phoning 111 when the surgery is closed.

Sally Brading, Court Thorn Surgery May 2016 - Sources NHS website, gponline.com

Sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions


Meet the Staff - Sarah

Ok, so I have been asked to write a bit about myself! Despite my high volume control, I find it really difficult! So, grew up in Manchester, went down to East End of London to start my training. Loved the area, the racial diversity and the different cultures. Loved the history and food, but most of all at the time, loved the tolerance and acceptance of everyone. It was the making of me, after training under the last bastion of the very scary matrons, I went straight into orthopaedic theatres. Interestingly, our theatre was in the turret where The Elephant man was cared for, for many years. I have had the great pleasure of seeing his skeleton in the hospital museum. All the nurses that worked Christmas were given a small bunch of violets as a remembrance of him. Wonderful times! I loved it. I was the first nurse to be trained as an anaesthetic sister in the history of the London Hospital, of which I am very proud, I was also the youngest Theatre Sister at the ripe old age of 23! I then set up the first acute pain management unit before leaving to go up North! It took me 18 months to understand Cumbrian, but the next 21 years taught me so much. I now do not want to go South of Kendal,( Penrith if possible !), I consider this my absolute haven. I could not think of my children growing up anywhere else! So for the last 16 years I have been here at Court Thorn Surgery. The longest surviving member! April1st 2000, yes I know! Wow, we have all changed!! I am even more passionate about nursing now than ever. My interests are most things, diabetes, public health, minor injuries, chronic diseases, I could go on but it would be boring. Sad news for those that have known me for all the 16 years.....hair is staying a kind of brownish colour, the crazy clogs have gone and have almost managed to stop laughing like a banshee! Good news is, you are in safe hands, stick with us and you will have great care. Always a pleasure knowing you and thank you for making it the best job in the world.

Farewell - Dr Mehdi

As my four months of training at Court Thorn Surgery comes to an end, I would like to take time to reflect on the wonderful experience I have had here. As a junior doctor, rotating into a different specialty every four months

can be daunting, however the team at Court Thorn ensured that my transition from hospital based medicine to

community practise was smooth, and enjoyable.

Having been supervised by Drs Harris, Grainger and Brading, I have learned a lot from my seniors, not only with respect to medicine, but also communication and the daily challenges experienced when working in the

community. I have a new found understanding of the workings of general practice, and a true appreciation of the art of being a GP, which I will take with me throughout my career. During times of uncertainty, or difficulty, I

have been able to approach my seniors with ease for advice and guidance.

The reception team (Ann, Sharon, Nichola, Hillary) have been equally fantastic at making sure my time here has

been both smooth and educational. They are truly credible for arranging the smooth running of clinics,

referrals and educational commitments. I have also learned a great deal from the dispensary team, (Kim, Fiona, Jamie, Donna) who have been incredibly supportive and helpful throughout my four months here.

I would also like to thank the Nurses (Sarah & Jill) for their help and support throughout my 4 months, providing support during clinics and my introduction into GP life. Sarah has also served an important role of fitness

motivator, and will be missed in this extra curricular role!

It has been a great pleasure to work at Court Thorn for the last four months of my training in Carlisle, and I have

thoroughly enjoyed working together with each and every patient I have met in that time. I plan to use the valuable skills I have learned during my time here throughout my career, and will fondly miss everyone at Court

Thorn Surgery.

Best wishes to you all.


Compliments from Patients

Gold star for Dr Grainger

- Fantastic doctor - Thank

you

I am very pleased that Court Thorn is

not becoming part of a `super surgery’.

Staff are always accommodating and

this personal touch would be lost, I

know I work in the NHS myself!

First Class & Speedy

first aid. Thank you

Sarah & reception Very helpful on the phone

giving advice and support.

Excellent care and

attention from medical,

nursing and reception

staff.

I would like to thank Dr Harris

for her caring attitude, she

makes you feel at ease and

listens to you.

Also to thank the staff for their

cheerful attitude when dealing

with you.

As always exceptional

care and service. Thank

you

Brill Service as always,

Thanks.

Once again I cant say how

much I appreciate the care

and attention here. Thank

you everyone.

Excellent emergency

INR to enable me to

accept a cancellation for

cataract surgery. Thank

you all especially Sarah

& Fiona

I have a serious needle

phobia. Nothing to worry

about, if you leave blood

tests to Sarah, gently and

quick!

Excellent care again by Sarah she is my star.

My little boy has chest problems on a regular

basis, but there is never a problem getting him

seen, cant thank her enough.

Thank you for your care,

kindness and support.

You are doing wonderful

work.

Choice A&E or GP. Had

nail in foot so fear of

infection. Came & saw

Sarah, excellent treatment

& Tetanus Jab!

1 0 - S UM ME R NEWS LET TE R

Messages for Dr Sutton on his Retirement

.

On behalf of my wife, my boys and

myself may I convey my very best

wishes to Dr Ken Sutton for his

exceptional service and surgery over

the years. His care & progressive

approach will be missed.

Happy Retirement

Wishing Dr Sutton all the very best

for retirement. You have taken great

care of our family over the years.

Wishing Dr Sutton all the best in his

retirement.

Wishing Dr Sutton all the best in the

future Dr Sutton.

Thanks for everything you have done

for me you’ve been an absolute star ! Thank you Dr Sutton for a wonderful

practice and a very good Dr.

Hope Dr Sutton has a good life, also

Jennie. The will both be missed. Wishing Dr Sutton all the very best

for a very happy retirement.

Thank you - to YOU - from Dr Ken & Jennie Sutton

Ken and Jennie would like to thank you, the patients of Court Thorn Surgery for your generosity, sentiments, gifts & flowers.

We truly have enjoyed making a small difference to your lives.

To your health and happiness


29th August Bank Holiday Weekend— Emergency Pharmacy Opening Times

Pharmacy Address Telephone Number Summer Bank Holiday

Asda Pharmacy Chandler Way Carlisle CA3 0JQ

01228 554119 11:00 - 13:00 14:00 - 17:00

Boots 43-49 English Street Carlisle CA3 8JU

01228 542944 09:00 - 17:30

Boots Unit 3 Grahams Lane Penrith CA11 7BT

01768 862735 10:00 - 16:00

Sainsbury's Pharmacy

Church Street Carlisle CA2 5TF

01228 621714 09:00 – 19:00

Lloyds Pharmacy 58-60 English Street Carlisle CA3 8HS

01228 524993 10:00 – 16:00

Tesco Instore Pharmacy

Warwick Road Carlisle CA1 2SB

01228 891847 11:00 - 16:00

Morrison's Pharmacy

Brunswick Road Penrith CA11 7JU

01768 862055 09:00 - 13:00 14:00 - 17:00


Email Survey Results

We recently carried out an email survey of our patients and these are the results from the

104 responses we received:-

How would you rate the ease at which you could contact the practice by telephone ? Fair 2.02%

Good 6.06%

Very Good 33.33%

Excellent 58.59 %

How would you rate the manner in which you were greeted by the reception staff? Fair 2%

Good 10%

Very Good 33%

Excellent 55%

How would you rate the doctor’s / nurse’s ability to listen to you during your last consultation? Poor 2%

Good 3.03%

Very Good 23.23%

Excellent 71.72%

How would you rate the doctor’s/nurse’s explanation of things to you in your last consultation?

Comments:- I would prefer the technical detail rather than the generic

Poor 3%

Good 6%

Very Good 22%

Excellent 69%

How would you rate the doctor/nurse at providing an opportunity to express your concerns or fears in your last

consultation?

Poor - 3.06%

Good 6.12%

Very Good - 21.43%

Excellent - 69.39%

How would you rate the doctor’s/nurse’s concern for you as a person in your last consultation?

Comments:- Sarah in particular is an excellent nurse & listener

Poor - 3.03%

Good - 5.05%

Very Good - 22.22%

Excellent - 69.70%

What is your overall satisfaction with your visit to the doctor/nurse? Poor - 3.03%

Good - 4.04%

Very Good - 23.23%

Excellent - 69.70%

How would you rate the respect shown for your privacy and confidentiality? Good - 4%

Very Good - 27%

Excellent - 69%

How would you rate the availability to access your repeat prescription? Poor - 2.11%

Good - 4.21%

Very Good - 25.26%

Excellent - 68.42%


Do you have any other comments, questions, or concerns?

I cannot praise the doctors, nurses and reception/pharmacy staff enough. We are very lucky.

An excellent, caring practice.

As I'm on the same medication for life, I'd like to be able to collect more than one month's supply at a time. The current system isn't

environmentally green and it can be challenging due to my disability to drive the 18 mile round trip. It costs £2.70 in fuel alone and so a postal service would be preferable.

Must be the best surgery in England all staff are excellent and very caring.

Very Good Practice, feel safe in your hands.

I am very lucky to have such a good GP practice which can offer such good service.

I am 69 on 31st March this year and this is the best Doctors practice I have ever had. The nurses are also excellent and the reception

staff pleasant and efficient.

You will note I have ticked V. Good in all cases, It was this or excellent. Many thanks for what you all do at Court Thorn.

After being registered at a city center practice previously, moving to this surgery was a breath of fresh air. All the staff team are polite,

friendly, professional and seem to enjoy their job. I can always get an appointment when needed and prescription requests and other queries are always dealt with efficiently. Excellent service-keep it up Court Thorn Surgery!

A great practice with very dedicated staff, who are all very professional in their duties. Impressive list of extras with Health seminars,

Prescription Delivery Service etc.

We are grateful to have such an excellent practice

After speaking to many friends throughout UK this must be one of the best practices in great Britain, well done !

Every visit I have ever had at CTS has been excellent - I'd even go as far as to say outstanding, until my last visit just before xmas. I

saw a different doctor to my normal doctor as it was an emergency. I went because I had a very sore throat, swollen glands and felt very ill. I have a history of tonsillitis and as a 51 year old professional I know my body well. I asked the young girl for some antibiotics and was immediately dismissed and made to feel very troublesome. I explain that I was about to have a very challenging week at work, couldn't afford time off, and knew myself well enough that I felt it was tonsillitis and therefore some penicillin would help. She had a very quick look at my throat and immediately said no and said come back in a few days if there was still a problem. I didn't have time to go back as I finished work, then immediately went on holiday. I ended up in an emergency private hospital in America with what the doctor called the worse case of strep he had ever seen and I paid for the most expensive antibiotics I'd ever had (they worked out at £20 per pill). I know there is a huge pressure on doctors not to administer excessive antibiotics but there must be a balance. I do not request medication regularly - indeed if she had bothered to look at my history she would have seen how infrequent-ly I visit your surgery and request help. What a shame that one visit can change your view of your service - thank goodness you still have the other members of the team who are brilliant. That doctor needs to learn to listen, take note of history and learn some people skills - I hope this is part of your CPD provision. Thanks for being an excellent GP service. Thanks for all your hard work.

I have found the service provided by Dr Grainger at my many appointments excellent. He always listens to my concerns and I always

feel confident that he will do his best to solve my problems. The best doctor I have had in years! The dispensary staff are wonderful, on occasion when I have run out of my prescription they will try their hardest to have them available by 4pm sometimes the same day, sometimes the next day. I don't know what I would do without such an understanding doctor who goes above and beyond and the dispensary staff are wonderful. The receptionist is always polite and cheery and they now remember me by name as I am there quite often. A big thankyou to an amazing surgery!

The best practice I have been registered with, and I have had many as I have moved around the country during my 70 years. So

caring and thorough. I wish everyone had such good care.

I'm on life-long medication and it would be much more convenient if I could collect my prescription every 2-3 months and not every 28

days.

The quality of service in all area's i.e. diagnosis, treatment and communication is excellent

Not so far.

Having moved to Cumbria recently, we are delighted to have such a fantastic doctors surgery on our doorstep. All of the staff are

great. Very happy

A great practice. I consider myself very lucky to have you on my doorstep.

Great practice always a friendly voice on the phone not a answering machine. Nice atmosphere nothing too much trouble.

My experiences are entirely positive. All staff seem to have patient care as a priority.

Had annual check up. As basic as I've ever had. In previous surgery had had much more comprehensive check with doctor.

Yes - wish we'd been in this practice years ago if you ring you get an appointment to actually see a doctor or nurse and not a tele-

phone appointment and they all genuinely seem to care

All my contacts with the surgery have been consistently excellent.

I count my blessings that I'm a patient at this practice, absolutely first class. Well done to all who work there.

Happy retirement, Dr Sutton!

Court Thorn Surgery indeed the best example of an excellent service provider




Do you have any other comments, questions, or concerns? ..

The car park is excellent now it is re-surfaced. However, this notorious stretch of the A6 is made worse by those heading south,

desperate to overtake on a blind brow before the two lanes become one. The worst-case scenario might be a head-on crash into a patient's car entering - or leaving - the car park. Advance warning by conspicuous, progressive signage on the south-bound verge, of possible traffic in the middle of the road would help to alert drivers, especially non-locals, to the hazard.

The best surgery I have ever attended, and better than the ones most of my family and friends have access to.

My last appointment was a joke, left in tears and doctor didn't care. Doctors need to realise that some patients are actually intelligent

and what they are saying is correct . No duty of care

A very friendly and obviously happy practice

As I compare my experience with those of a citizen of say Carlisle I am acutely aware that Court Thorn is a great practice- short lead

times to appts, supports the training of the next generation with friendly and approachable personnel throughout . If I have a disappointment it is that 'medicine' views patients as a set of symptoms to be linked to a largely pharmaceutical remedy ...linked to 'targets' therefore ultimately budgets Until a more holistic view of an individual and some flexibility of offer is available our view of 'health' will be fairly one dimensional.

Ten out of ten in every area, thank you very much.

Lack of available appointments before or after general office hours especially in last few weeks.

Although I have had my prescription review this has not been updated in the note on my prescription.

Prescriptions: I had a six week course prescribed by the hospital. I was given four weeks, forcing me to make another visit. I told staff

I needed two more weeks but was given four weeks. More recently a hospital prescription was handed in on 10 March, not available for collection until 16 March!

As you can see from the comments several points have been raised and we would like to

reassure patients that steps have been taken regarding points raised.

As the survey was anonymous we were unable to ascertain who the concerns were raised

by.

We would like to re-iterate that if you have any concerns/comments regarding the

practice that you raise them with us directly when they arise as then we can then deal

with the issues raised.

In particular the A6 (road outside the practice) has been raised and we wished to pass on

that we have spoken with the highways department and the police, who have carried out

traffic surveys etc. We have been informed that there is nothing that they are able to do

about the road, and that they will not extend the 40 zone out of Low Hesket past the

practice.


Online Medication Ordering & Appointment Booking

Are you registered with us for online access??

It is a simple process, please ask at reception and we will issue you with the registration paperwork to enable you to access this service.

If you are new to the practice, we will contact you once we have received your records and ask you if you would like to join the patient access scheme. If you do we will issue registration paperwork for you

to collect the next time you are in the practice.

Dispensary


Dispensary

For repeat prescriptions please telephone (016974) 73553 between 1pm - 5pm.

Please allow 2 working days before collection, as your prescription will be

joining a queue

We are noticing an increasing number of patients who are requesting medication with less than 2 working days notice. If all patients did this it would be impossible for the team to

meet the demand.

It is your responsibility to request your medication in good time. Please ensure you request your prescription allowing at least 2 working days for your request to be processed.

Failure to do this may result in you missing doses of your required medication. Medication often needs to be ordered into the practice and cannot be obtained at short notice.

Medication orders are processed during business hours of

8.15am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

If you order outside of these times the request will not be processed until the next working day. Please bear this in mind when ordering.

If medication ordered on :- Will be ready to collect from :-

Monday Wednesday

Tuesday Thursday

Wednesday Friday

Thursday Monday

Friday Tuesday

Saturday or Sunday Wednesday (the following Week)


The number to call if you need a doctor in an emergency when we are closed has changed to 111.

Obtain Blood Results

In order to make things easier and more convenient for you, we are starting a new system for obtaining blood results. We are asking patients where possible to ring the surgery between 1pm and 3pm in order to ensure that any results we do have

back have been checked by the GP’s.

Thank you for your help.

Home Visits

Just to remind patients that all requests for home visits are to be made

before 10am. We can not guarantee home visits can be given if arranged

after this time due to service demands.

Newsletter by E-mail

If you would like to receive our newsletter by email, please click on the link on our website www.courtthornsurgery.co.uk and help us to

reduce our carbon footprint.


A&E is for Emergencies Only

Think twice before visiting A&E

With Court Thorn you can :-

Get a routine appointment within 48 hours

Book an appointment at least 6 weeks ahead if you want to

We have daily appointments available with the Doctor or Nurse for any patient

who is ill and needs seen urgently. In addition if you are unsure where to go, or

need help assessing how urgently treatment is needed a member of staff will

take some details and arrange for a Doctor to call you back with telephone

advice.

Please do not attend A&E if you have run out of medication or for anything

other than an emergency.

Please ring the surgery first or when we are closed ring 111 to be

directed to the right service for you.

Documents

Summer · vital for vitamin D production in our bodies and it can lift our mood. However getting sun burnt carries the immediate consequences of pain, peeling skin, blisters and sometimes