1 June 2014
DINGWALL HEALTH CENTRE!
SPRING/SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2014
We are moving again!
NHS24 number
change
!
From 29th April, people across
Scotland will be able to access
NHS 24 out of hours care and
information by calling 111. #
The new number will ensure
that people across Scotland
can access the service,
whether via a landline or
mobile phone free of charge,
using a number that is short
and easy to remember.#
If you are looking for advice
on treating common health
problems why not consult
www.nhsinform.co.uk? You
may find an answer to your
question there without having
to call the helpline.#
!
Another great website for
sensible and up to date advice
on a huge range of health
issues is www.patient.co.uk.
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After a period of extensive renovation, the Dingwall Health
Centre is ready to open its doors on the 30th June 2014. To
celebrate, NHS Highland is holding an open day for members
of the public to see exactly how the new site looks. The
Health Centre underwent a £1.5 million refurbishment as part
of NHS Highland’s continuing effort to improve services and
will feature modern, new clinical facilities for patients. NHS
Highland Mid Area Manager, Georgia Haire, said; “We are
delighted to invite local people to come along to have a
look round the health centre on Thursday 19th June at
any time between 11am and 4pm. The work that has been
undertaken has enabled us to develop and extend the services
available at the health centre and also allows for any future
expansion that may be needed. There have been a number of
noticeable changes, such as alterations to the ground floor to
provide more appropriate patient consulting and treatment
facilities, much improved waiting areas and facilities as well as
fitting out the roof space with community health and social
care staff accommodation and additional staff and patient
treatment facilities.”#
The health centre will continue to support the provision of
treatment and care closer to home and hopes to develop this
further with the additional space now available, reducing the
need to travel to larger centres.#
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1 June 2014
Staff Update
Since our last newsletter, we
have welcomed a few new faces
to the administration team at
the Health Centre, Joanne
Wilson and Laura MacKenzie
can both be seen behind the
reception desk. #
Dr. Rasdale and Dr. Davidson
have recently reduced their
commitment to the practice
and now both work part time.
This means that they will have
less appointments available per
week and you may find it more
difficult to get an appointment
with them. However, we are
pleased to announce that Dr.
Mary Mackintosh, who has
been working in the practice
since March of 2013, will be
joining the practice as a partner
from November of 2014,
covering 4 days a week. #
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Smoking Cessation
!
Eve MacLeod provides
Smoking Cessation Clinics at
the health centre. Advice and
support is also available from
Smokeline online or call 0800
848484. Many pharmacists now
also provide smoking cessation
consultations and weekly
dispensing of nicotine
replacement therapies. #
With 11,600 patients, the Dingwall Medical Group, which is
based in the centre, has 11 doctors, four practice nurses, a
healthcare technician, two managers and 15 administrative
staff. Now there is more space available they hope to
continue to support the training of medical students and new
GPs.#
The community staff team at the health centre includes
community nurses, midwives, social workers, care at home
workers and allied health professionals. They will all be
contactable via a single phone number which will be widely
advertised once the team have moved in.#
On the days we move over from Maywood to the new health
centre, there will be an emergency appointment service
only on the 27th and 30th June. Normal service will
resume after this date. We would appreciate if non urgent
requests for repeat prescriptions etc could be avoided over
this time period. We would like to thank our patients for their
continued patience and co-operation during the
refurbishment work. #
!
New ECG Machine
Over the years, the practice has been very fortunate to receive
donations from generous patients to our Endowment Fund.
This fund is used to buy items which will be of benefit to the
health centre and its patients. Thanks to the generosity of
these donations, the practice has recently acquired a brand
new, state of the art ECG machine. This is a machine which
takes a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. This is
very helpful for diagnosing and monitoring a number of
cardiac and respiratory problems. The new machine
recordings are capable of being uploaded to a computer to
share with other health professionals if required. #
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1 June 2014
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