Telephone  01280 816450      Fax  01280 823885

Current Items:

1. Patient Survey Findings

2. Flu Vaccinations

3. Out of Hours

4. Opening times for Buckingham pharmacies

5. What you need to know about patient consent

6. Pandemic Influenza

Flu Vaccinations

Flu Clinics will be running from 2nd October 2007. Please ring in for an appointment.

Flu vaccinations are available for anyone over 65 and those with:

Cardiac Heart Disease
Diabetes
Kidney or Lung Disease
Asthmatics on treatment
Immune Compromised eg those who have had kidney transplants or a splenectomy. If in doubt please ring for advice.

OUT OF HOURS

If you have an urgent problem out of hours, please telephone the surgery number, 01280 816450 and you will be automatically transferred to the Out of Hours Service.

opening times for Buckingham pharmacies

The Buckingham chemists are now opening and closing at the following times:

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PATIENT CONSENT

About the consent form

Before a doctor or other health professional examines you, they need your consent. Sometimes you can simply tell them whether you agree with their suggestions. However, sometimes a written record of your decision is helpful – for example if your treatment involves sedation or general anaesthesia. You’ll then be asked to sign a consent form. If you later change your mind, you’re
entitled to withdraw consent even after signing.

What should I know before deciding?

Health professionals must ensure you know enough to enable you to decide about treatment. They’ll write information on the consent form and offer you a copy to keep as well as discussing the choices of treatment with you. Although they may well recommend a particular option, you’re free to choose another. People’s attitudes vary on things like the amount of risk or pain they’re prepared to accept. That goes for the amount of information too. If you’d rather not know about certain aspects, discuss your worries with whoever is treating you.

Should I ask questions?

Always ask anything you want remember so write down any questions that you want answered. The person you ask should do his or her best to answer, but if they don’t know they should find someone who is able to discuss your concerns. To support you and prompt questions, you might like to bring a friend or relative.

Ask if you’d like someone independent to speak up for you.

Is there anything I should tell people?

If there’s any procedure that you don’t want to happen, you should tell the people treating you. It’s also important for them to know about any illnesses or allergies which you may have or have suffered from in the past.

Can I find out more about giving consent?

The Department of Health leaflet, Consent – what you have a right to expect is a
detailed guide on consent in versions for adults, children, parents, carers/relatives and people with learning disabilities. Ask for one from your clinic or hospital or order one from the NHS Responseline (08701 555 455) or read it on the web site www.dh.gov.uk/consent

Who is treating me?

Amongst the health professionals treating you might be a ‘doctor in training’ – medically qualified, but now doing more specialist training. They range from recently qualified doctors to doctors almost ready to be consultants. They will only carry out procedures for which they have been appropriately trained.

Someone senior will supervise – either in person accompanying a less experienced doctor in training or available to advise someone more experienced.

What about anaesthesia?

If your treatment involves general or regional anaesthesia (where more than a small part of your body is being anaesthetized), you’ll be given general information about it in advance. You’ll also have an opportunity to talk with the anaesthetist when he or she assesses your state of health shortly before treatment. Hospitals sometimes have a pre-assessment clinics which provide
patients with the chance to discuss things a few weeks earlier.

Will samples be taken?

Some kinds of operation involve removing a part of the body (such as a gallbladder or a tooth). You would always be told about this in advance. Other operations may mean taking samples as part of your care. These samples may be of blood or small sections of tissue, for example of an unexplained lump. Such samples may be further checked by other health professionals to ensure the best possible standards. Again, you should be told in advance if samples are likely to be taken. Sometimes samples taken during operations may also be used for teaching, research or public health monitoring in the future interests of all NHS patients. The NHS trust treating you will have a local system for checking whether you’re willing for this to happen.

Photographs and Videos

As part of your treatment some kind of photographic record may be made – for example X-Rays, clinical photographs or sometimes a video. You will always be told if this is going to happen. The photograph or recording will be kept with your notes and will be held in confidence as part of your medical record. This means that it will normally be seen only by those involved in providing you with care or those who need to check the quality of care you have received. The use of photographs and recordings is also extremely important for other NHS work, such as teaching or medical research. However, we will not use yours in a way that might allow you to be identified or recognized without your express permission.

What if things don’t go as expected?

Amongst the 25,000 operations taking place every day, sometimes things don’t go as they should. Although the doctor involved should inform you and your family, often the patient is the first to notice something amiss. If you’re worried – for example about the after-effects of an operation continuing much longer than you were told to expect – tell a health professional right away. Speak to your GP, or contact your clinic – the phone number should be on your appointment
card, letter or consent form copy.

What are the key things to remember?

It’s your decision! It’s up to you to choose whether or not to consent to what’s being proposed. Ask as many questions as you like, and remember to tell the team about anything that concerns you or about any medication, allergies or past history which might affect your general health.

Questions to ask health professionals

As well as giving you information health professionals must listen and do their best to answer your questions. Before your next appointment you can write some down in the space below.

Questions may be about the treatment itself, for example:

• What are the main treatment options?

• What are the benefits of each of the options?

• What are the risks, if any, of each option?

• What are the success rates for different options – nationally, for this unit
  or for you (the surgeon)?

• Why do you think an operation (if suggested) is necessary?

• What are the risks if I decide to do nothing for the time being?

• How can I expect to feel after the procedure?

• When am I likely to be able to get back to work?

Questions may also be about how the treatment might affect your future state of
health or style of life, for example:

• Will I need long-term care?

• Will my mobility be affected?

• Will I still be able to drive?

• Will it affect the kind of work I do?

• Will it affect my personal/sexual relationships?

• Will I be able to take part in my favourite sport/exercises?

• Will I be able to follow my usual diet?

Health care professionals should welcome your views and discuss any issues so they can work in partnership with you for the best outcome.

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Pandemic Influenza (Flu)

Key Facts

1. The Disease
   Pandemic Flu is a type of influenza that spreads rapidly to effect most countries and regions around the world. Unlike the 'ordinary' flu that occurs every winter in the UK, pandemic flu can occur at any time of the year. Pandemics of influenza have occurred sporadically throughout history - three times in the last 100 years - resulting in many deaths. Experts predict another pandemic will occur but cannot say exactly when it will happen. When it does, it may come in two or more waves several months apart.  Each wave may last 2 -3 months. Pandemic Flu is more serious than 'ordinary' flu. As much as a quarter of the population may be affected - maybe more.  Pandemic Flu is likely to cause the same symptoms as 'ordinary' flu. The symptoms may be more severe because nobody will have any immunity or protection against that particular virus. A serious pandemic is likely to cause many deaths, disrupt the daily life of many people and cause intense pressure on health and other services. Each pandemic is different, and until the virus starts circulating, it is impossible to predict its full effects.
    

2. What is it caused by?
   Pandemics of flu are due to the emergence of a new flu virus which is markedly different from recently circulating strains. Few - if any - people will have any immunity to this new virus. This allows it to spread widely, easily and to cause more serious illness.
    

3. Who's at Risk?
   Once a flu pandemic starts everybody will be at risk of catching pandemic flu. Certain Groups may be at a greater risk than others: until the virus starts circulating we will not know for sure who the risk groups will be.
    

4. Is there a vaccine to protect against pandemic flu?
   Medicines called antivirals can be used to treat pandemic flu but their effectiveness won't be known until the pandemic virus is circulating. There is no vaccine ready to protect against pandemic flu. A vaccine cannot be made until the new virus has been identified. Before a pandemic starts it is difficult to predict what strain will cause it and even then, predictions may prove wrong. Also the new virus may have changed enough for a prepared vaccine to be ineffective. 'Ordinary' flu vaccines will not protect against pandemic flu. But 'ordinary' flu can be serious so it is very important that everyone who is due an 'ordinary' flu jab has one.
    

5. What is the government doing to prepare for a flu pandemic?
   The government has prepared a UK wide Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan which will be put into action in the event of a pandemic. The Plan includes initiatives to improve our preparedness now, and before another pandemic occurs. NHS staff will be trained in how to manage services during a pandemic and cope with the demands that are likely to be placed on them. The government is building up its stocks of antiviral drugs. They will be used in the most effective way to treat those most at risk of serious illness based on how the disease develops. If pandemic flu reaches the UK, there will be an announcements in the newspapers and on the radio and TV, and advice will be given on the best course of action to take. These will include simple hygiene measures and treatment advice. The government is taking steps to be in the best position for a vaccine to be manufactured as rapidly as possible when a pandemic virus is identified. Manufacture is still likely to take several months and vaccine will not be available at the start of a new pandemic.
    

6. What can I do?
   You can reduce but not eliminate the risk of catching or spreading influenza during a pandemic by:
   
   Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible.
   Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully - bag and bin them.
   Avoiding non-essential travel and large crowds whenever possible.
   Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, or to other people.
   Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. kitchen worktops, door handles) frequently, using a normal cleaning product.
   Making sure all your children follow the above advice.

If you do catch the flu:

• Stay at home and rest.

• Take medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines).

• Children under 16 must not be given aspirin or ready made flu remedies containing aspirin.

• Drink plenty of fluids.
   

These measures are for your own health and to avoid spreading the illness to others. More information will be given at the time of a pandemic through leaflets, websites and the media. Such information will tell you how to protect yourself and your family and what to do if you think you are infected. Further information will be given at the time.