PUBLIC HOLIDAY - MONDAY 5TH AUGUST 2024
Benbecula Medical Practice and the Daliburgh Branch Surgery will be closed on Monday 5th August. Normal emergency arrangements will apply. NHS24 will be dealing with calls made to the Surgery. For medical advice please contact NHS24 on 111. If you need to attend A&E this is located at the Uist and Barra Hospital, Balivanich, Benbecula, HS7 5LA.
CHANGES TO PATIENT ACCESS LOGIN
Our surgery software uses Patient Access to allow registered patients to order medication online, and it can be used for online appointment booking. They have increased their security settings, and have added a multifactor authentication log-in process. Any users will need to use a passcode from an authenticator app. Users can choose an authenticator application for mobile or desktop devices, and there are several free options to choose from.
For users who do not have a mobile phone, they are making changes so that users do not need to add a mobile phone number to their Patient Access account. They can then choose to use a desktop authenticator to complete the MFA log-in.
Please make sure you have your correct address, phone number and email address registered at the practice, as your access may be affected and you may not get contacted when there are any new changes.
MEASLES AND WHOOPING COUGH
There are outbreaks of measles and whooping cough in the UK at present. The best protection against these highly contagious diseases is vaccination. We ask that you phone ahead to inform the surgery if you have a cough, fever and a rash, to avoid putting other patients at risk. If you have had contact with a case of measles or whooping cough, and have not been vaccinated, you may be at risk. If you have a rash, you will be contagious for 4 or more days after the rash appeared. For more information, visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/measles/
DISTRESS BRIEF INTERVENTION SERVICE
Staff at the surgery have recently undergone training to allow them to refer to a new service, Distress Brief Intervention. This is a self-management program supported by trained staff for people experiencing acute mental distress. For more information, you can visit their page. Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) - Change Mental Health (changemh.org) This includes a short video outlining how the service works.
BENBECULA MEDICAL PRACTICE TRANSFERING TO HEALTH BOARD MANAGEMENT IN APRIL 2024:
The practice has transferred to health board management on the 2nd April 2024. There will be no changes to services to patients or staffing. Dr Dawson and Dr Johnson will continue to work at the practice in the medium term, while the health board recruits new GPs to work in the hospital and the practice.
Dr Dawson says "I am very proud of the services that we provide to patients, and the support we offer to each other as a team. Our practice manager, Sheena MacKinnon, has been exemplary in keeping everything well organised in the run-up to the handover. I'm also very proud of our patients, and the good relationship between the practice staff and practice population, and I would like to say thank you to you all for your support. I look forward to that same kindness and support to all and from all in the future."
COVID, FLU, SHINGLES AND MEASLES VACCINATIONS:
If you would like a vaccine but have not been contacted, please call 0808 196 8383 or email wi.vaccination@nhs.scot as soon as possible. The lines are busy so please keep trying. The vaccination team will be arranging home visits to those that are unable to attend the clinics. If you are an unpaid carer for someone whose welfare depends on your help, please visit https://www.nhsinform.scot/carersregister or contact the surgery to register. There is more information on nhsinform.scot
IT IS OK TO ASK:
For any treatment, work out what suits you. Ask yourself and your doctor:
- Benefits - what are the benefits of my treatment plan?
- Risks - what are the risks from my treatment plan?
- Alternatives - are there any other ways of managing my problem?
- Nothing - what happens if we do nothing?
For more information, please visit NHS inform - realistic medicine. One of the GPs, Dr Dawson, writes an occasional blog about her views on realistic medicine.