OTHER INFORMATION

Other Local NHS Services
Call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 - for free expert NHS advice and information 24 hours a day (calls charged at local rates).

Or log onto www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

In addition, the NHS Direct self-help guide 'Not Feeling Well' is available at the back of all new Thomson Local Directories.

Your local pharmacist will be able to give you free health advice and you don't need an appointment. Many pharmacies operate extended hours on a rota basis. For details phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Our Primary Care Trust is responsible for ensuring you get all the services you need. For name and contact details ask at reception.

Patients With Particular Needs
Our surgery is accessible to patients using wheelchairs. We also have two parking spaces in front of the practice, which are reserved for patients displaying a disabled sticker.

We can arrange interpretation and translation services in person or by phone for patients who do not speak English. Please let us know if you need this service when booking an appointment.

Abusive Behaviour
We expect our patients to treat our staff in a respectful way. We take seriously any threatening, abusive or violent behaviour against any of our staff or patients. If a patient is violent or abusive, they will be warned to stop such behaviour. If they persist we may exercise our right to take action to have them removed, immediately if necessary, from our list of patients.

Surgery Arrangements
All the doctors at the surgery run to a timetable. When the doctor is not specifically in surgery consulting there is other practice business to maintain and participate in.

All the arrangements have to be altered in times of sickness and holidays. On occasions the practice has to employ locum doctors to cover surgery times. Receptionists will always advise on the timetable.

Car Parking
There is a car park at the rear of the surgery, which is for the use of staff and patients visiting the surgery. Cars are parked at owners' risk. We kindly ask patients not to remain in the car park whilst they visit local shops. Car parking spaces are limited so we do advise, where possible, that patients find alternative parking.
Cars must only be parked in DESIGNATED spaces.

Evenings And Weekends
Herts Urgent Care offers patients registered with our practice a full GP service when our practice is closed. For urgent advice and treatment, call Herts Urgent Care on 03000 333 333 (6.30pm - 8.00am Monday to Friday, weekends and bank holidays).

Specialist And Hospital Care
If a GP or another member of our health care team believes you need hospital or specialist care elsewhere, they will ask you where and when you would like to go. There is now a choice available and you can make your own appointment at the hospital either by phone call or on line. This system is called 'Choose and Book' and the surgery uses this in the majority of referrals to hospitals. The booklet - 'Choosing your hospital' - is available to help you make the choice.

NHS Direct
NHS Direct offers free expert health advice 24 hours a day on 0845 4647 or at their website, www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk which also offers an enquiry service. For deaf people and those hard of hearing, a telephone service is available on 0845 606 4647. If English is not your preferred language, you can use a confidential translation service.

Accident And Emergency
Whatever the day or time, if you or someone else experiences severe chest pain, loss of blood or suspected broken bones, go to your nearest accident or emergency department or call 999.

Fees For Work Not Covered By The NHS
Some of the services provided by our GPs may incur a charge. These include some travel vaccinations, private prescriptions, private medical insurance forms, passport/driving licence signature, holiday cancellation forms etc. The fee charged is that recommended by the British Medical Association and a full list of charges is available at reception.

Other Local NHS Services
As well as our practice, there are many other local NHS services you can contact for health advice, information or treatment. Before you do, remember that you can treat many minor ailments such as colds, coughs and indigestion by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.

We suggest you keep the following:

Paracetamol, aspirin (children under 16 and people with asthma should not take aspirin)

Ibuprofen (not suitable for people with asthma)

Mild laxatives

Anti-diarrhoeal medicines

Rehydration mixture

Indigestion remedies (eg antacids)

Travel sickness tablets

Sunscreen - SPF15 or higher

Sunburn treatments (eg caladryl)

Tweezers and sharp scissors

Thermometer

Selection of plasters, non-absorbent cotton wool, elastic bandages and dressings.
Remember... keep the medicine chest in a secure, locked place out of reach of small children.

Always read the instructions and use the suggested dose.
Watch expiry dates - don't keep or use medicines past their sell-by date.
Take all unwanted and out-of-date medicines back to the pharmacy.

Your Local Pharmacist
Your pharmacist will be able to give you free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment. Many pharmacists operate extended hours on a rota basis. Call NHS Direct for details.

Your Local Primary Care Trust (PCT)

The area covered by Annandale is in the district currently covered by West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust. The local Trust is responsible for ensuring you get all the services you need and will have a list of all primary care services in the area.

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.