NEWSLETTER Issue No: 12

MARCH 2012

Cross Street, Hathern Maxwell Drive, Loughborough EDITOR: SARA BULMER

DISHLEY GRANGE MEDICAL PRACTICE

Meet the Staff - Dr Sundeep Gupta

I was born in Delhi and qualified as a doctor in India before coming to

England in 2002. I initially worked as an anaesthetist but then trained as

a GP in Leicester. Since qualifying as a GP in 2008 I have worked in Milton

Keynes, Wolverhampton and most recently in Oakham. We have 2 children

aged 7 and 4 who have recently joined the local school. I look forward

to becoming a part of not only the medical fraternity but also the local social community.

Practice Open Evening

We would like to invite patients to come

along to Maxwell Drive and meet the

partners ‘old and new’ and members of our

patient participation group on Tuesday

March 27th from 6:30-7:30pm.

Please come along!

Our practice website is now available for you to access information about the practice and book your

appointments and order repeat prescriptions online by searching on:

www.dishleygrangemedicalpractice.co.uk

Annual Patient Survey We would like to thank all of the patients who completed our annual patient survey.

The results of this will be available on our web site by 31st March 2012.

PATIENT ACCESS (formerly EMIS ACCESS) Please note that Patient (EMIS) access is for making appointments with the doctor and or-dering repeat medication only.

Thank you from Dr Singh

I would like to thank all of you who sent me retirement cards, gifts, supported my charity and

came to meet me and my family on Saturday 17th of December . £345.11 was raised for Marie

Curie Cancer Care.

I am enjoying my retirement and have taken up some of the hobbies and pursuits that I had

always wanted to do but never had the time. I would like to thank all of you once again for your

kindness and the happy memories that I will always treasure.

Update your details!

Please tell reception if you change any of your details especially your mobile

phone number. We may offer a texting reminder service

later on in the year but we will need your up to date mobile phone number for this

service.

Easter Opening Hours

Friday 6th April – CLOSED

Monday 9th April – CLOSED

Tuesday 10th April - NORMAL OPENING

LAST DAY FOR ORDERING PRESCRIPTIONS IN TIME FOR EASTER IS

WEDNESDAY 4th April

Patients’ Group AGM to be held on 19 April 2012

The first Annual General Meeting of the Patients’ Group will be held on Thursday, 19th April 2012 at Maxwell Drive Surgery starting at 7.00pm. This is a significant date for the fledgling Patients’ Group as it

marks the start of its work as “the voice” of patients of the Hathern and Maxwell Drive surgeries. The venue will be the waiting area at Maxwell Drive Surgery and all patients of the Dishley Grange Medical

Practice aged 18 and over are welcome to attend. Further information regarding the meeting will be available at the two surgeries, on the website and elsewhere from mid-March onwards.

There will be an opportunity for any patient of the Practice to become involved with the work of the Group and further information on that can be found in the Patients’ Group’s section of the website -

www.dishleygrangemedicalpractice.co.uk Please put the 19th April AGM in your diary and come along to find out more about the Group.

PRESCRIPTION CHARGES

From the 1st April 2012 there will be an increase in prescription charges

1 item = £7.65 If you pay for your prescriptions and have 5 items in 4 months or 14 items in 12 months

then a pre-payment certificate may be an option for you 3 months = £29.10

12 months = £104.00 by lump sum or by 10 monthly direct debits Please ask for a form at the reception desk

OSTEOPOROSIS

After about the age of 45, bones become less dense and less strong. If you have a lot of bone loss your

bones can break more easily than normal, especially if you have an injury such as a fall.

Prevention:

- Exercise helps to stimulate bone-making cells and strengthens your bones and muscles around the bones

- Have a diet that is adequate in calcium and vitamin D which are essential for bone health - Stop smoking as chemicals from tobacco enter your blood stream and can make bone loss

worse - Cut down your alcohol intake [no more than 3 units per day] - Women who have had premature menopause may consider hormone replacement therapy

after discussion with the GP - Check your home for hazards that may trip and cause you to fall

- Is your vision and hearing as good as possible? Do you need a vision and a hearing test?

- Are you on medication that makes you drowsy or lowers your blood pressure too much?

Discuss with your GP to see if these can be changed.

See the nurse or your GP if you want more specific advice regarding the above.