The following Press Statement was issued by the Practice Doctors and Rippingale Parish Council:

“Drs Parry & Keck are gratified by the support given to the Medical care they provide in Rippingale and the surrounding rural villages, as indicated by a recent survey.  The Partners have decided to continue to provide Surgery Services in the village.  Dr. Parry, attending Rippingale Parish Council Open Forum (8^th July) said:” Those completing the survey confirmed that the services New Springwells Practice Doctors and Staff provide in Rippingale are valued.  We appreciate this expression of support as we try to provide a high quality of care for our patients throughout the Practice.  It is our intention to continue to offer our services in the village, hopefully from the existing premises.  The Public are now aware of the local difficulties we face and we hope that necessary improvements for the use of the present surgery can be made quickly and without undue inconvenience to our patients.”

The Parish Council is delighted with this outcome and that Lincs PCT has agreed to fully support the continuation of a surgery in Rippingale and rectify the issues of ownership, access and facilities.  It is hoped that with the help of the PCT the future of the Practice in its current location can be assured.  David Sankey, RPC Chairman said “That the Doctors wish to continue to look after Rippingale residents is great news.  The Parish Council will continue to monitor this situation closely to ensure that the needs of the Practice, as explained by the Doctors can be fulfilled to make sure that residents receive the best medical care possible.”

 

The Practice is sad to announce that Dr. Lisa Hirst has left to become a GP Partner in a Practice in Newark.  We are very grateful for the contribution Dr. Hirst made towards our patient care, and wish her well in her new Practice.

We are pleased to welcome Dr David Murphy MBChB., DRCOG, FRCGP, Liverpool   who joined us in April.

We are hoping to appoint another GP shortly and in the meantime are being assisted by Dr. Juliet  Hackney, Locum G.P., who is working from both Surgeries.

 

Building work is complete and the new Dispensary section of the Surgery opened on 7^th June.  The new Dispensary has its own entrance, with wheelchair access, and a Patient Waiting Room.

Dispensary Opening hours:

 

A second in-coming line has been installed and prescriptions can be ordered by phone* (01529) 240888, or 240845 between 10.00a.m. – 4.00p.m. daily. *Refer to Practice Brochure or web-site  www.ruralmedical.co.uk for alternative means of ordering prescriptions.

When collecting prescriptions, by car, patients may find it more convenient to use the parking spaces at the Village Hall.  Parking outside Dispensary is reserved for Doctors' and Emergency Vehicles ONLY.

 

 

 Our  Medication Delivery Service is available to eligible patients.  Further information on this service can be obtained from Dispensary Staff at either surgery.

Jenny Wilson has joined us as a Trainee  Dispenser. and will shortly begin her NVQ Level 2 Training.

 

Training Practice.

Additional consulting rooms in the Billingborough extension will be used to accommodate our Registrars the first of whom -  Dr. Fathima Fazal joins us early in August, as part of her GP Training.  For information, our Registrars are fully qualified Doctors who have decided to specialise in General Practice.

 

The Practice is now able to offer    Physiotherapist  appointments at the Billingborough surgery, subject to a Doctor’s referral. Patients will be aware that there are currently lengthy waiting lists to see these specialists in hospitals and clinics, and it will be of great benefit to patients to have the Health Professionals working from the Billingborough surgery.

 

After consultation with patients and the PCT, we are pleased to offer from 1^st June, a Nurse Clinic on Tuesdays 6.00p.m. – 7.45p.m. in addition to the Doctor’s evening Surgery.  Saturday morning Doctors’ appointments have been discontinued.

 

It is estimated that more than 2million NHS appointments and 40,000 hours of GP’s time are wasted each year by people requesting a Doctor’s Sick (now “Fit”) Note when they don’t need one.  If you are away from work for less than a week you can self-certify using forms SC1 or SC2 which are available from your employer.

 

BE AWARE/BEWARE!

OFFERS OF “HEALTH CHECKS” BY PHONE OR POST.

Several patients have reported receiving letters and calls from companies offering (for a fee) to carry out Checks – such as blood pressure.  These callers seem to have information about the patient to support their suggestion that the Checks are advisable.

PATIENT DETAILS ARE NEVER MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE SURGERY. ALL NHS STAFF HAVE A LEGAL DUTY TO MAINTAIN PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY. 

We would be grateful if you would please report any concerns or examples of this operation  to the Practice Manager.