Forum Health Centre

We are seeking an experienced Primary Care nurse to join our team. Previous primary care experience is essential and would include Chronic Disease management in addition to the normal range of practice nurse duties.

Attractive salary and we can offer some flexibility on hours and working patterns.

High achieving QOF GMS practice committed to teaching – enthusiastic nursing team of 4 nurses working with 8 GPs and 1 Healthcare assistant.

Intested? Contact our Practice Manager at forum.health@nhs.net

From 1 February 2010 we are starting some building work on site which will provide us with some additional accommodation for a GP Registrar.

It is planned to minimise any disruption to services and much of the work will be carried out in the evenings or at weekends.

We apologise in advance should any inconvenience be caused.

Dr Manjari Bollu (female) joins us as a GP from Monday 18 January 2010 replacing Dr Anita Patey who left in November.

Please note that if you move house and your new address is outside our catchment area you will need to find a new GP.  This policy applies from 1 January 2010.

The catchment area is detailed on our website and in our patient information leaflet – or call the surgery and they will be able to advise you.

We now have supplies for offering Swine Flu Vaccine to children aged over 6 months and under 5 years old.

These supplies may only last until the end of January 2010 – the first opportunity will be on Saturday 16 January 2010 between 9.00am and 10.30 am – please call reception to make an appointment (024 76 26 63 70).

We plan to offer another midweek session which will be announced in the near future. Also if you have a normal appointment with a GP we may be able to provide the vaccine at the same time. But please do not make a separate appointment with a nurse or GP for nornal surgery sessions.

Please note that a GP can only countersign your passport application if they have known you for at least 2 years. Hence if you have not been registered with this Practice for at least 2 years none of the GPs here will be able to countersign. For children under 2 years then the GP needs to have known the parent (s) for at least 2 years. The GP has to sign a legal declaration that he/she knows you and can vouch for your identity.

You will need to make a special appointment to see the GP (a GP you have seen recently) and bring all the necessary documentation with you – see below. There will be a charge for countersigning and you should book your appointment several weeks in advance,  as GPs will always deal with ill-patient’s needs before such discretionary work.

You should give the countersignatory:

• your completed application form (signed and dated at section 9)
• photographs
• documents
• fee
• envelope

so that they can seal the application after completing section 10.

Who else can countersign?

Your countersignatory should be a professional person or a person of good standing in the community. The list that follows gives examples of the type of person that would be suitable. If you are not sure who to ask you can call the IPS Passport Adviceline on 0300 222 0000.

• accountant
• airline pilot
• articled clerk of a limited company
• assurance agent of recognised company
• bank/building society official
• barrister
• chairman/director of limited company
• chiropodist
• commissioner of oaths
• councillor (local or county)
• civil servant (permanent), but not someone who works for IPS
• dentist
• director/manager of a VAT-registered charity
• director/manager/personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
• engineer (with professional qualifications)
• financial services intermediary (eg a stockbroker or insurance broker)
• fire service official
• funeral director
• insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
• journalist
• Justice of the Peace
• legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
• licensee of public house 
• local government officer
• manager/personnel officer (of a limited company)
• member, associate or fellow of a professional body
• Member of Parliament
• Merchant Navy officer
• minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
• nurse (RGN and RMN)
• officer of the armed services (active or retired)
• optician
• paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
• person with honours (an OBE or MBE, for example)
• pharmacist
• photographer (professional)
• police officer
• Post Office official
• president/secretary of a recognised organisation
• Salvation Army officer
• social worker
• solicitor
• surveyor
• teacher, lecturer
• trade union officer
• travel agent (qualified)
• valuer or auctioneer (fellows and associate members of the incorporated society)
• Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

For more information see:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Passports/Applicationinformation/DG_174151

Please note that sick notes are issued at the Doctor’s discretion and only after he/she has seen and/or examined you. The doctor has to sign a legal document to certify that in his/her opinion you are unable to attend for your normal work.

Sometimes a repeat  certificate may be issued if the doctor knows you well and is persuaded that your condition may take longer to improve. However he/she may still need to see or speak with you before extending a sick note.

GPs do not issue sick notes for the first 7 days of absence, which can be covered by self-certification. If your employer requires a sick note for the first 7 days then this can only be issued as a private certificate for which there will be a charge.

SWINE FLU VACCINATION IS NOW AVAILABLE

to patients who fall into these high risk groups for Swine Flu.

1. Individuals aged 6 months to 65 years who are in the current seasonal flu vaccination risk groups e.g.

With

• Chronic lung disease

• Chronic lung diseaseChronic heart disease

• Chronic kidney disease

• Chronic liver disease

• Chronic neurological diseases

• Diabetes mellitus

• Immunosuppression caused by a disease or treatment for a disease. For example, this may include people who do not have a spleen, and people who are on immunosuppressant treatment or are taking high doses of systemic steroids

2. Pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy

3. People who live in the same household as someone whose immune system is compromised by disease or treatment

4. People aged 65 and over with chronic diseases

We are holding a further open session from 10am to 12 noon on Monday 7 December  2009.
This session is restricted to our patients who are aged 65 or over
or
if you have any of these problems (however old you are):
· a serious heart or chest complaint, including asthma,
· serious kidney disease,
· diabetes, or
· lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
If you do not fall into one of these groups you will not be given a flu jab!

Please also note that these sessions are not for SWINE FLU VACCINNATION. We cannot give swine flu jabs at the Surgery – The National Flu Line is now live. Patients should call 0800 1 513 100 or be assessed on line at www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu if you suspect that you have  symptoms of swine flu.

We are organising some sessions for swine flu vaccinations for eligible patients. We only have a limited supply and currently it is Government advice to only offer the vaccine to those in priority groups.

We shall contact patients by phone or post to invite patients who fall into the priority groups, i.e

PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY FOR A SWINE FLU JAB UNLESS WE CONTACT YOU AND CONFIRM THE DATE AND TIME WITH YOU – YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE THE VACCINATION.

You are advised to inform yourself about the risks of Swine Flu – see the Department of Health website at http://www.nhs.uk for more information and an A-Z about Swine Flu.

As with many vaccines it is always possible that some patients may experience some reaction to the jab afterwards, but this has to be weighed against the benefits of taking the vaccination and reducing the risks of contracting the disease. Check out the latest advice at http://www.nhs.uk for more information and an A-Z about Swine Flu.