Newsletter Autumn 2023
Welcome
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. This is our latest update following our Summer newsletter released in June. We hope you find this issue informative and valuable. If you have any questions about anything you read, please speak to a member of our team. More information regarding the surgery can be found at: www.swanmedicalgroup.co.uk
In This Issue:
- Future plans for SMG
- A tribute to our friend and colleague
- Donations from local charity
- Ukraine Support Event
- Flu Season 2023
- Pharmacy Updates
- Did you know we have a Dispensary?
- Petersfield Walk & talk
- Top 5 Reception tips
Future Plans for SMG
We are delighted to be able to share an announcement about the future of Swan Medical Group which will ensure we continue to grow into an exceptional, thriving business with the ability to deliver an outstanding service to patients across the area. We are pleased to share with you that Riverside Kelsey Surgery situated in Liss will be joining Swan Medical Group from 1st January 2024. For the full announcement please visit our website: www.swanmedicalgroup.co.uk/announcement/
A Tribute To Our Friend And Colleague
We are very sad to announce that Dr John Sedgwick passed away last month after a short illness.
Dr Sedgwick joined the Liss practice in 1985 and remained with us as both a GP and as an ENT expert for over 30 years. He was a ‘family GP’ in the true sense of the word looking after many generations of families with expertise and commitment as well as his trademark down to earth sense of humour. Alongside this he was a GP trainer, a role that he loved, and certainly many of the current team of GP’s in the practice benefitted from this and have stayed on working at the practice as a result. His ‘retirement’ was not the traditional one – when the covid pandemic hit soon after he left general practice, he could be seen rushing around on his electric bike delivering medication to the housebound and, soon after, giving covid vaccines by the bucketful in the Festival Hall! Right up until his untimely death he remained interested in everyone, having time for all and would still be popping in to see friends and old patients alike.
Outside of the practice he was wonderfully supported by his wife Fi and their children Alice and Tom, and of course, his two grandsons Caspar and Reuben. He had numerous other interests including an abiding love of nature and the outdoors and was an accomplished water colour artist.
We think all will agree how fortunate Liss has been to have him as the local GP for so long, and how very much he will be missed and by so many.
A Big Thank You
Swan Medical Group would like to express it’s sincere gratitude and thanks to the Friends of Petersfield Hospital, who very generously offered to share some of their donation funds to purchase medical equipment to help support our patients. Items purchased include ophthalmoscopes, otoscopes, baby oxygen saturation monitors, patient examination couches, ECG machines, phlebotomy chair and a doppler machine for compression bandaging.
This new equipment is vital for our team to continue to deliver high standards of care to our patients, and we are extremely grateful to the Friends of Petersfield Hospital for enabling us to purchase these medical supplies which we know our patients will benefit from.
The Friends of Petersfield Hospital was formed in 1954 as a registered charity and are a voluntary group made up of a small committee and members. If you would like to get involved or for more information, please contact the Chairman:
Mr John Granger
Tel: 01730 263817
Email:john.granger004@btinternet.com
Website: www.friendsofpetersfieldhospital.com
Flu Season 2023
As the annual flu season comes closer we would like to take the opportunity to tell you about our upcoming Flu & COVID vaccination clinics,. These clinics will take place on the following dates and will be dual administration:
16th & 23rd of September and 7th, 14th & 28th October
As well as the Saturday booked clinics, we will also be offering walk-in clinics across sites Mon-Fri from mid-September, we will send another communication once these are ready to start with the full details.
Pharmacy Ownership Update
As you may already be aware there are some changes coming up with regards to the pharmacies we use within SMG. Both Lloyds pharmacy in Liphook and Boots Midnight pharmacy in Petersfield are changing owners, these pharmacies will no longer be with the Lloyds group or the Boots group and instead will be taken over by independent pharmacies
Boots Midnight pharmacy (which is attached to Swan Surgery building) is being taken over by a pharmacist called Haider Alhaydari who has actually worked for Boots for many years, and is now setting out independently. The pharmacy will change over on Tuesday 29th August and will be renamed ‘Swan Pharmacy’ (please note this will not have anything to do with SMG logo or business, just simply a name due to the location). Its opening times will run the same as Boots Midnight Pharmacy for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately at this time we don’t have details of the incoming pharmacy into the Lloyds Liphook premises, but are hoping to get confirmation on this soon, however we believe the changeover is likely to be around mid-October.
Patients who have their prescriptions sent to either pharmacy will simply be moved from Lloyds/Boots to the new business taking over and there should be minimum disruption to their service. Any queries please speak directly with the pharmacies involved.
Did you know we have a Dispensary?
We are a dispensing practice, this means if you live more than 1 mile from a pharmacy, you will be eligible to use our Dispensary service. The main benefit of this, is that you would have the opportunity to collect your medication straight from the Dispensary based at our Liss or Liphook Surgery sites. Joining our service will ensure a more streamlined process with regards to medication ordering, monitoring, dispensing and general patient overview. Your medications will subsequently be solely managed within the surgery, for your convenience. We currently have over 1000 patients using this service, managed by our team of qualified Dispensers. If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact the surgery.
Ukraine Support Drop-in Event
On Tuesday 6th June, Nicky & Joni from our Social Prescribing Team took part in an event held at Petersfield Festival Hall to support Ukrainian Refuges and their hosts. The event provided information about a variety of services across the district who are helping to support Ukrainian families and their hosts.
Thank you Nicky & Joni for representing The Swan Medical Group team!
If you would like more information about the services please visit:
ukrainesupport@easthants.gov.uk
Petersfield Walk & Talk Sessions
With SMG’s Mark Hancock
Every Friday 10am
Our Health Coach Mark Hancock is delighted to offer a weekly “Walk and Talk” around Petersfield Lake every Friday at 10am, starting at the cafe. This is an opportunity to meet with others and build in a gentle walk around the lake whilst discussing health goals. We aim to complete one circuit of the lake with the opportunity to chat to each other, and the health coach as you walk round, plus over a coffee at the café after if you would like to.
Health Coaching bridges the gap from where you are now to where you want to be. Exercise not only changes your body it changes your mind, your attitude & your mood. Joining the benefits of both walking and health coaching in the form of walking coaching has a powerful effect on our physical, mental and emotional health.
So if you know of someone who would like to build exercise or movement into their day, looking to lose weight, wishing to improve their metabolic health, suffering with low mood, or seeking social connection, this could be for them.
Please pass on to anyone interested and let’s get walking and talking!
Top 5 Reception Tips
- You can order your prescription in numerous ways:
– The best and quickest way is to order your repeat medication through the NHS App
– We also take prescription requests via our online form through our website: www.swanmedicalgroup.co.uk/order-repeat-medication/
– Alternatively, prescription request forms can be found at reception. We also have post boxes on our outside walls if you take this away and do this outside of our opening hours.
– Please note we do not take prescription requests over the phone, unless authorised and notes on your records reflect this - For transport bookings, test results, booking routine blood tests or smear tests, please call after 2pm
- On average, our longest phone wait times are 08:00-10:30 Monday and Friday. Did you know you can also contact us via our e-consult service through the NHS or via our website www.swanmedicalgroup.co.uk/book-Consultation/
– E-consults are open from 7pm until 10am the following day Sunday—Thursday only - If you need a fit/sick note from your GP please request this via our website www.swanmedicalgroup.co.uk/sick-note/
- When you phone us, please press option 2 for reception. Option 3 is ONLY for clinical professionals
Bonus Tip
To book a routine call with a GP please call us any time before midday Mon-Fri, no need to call at 8am (please note only urgent calls will be taken after midday)
Septembers Cancer Awareness
For more information, please see the posters located around our surgeries, or visit www.cancerreasearch.co.uk
