Stony Medical Centre

News:

PPG Newsletter

Stony Patient Group’s first newsletter is now available. Please visit the practice to collect a copy, or look out for it in some of the shops in Stony Stratford High Street.

Alternatively download it from the Stony Patient Group area of this website.

Patient Satisfaction

Over the past 12 months some of you will have received a questionnaire from the government via MORI. The results of the questionnaire are now available to the public. For more information please refer to the “Patient Satisfaction” section of our website. June 2010

Dr Regis maternity leave

Dr Regis is now on maternity leave. During her maternity absence we are delighted to announce that Dr Rani Seehra will be managing Dr Regis’ list.

How do I get an appointment?

Please note:

You can book appointments in advance.

You do not have to call on the day to book a routine appointment.

Please ask at reception for the first available appointment.

Alternatively please ask for a telephone call.

Please do not ring off frustrated!

We will offer you something appropriate for your needs.

Please do read more in the appointments section of this website.

Please do make a note of who you are speaking to when you ring the practice (the receptionist will say her name when answering the telephone) and if you have any comments please contact the Assistant Practice Manager, Gill Hulf.

Online, Repeat Medications Update

In response to a patient request our website developers have increased the number of possible, regular repeat medications, (for use when ordering repeat medication online) from 20 to 30 items. We trust you find this useful. June 2010

Telephone System; July 12 2010

The practice would like to apologise to all of our patients for the disruption to our telephones on Monday 12 July.

We had a massive system failure resulting in the need to replace a key piece of equipment.

An engineer was contacted as soon as the fault was discovered and arrived at the practice with the replacement part during the morning.

We were operational again by 12 noon however we did still experience some continuing problems and some patients were cut off during telephone calls for which we do apologise.

Thank you all for your patience during this trying time.

Staff Changes

Unfortunately Dr Sharon Rocque will be leaving the practice on 13 August 2010. While we will be sorry to see her go she has been offered a wonderful opportunity at Newport Pagnell Medical Centre and we wish her all the very best.

The practice is currently recruiting for a new GP to join us and we will keep you updated of our progress. July 2010

Announcements

01 May - 01 Aug
Sex - Worth Talking About

Talking about sex doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. Whether it’s knowing about your contraceptive choices, explaining STIs, coping with emotions or understanding your body, you'll find straightforward information and advice to make it easier to discuss everything to do with sexual health, right here

30 Apr - 01 Aug
Change for Life

Would you like loads of tips and help to make changes for a healthier future? As part of Change4Life, you will receive tons of helpful information, recipes, tools, tips, and games for the kids.

29 Apr - 01 Aug
NHS Smokefree

Find out about all of the free NHS services available to support you as you go try to give up smoking.

BBC Health

Child heart op ban 'should stay'

Children's heart surgery should remain suspended at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital where four babies died, a report says.

Public health fear in NHS revamp

The overhaul of the NHS may harm the public health drive, a health think tank is warning.

Say fat not obese, says minister

GPs and other health professionals should tell people they are fat rather than obese, England's public health minister says.

Hip hope from stem cell technique

Doctors may soon be able to patch up damaged bones and joints anywhere in the body with a simple shot in the arm.

Alcohol can 'lessen' arthritis

Drinking alcohol can reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, a study has found

Warning for obese mothers-to-be

Obesity levels among pregnant women have reached epidemic levels, putting the health of their babies at risk, experts say.

'Emergency fund' for cancer drugs

The government announces a £50m fund aimed at giving patients access to cancer drugs sooner.

Rugby head injury reporting worry

Rugby ruling bodies are concerned after a BBC investigation finds some players are failing to report head injuries suffered in matches.

Face transplant man appears on TV

A Spanish man who underwent the world's first full face transplant reveals his new look before TV cameras.

NHS body in neglected cancer call

Specialist teams are needed to look after patients with a neglected type of cancer, says the health body NICE.

Yahoo Health

Hands-only CPR, pushy dispatchers are lifesavers (AP)

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2006 file photo a person participates in an American Red Cross CPR training in Washington. Two new studies conclude that 'hands only' chest compression is enough to save a life. The American Heart Association has been promoting 'hands only' CPR for two years, though it's not clear how much it's caught on. The new studies should help, experts say. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, File)

AP - More bystanders are willing to attempt CPR if an emergency dispatcher gives them firm and direct instructions — especially if they can just press on the chest and skip the mouth-to-mouth, according to new research.

DC pushes female condoms to fight HIV epidemic (AP)

AP - Charlene Cotton will talk to anyone about sex. Several days a week she stands behind a table decorated with a bowl of flavored condoms and safer sex pamphlets, calling to women passing on the street, "Come check out my table. Don't be scared."

NYC looks to stop spreading bedbug infestations (AP)

FILE - In this undated photo released by the University of Florida, a common bedbug is engorged with blood after feeding on a human. One of every 15 New Yorkers battled bedbugs last year, officials said Wednesday, July 28, 2010, as they announced a plan to fight the spreading infestation, including a public-awareness campaign and a top entomologist to head the effort. (AP Photo/University of Florida, File) NO SALES

AP - One of every 15 New Yorkers battled bedbugs last year, officials said Wednesday as they announced a plan to fight the spreading infestation, including a public-awareness campaign and a top entomologist to head the effort.

New program rebuilding faces of soldiers, veterans (AP)

In this photo taken June 23, 2010, Master Sgt. Todd Nelson is reflected in a mirror as Dr. Joe Villalobos makes adjustments to a prosthetics ear at Wilford Hall Medical Center, in San Antonio. Nelson was injured in 2007 by an explosion while serving in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AP - Master Sgt. Todd Nelson lost his right eye and ear in a flash when a car bomb in Afghanistan exploded, sending fire up his arm and over his head.

Tests aim to settle if fresher blood works better (AP)

Dr. Wenche Jy, research assistant professor, watches as Eleanor De Asis, assistant lab manager, washes blood, Friday, July 23, 2010, at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. This summer, hospitals around the country are launching major new research to settle if fresher blood really is better for at least some patients. And if so, they're also hunting ways to turn back the clock for older blood — like the University of Miami's work to wash away some cellular debris — and offset any deterioration. The University of Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital is testing whether 'washing' blood before transfusing it could help, by ridding blood of microparticles that accumulate the longer it's stored. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

AP - Facing surgery? You could receive blood that's been stored for a week, or three weeks, or nearly six — and there's growing concern that people who get the older blood might not fare as well.

Japanese women extend life expectancy to new high (AP)

Elderly people work out with wooden dumb-bells at a temple in Tokyo in September 2008. Japanese people are living longer than ever, with the average life expectancy now a world-record 86.44 years for women and 79.59 years for men, the health and welfare ministry said Monday.(AFP/File/Yoshikazu Tsuno)

AP - Japanese women are expected to live almost 86 1/2 years, topping the world longevity ratings for the 25th straight year, the government reported Monday.

'Excellence' centers no better for bariatric surgery (Reuters)

Reuters - For weight-loss surgery, "Centers of Excellence" may not be any safer than their undistinguished peers, a study of 25 Michigan hospitals suggests.

New Study Finds HPV Vaccine Protects Against Genital Warts (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- A new study finds that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects not only against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, but also helps prevent genital warts and low-grade cervical growths.

FDA considering changes to risky drug safeguards (Reuters)

Reuters - Safeguards to protect patients from risky drugs should have less paperwork and more consistency, drugmakers and pharmacy representatives said this week during a U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting.

U.S. a Leader in Tension Between Adults and Their Parents (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Parents in the United States are more likely to have conflict in their relationships with their adult children than are parents in European countries, a new study finds.

MedPage Today

Test Predicts Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in CML (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- A novel laboratory test may accurately distinguish which chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients will develop resistance to imatinib (Gleevec), researchers said.

'Cell Homing' Fixes Joints in Rabbit Experiments (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Researchers are reporting they have successfully persuaded damaged joints to regrow cartilage and bone, using a novel "cell homing" approach.

More Support for Compression-Only CPR (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- CPR with chest compression alone led to outcomes comparable to those achieved with chest compression plus rescue breathing, with a slight edge for compression alone, data from two large clinical trials showed.

Immunotherapy Shows Benefit in Prostate CA (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- A cellular immunotherapy appears to prolong survival among men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, researchers reported.

Federal Panel Endorses Ticagrelor for ACS

ADELPHI, Md. (MedPage Today) -- An FDA advisory panel has voted overwhelmingly to recommend approval of AstraZeneca's investigational antiplatelet drug ticagrelor (Brilinta), saying it appears more effective than clopidogrel (Plavix) for patients with acute coronary syndrome who will be treated either medically or with PCI.

Eye Vitamin Recalled Over Reports of Choking

(MedPage Today) -- The manufacturers of a softgel supplement marketed as an eye vitamin issued a voluntary recall of the product due to a potential choking hazard.

Soft Endpoint Sought for Pediatric PAH Trial

(MedPage Today) -- An FDA advisory panel will revisit an increasingly familiar battleground this week, as it considers whether a drug sponsor can substitute a surrogate endpoint for a clinical outcome in a pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) trial.

Pharmacy Chain to Pay HHS $1 Million for Privacy Violations

(MedPage Today) -- The East Coast's largest drugstore chain, Rite Aid, settled a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy violation case with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for $1 million.

Virtual Colonoscopy Misses Mark on Cost (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Virtual colonoscopy is cost-effective only when priced lower than conventional colonoscopy or if it attracts a large unscreened population, according to computer models of colon cancer screening strategies.

NFL Steps Up Warnings to Players on Head Injury Risk

(MedPage Today) -- National Football League teams will be hanging a poster in their locker rooms this season, describing symptoms of concussions and, for the first time, warning of the potential long-term consequences.

Announcements

BBC Health

Yahoo Health

MedPage Today

Stony Medical Centre

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