Other Information

Surgeries For Holidaymakers And Visitors

During the period late-July to mid-September surgeries for holidaymakers and visitors will be held Monday to Friday at 1.50pm. These surgeries are ‘sit and wait’. At all other times please make an appointment inthe usual way.

Services Provided By Your GP, Which Are Not Covered By The NHS

Some services are not covered by the NHS and you will be asked to pay a fee. These include:

• Private Medicals and Certificates
• Pre-employment Medicals
• Fitness to Drive Medicals
• Some Holiday Vaccinations
• Taxi, HGV and PSV Medicals
• Completion of Insurance Claim Forms, etc
• Driving Licence Countersignatures

A full list of fees is displayed in the surgery. If you have any queries please ask at reception or contact the practice manager.

Please note that your GP will not sign passport applications. A list of professionals who will is displayed at reception.

Prescriptions

The following patients are entitled to free prescriptions on the NHS:

• Men and women of 60 years of age and above
• Patients under 6 years of age
• Patients under 19 and in full time education
• In on income support or family credit
• Women who are pregnant
• Women who have had a baby in the last 12 months

If you suffer from one of the following conditions

• Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsant therapy
• A continuing physical disability which prevents one from leaving home withought the help of another person.
• Disbetes
• Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland)
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Disbetes insipidus
• Addison's disease
• Myasthenia Gravis

Prescription 'season tickets'

If you need a lot of prescripitons but cannot get them for free, you may save money by buying a 'season ticket'. Contact reception for more information.

No Smoking Policy

Swanage Medical Practice operates a no-smoking policy throughout the health centre.

Freedom Of Information – Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A Publication Scheme is a guide to the 'classes' of information the practice intends to routinely make available.
This scheme is available from reception.

Zero Tolerance

We strongly support the NHS policy on zero tolerance. Anyone attending the surgery who abuses the GPs, staff or other patients be it verbally, physically or in any threatening manner whatsoever, will risk removal from the practice list. In extreme cases we may summon the police to remove offenders from the practice premises.

Friends Of The Practice

This small independent group of patients meets regularly and is kept informed about the practice. This provides a forum to identify patients’ needs and hear their views.

The aims of the group are:

1. To establish and maintain a regular exchange of information between the patients and staff at Swanage Health Centre.
   
   
2. To facilitate this information exchange through:
• Regular newletters and/or input to the local press.
• Public meetings on specific topics of interest.
• Occasional ‘drop-in’ events for patients to meet ‘The Friends’ to share ideas and information.
3. To act as a liaison group between the practice and their patients when considering the impact of changes in health care policy in response to local and national proposals and constraints.
   

If you are interested and would like more information or to become a member of the group please telephone one of the following numbers - 424907, 427346 or 423277.

SCHeMe (Swanage Community Health Medical Equipment)

From time to time patients have very kindly made donations to the health centre. As a result SCHeME was registered as a charity in 1996 and was set up to purchase new equipment to enable us to care for people in their homes or to provide equipment in a diagnostic or preventative field, eg:

• Transportable electric beds easily adjusted by the patient at home;
• Syringe drivers - for the administration of pain relief;
• Pressure-relieving mattresses and cushions.

If you require any further information please contact Mrs Barbara Cousins - Tel: (01929) 422231.

The British Red Cross operates a medical loan service in Swanage and is able to offer the loan of wheelchairs, commodes, raised toilet seats, back rests, walking frames, crutches, bath seats and stools. There is a small weekly charge for these loan of the items if clients are able to pay. Please contact Mrs C Figg, manager of the Swanage Centre on (01929) 423517.