As you are aware, we work alongside the doctors and nurses endeavouring to enhance patient experience and care by providing ‘extras’ not funded by the NHS.
A Suggestion Box has been installed in the reception area for patients to comment on aspects of the surgery. Concerns may be expressed or positives celebrated (there are lots of those!).
Funds have currently been set aside for the development of a Patient Information Centre. We are awaiting the response of the recent Patient Questionnaire to ascertain the demand for this facility. Once known we will liaise with the surgery regarding any future developments.
Whilst we were not directly concerned with the installation of the Tarring Community Pharmacy it has been a welcome and popular optional addition to the facilities available to our 13,000 patients.
Alan Hardwick has been instrumental in developing our web-site and broadening interest through ‘Facebook’ and ‘Twitter’. He has recently updated our Patient Participation Group section on the main website and it would be appreciated if patients would access this at regular intervals to keep themselves up to date with developments.
You may be aware that the surgery was recently nominated and short-listed for two awards at the General Practice Awards 2011 Ceremony held at the Lancaster Hotel in London. The guest speaker was Dr Phil Hammond of ‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’ fame. Our Practice Business Manager Jo Wadey was highly commended for her outstanding work and the surgery itself shortlisted for its excellent work. These accolades are a direct reflection of all the excellent work of all the staff at the surgery and we as patients directly benefit from their expertise, range of services and professionalism.
St Lawrence Surgery also won the Community Stars Health Heroes award in November! All the staff are really proud of winning this fantastic award!
Our long-serving Honorary Treasurer, Christine Osborn, will be standing down in May. Christine was on the original Friends Committee when it was first formed in 1996 and has served continuously since this time. If any patient is interested in exceeding to this role we would be delighted to hear from them. Please ring our Secretary Lucy Toghill (01903 536506) in the first instance and she will be able to outline the nature of the role and the time commitment involved.