News 2008 Newyddion 2008 - ARCHIVE
A Happy and Healthy New Year To All For 2009 (31/12/08)
All the Doctors and Staff at Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice wish our patients the best of health for 2009.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
New Podcast - "Threadworms" (14/12/08)
There are types of worm that can live and thrive inside our bodies causing health problems. The commonest such worm is the threadworm - sometimes known as the pinworm.
Threadworms are very, very much smaller than the garden earthworm but are visible to the naked eye – they appear as thin white strands up to a centimetre long, looking like desiccated coconut or threads of white cotton around the anal margin or actually coating the stool.
They can live inside our gut. But come out, usually at night, to lay eggs on the skin around the anus. The eggs attach by a sticky substance that causes itching. To complete their life cycle the eggs must reach the mouth of another person and be swallowed back into the gut
...
See our YouTube channel at www.tv.builthsurgery.co.uk
"Carols and Candles" at Builth Hospital, Saturday 13th December (6/12/08)
The Friends of Builth Wells Hospital have announced that the annual "Carols and Candles" event will take place on Saturday, December 13th at Builth Hospital.
This is a celebration of Christmas and also an excellent opportunity to show support for our precious Cottage Hospital.
It starts at 3pm and refreshments will be available at the Primary School afterwards. If the weather is poor the whole event will be held inside the school.
Friends of Builth Hospital
Dr Martin Riley Retiring (27/11/08)
Dr Martin Riley has been in Practice in Builth Wells for over 30 years, and has now decided that it is time for him to devote his considerable energies to things other than medicine.
He has been instrumental in developing the Practice over the years, responding to the major changes in the service provided by general practice, and has always been a strong advocate of high quality medicine.
Outside the Practice, he contributed to the wider health service through his interest in cardiology and as a clinical director to the predecessors of the Local Health Board.
We all wish him well in his retirement from General Practice.
New Staff Uniforms (24/11/08)
You may have noticed a difference when attending surgery over recent days. Yes, staff are now wearing a uniform. This is the first ever uniform in our Practice history.
The design was chosen by staff and consists of a claret blouse with black accessories. Very smart indeed.
Patient Survey 2008 (19/11/08)
Each year we carry out a survey of patient views. The results are discussed by the practice team and this can lead to positive changes in the way we work.
In addition to this internal review we present findings to members of the Community Health Council and Local Health Board.
A summary of this year's survey is available via the following link:
Patient Survey 2008 (pdf document)
New Website Design for Builth Wells Community Support (22/10/08)
Builth Wells Community Support aims to provide services that help local people to live healthy, independent lives within their community.
In particular they help many of our patients with transport arrangements to hospitals and clinics.
This autumn they have redesigned their website. Please take time to check it out.
www.builthcs.co.uk
Emergency Surgery Only Monday, November 3rd (26/9/08)
On Monday, November 3rd we will be holding an emergency surgery only. This will be from 9am to 9.30am. After this we will have no computer access and quite possibly no electricity or telephones either.
We would appreciate if all patients could avoid surgery that day except if unwell. Routine appointments and tests should be deferred.
Thank you for your help and support.
New free prescription collection service for our Practice Patients (25/9/08)
Lakeside Pharmacy at Princess Avenue, Llandrindod Wells are offering a free prescription collection service in this practice area. They will collect your prescription from the Surgery, then have it ready for you to pick up. To enroll call them on Tel: 01597 822174.
This new service will complement the two other schemes already running from Llanwrtyd Pharmacy and also Boots in Builth Wells.
For contact information see our Chemists page.
Flu Clinics for this winter (23/9/08)
The Practice starts the annual flu vaccination campaign this October 2008. Please see our flu clinic page for details and watch our podcast for general information.
Flu Clinic Page
Builth Project - Site Update (6/8/08)
A well attended stakeholder meeting took place this Monday (4/8/08) at Wyeside Arts Centre. It was organised in response to the County Council's demand for more consultation regarding the preferred option of siting the Builth Project on the cattle market in the town centre. Understandably the local farming community has raised concerns but it does appear that the project may be in jeopardy if this site does not get the go ahead. This position was understood and further consultations will take place to try and resolve issues.
60 years of the NHS in Wales 1948 - 2008 (1/7/08)
"No society can legitimately call itself civilised if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means"
Aneurin Bevan 1948
Find out more on Aneurin Bevan
Missed Hospital Appointments - Powys Local Health Board (20/6/08)
Between April 2007 and March 2008 Powys Local Health Board lost a minimum of £200,000 on wasted outpatient appointments.
Each appointment costs around £85.00.
2,318 patients did not turn up for their consultant outpatient appointments last year.
These missed appointments could have been given to other patients.
If you can’t make your appointment,
please notify the hospital as soon as possible.
Your help and support is a vital to reduce waiting times for outpatient appointments.
Injury Service Moves Out of Practice Area (2/6/08)
From today there is no longer an acute injury service in Builth Wells or Llanwrtyd Wells. This includes Builth Hospital and the doctor surgeries.
As we do not have appointment systems at our surgeries we have treated a large number of patients with injuries on a "walk in" basis. This service is no longer funded and is not part of normal general practice work.
As a result, Powys Local Health Board advises patients with new injuries to be assessed at a hospital outside the Practice area such as Brecon or Llandrindod.
This reduction in local service is a result of decisions made by Powys Local Health Board (see below).
End of Minor Injury Services in Builth Wells (1/5/08)
Powys Local Health Board has decided that the Minor Injury Unit (MIU) at Builth Hospital is unsustainable and have made the decision to relocate this service to Llandrindod Wells Hospital. This change will take effect from Monday, 2nd June 2008. Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice is saddened by yet another reduction in service at Builth Wells.
However, in the light of recent Clinical Governance reports the practice ultimately understands this decision.
We did not feel that a wholesale transfer of Minor Injuries from Builth Hospital to the surgery was the appropriate response to the concerns raised by the Clinical Governance reports. For instance, the level of service could not equate with that provided by the MIUs in Llandrindod or Brecon Hospitals. Patients in Builth would therefore not have an equivalent level of service to patients in neighbouring localities.
We wish to see safe, effective and appropriately staffed Minor Injury Units that have necessary facilities such as Xray. It is regrettable that the Local Health Board have chosen not to maintain and develop the existing service in Builth Hospital.
Further information will follow detailing how patients with minor injuries can access the service at Llandrindod Hospital.
Surgery Donations - Emergency Equipment Purchased (14/4/08)
Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice thanks all those who have contributed to our surgery fund over recent months. Large donations were received in memory of Howard Hamar and Thomas Jones.
We have used the fund to purchase emergency trolleys to house all our resuscitation equipment.
Dr Richard Walters says, "The trolleys will make a huge difference. Medical Emergencies do happen at the surgery and it's vital to have all necessary equipment quickly to hand. Everything is now organised, layed out and can be moved easily to the patient".
Trolleys have been purchased for both Builth Surgery and our Llanwrtyd Branch Surgery.
Practice Position Statement: Clinical Governance Service Development Unit Phase II report (12/3/08)
The Phase II report from the CGSDU was published yesterday. This follows on from the initial report back in August 2007. Both reports can be downloaded via the following links:
Phase I report (pdf)
Phase II report (pdf)
The first report back in 2007 was very critical of the management structure at Powys LHB and many of the problems highlighted in the second report relate to the inadequate systems for patient safety and staff support put in place by that regime.
Clinicians at the 'coal face' do the best job they can with the resources and support available.
It is very difficult to fundamentally disagree with the report and here in Builth we have already taken on board many of the recommendations. For example we no longer admit acutely ill patients to our cottage hospital (concentrating more on terminal and nursing home type care). Furthermore, a major reconfiguration of services in Builth is planned in the near future using a health and social care model, the Builth Project. This is fully in line with report's recommendations
We recognise there have been many changes at Powys LHB over recent months and we continue to work with them to address the issues raised in the reports in order to develop the quality, local services that all Powys patients require.
BBC news: NHS uncovers hospital 'failings' (12/3/08)
BBC news: Report 'must not shut hospitals' (12/3/08)
Minor Injury Unit Closure Pending? (1/3/08)
The practice is committed to ensuring its patients receive a safe and effective Minor Injury Service and will continue working with the Local Health Board to achieve this.
Precipitate closure of the Minor Injury Unit in Builth hospital, and relocation of a Minor Injury Service to the surgery is not appropriate. The surgery does not have either the facilities or trained staff to provide such a service. Changing the location of a service does not in itself make it better or safer. It does however allow the LHB to ditch responsibility!
The concerns raised in last year's Clinical Governance Support and Development Unit interim report need a more measured response to developing equitable and high quality Minor Injury Service across Powys.
See full Practice Position Statement
New Podcast - "Glandular Fever" (17/2/08)
Glandular Fever (or infectious mononucleosis) is an infection caused by a virus – the Epstein Barr virus.
It is sometimes known as the “kissing disease” because the virus can be passed on via saliva. Coughs and sneezes and sharing food utensils can also pass it on. It’s harder to catch than a cold. It is not a sexually transmitted disease.
It generally affects teenagers and younger people. A full and quick recovery, without the need to see a doctor is the usual course of events...
Podcast page
YouTube Channel Hits 100,000 Views (22/1/08)
Today the 8 films on our YouTube Channel clocked up a total of 100,000 views between them. The most popular film is "Cervical Screening", closely followed by "Chlamydia".
All our films can also be seen on our Podcast page and are available from iTunes.
Our most recent effort was "How To Use a Peak Flow Meter" and we are currently working on a new release, "Glandular Fever".
BBC News item
Printer and Viewer Friendly Pages (17/1/08)
If you wish to print out a page from this website then just press your "print" button. A separate style sheet, especially for printers, is embedded on this site and should provide a clear A4 printout without cluttered navigation and side columns.
If you wish to increase the size of the text on this website then click the "Large Text" link in the top right hand corner.
For more website information please visit our access page.
Wyeside Arts Centre Under Threat (10/1/08)
Builth & Llanwrtyd Medical Practice recognises that the greater health of a community relies on far, far more than it's doctors. Wyeside Arts Centre could face enforced closure this year.
Please consider signing this online petition to Wales’ Minister for Heritage, Rhodri Glyn Thomas? Click on the link below:
http//:www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-wyeside-arts-centre.html
For more information please visit:
www.wyeside.co.uk
Lost Our Online Repeat Prescription Form?? (8/1/08)
During a recent recoding of this website the location of the Repeat Prescription Form on our secure server had to be changed.
Those who have Bookmarked or Favourited the form previously will need to do so again through this website or the following link.
Repeat Prescription Form
If new to this service then please do try it out. It uses a secure directory and hence your prescription request is safe
from prying eyes.
The service uses a form. To request
your repeat medication just fill in the form and submit it!
This service is available to registered patients only and medication requested
must already be on repeat.
Email can still be used but this it is not secure and is not recommended.
In total there are six ways of requesting a repeat
prescription