News Archive

COVID-19 Advice (Archived)

The UK Government are advising that Patients aged 70 or over, or anyone with underlying health conditions are more at risk of severe illness and advise to follow social distancing measures – GOV Social Distancing Measures Guidance

Some patients will have received a letter from the government advising that they are considered as extremely clinically vulnerable and should ‘shield’ for 12 weeks.

The practice has also identified a few patients they we deem as extremely clinically vulnerable and have sent the letter below

Extremely clinically vulnerable shielding letter

COVID-19 Patient not deemed high risk Letter

GOV Isolation Note (Fit Note for Employer)

GOV Self-Isolation Guidance

GOV Guidance for those Over 70 or with underlying Health Conditions

GOV Social Distancing Measures Guidance

GOV Travel Advice

GOV Ending Isolation Guidance

GOV Shielding advice (Self-isolate for 12 weeks) if you are extremely vulnerable

GOV Coronavirus Am I a Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Person?

Advice for those living in the same household as someone showing symptoms

if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of Coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill

For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period.

Mar 2020 – Temporary postponement of online bookable appointments

As part of the practice Coronavirus triage process we have been advised by Public Health England to postpone online bookable appointments.  Therefore all appointments must be triaged by a receptionist who will then pass to a GP to speak to you if required.  Thank you for your understanding at this time .

Mar 2020 – 11 March 2020 is Stop Smoking Day.

If you would like to stop smoking we have a Stop Smoking Clinic at the practice on Friday afternoons.  Just ask reception.

Mar 2020 – Evening and Weekend Appointments

We are open 08:00am – 12:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays; alternate weekends, for pre-bookable appointments. For any urgent health needs please contact 111, or ring 999 for an emergency.

Our next Saturday and Sunday appointments are scheduled for:

February 2020 – New doctor

From February 2020 Dr Zaffar Zia will be joining the practice on a 12 month placement

February 2020 – Quality Teaching Practice Award!

As a Training Practice we are committed providing medical students from the University of Manchester  the opportunity to learn about general practice and, hopefully, encourage them to want to be GPs in the future.

We are delighted to confirm that based on the feedback from the students we have received a Gold Award for Excellence in teaching Year 5 Medical Students in 2019-20.

Thank you to all our patients who had a consultations to make this possible.

October 2019 – Flu vaccinations

Are you aged 65 or Over, or Under 65 with a Chronic Medical Condition, Diabetes, Immunosuppression, Pregnant, BMI Greater than 40kg/m2, Carer. You’re eligible for the FREE FLU VACCINATION. Book your Vaccination online or by phone 0161 426 0011    Click here for more information

September 2019 – Quality Teaching Practice Award!

As a Training Practice we are committed providing medical students from Manchester University the opportunity to learn about general practice and, hopefully, encourage them to want to be GPs in the future.

We are delighted to confirm that we have received a Gold Award for Excellence in teaching Year 1, 2, 3 and 5 Medical Students in 2018-19, and a Silver award for year 4 students.

2015-16 from Manchester University.

Thank you to all our patients who had a consultations to make this possible.

July 2019 – Dr Ben Liu

We are delighted to confirm that Dr Liu has returned to the practice as a permanent member of the clinical team.  He will be working on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and providing additional clinics on Mondays and Tuesdays when Dr Wyatt begins maternity leave in September

Sep 2019 – Evening and Weekend Appointments

We are open 08:00am – 12:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays; alternate weekends, for pre-bookable appointments. For any urgent health needs please contact 111, or ring 999 for an emergency.

Our next Saturday and Sunday appointments are scheduled for:

June 2019 – Evening and Weekend Appointments

We are open 08:00am – 12:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays; alternate weekends, for pre-bookable appointments. For any urgent health needs please contact 111, or ring 999 for an emergency.

Our next Saturday and Sunday appointments are scheduled for:

May 2019 – Evening and Weekend Appointments

We are open 08:00am – 12:00pm on Saturdays and Sundays; alternate weekends, for pre-bookable appointments. For any urgent health needs please contact 111, or ring 999 for an emergency.

Our next Saturday and Sunday appointments are scheduled for:

February 2019 – Reclassification of Pregabalin and Gabapentin

Pregabalin and Gabapentin has been reclassified as a controlled drug, and so these prescription cannot be sent electronically.  See letter here for more information.

Reclassification of Gabapentin and Pregabalin

January 2019 – Evening and Weekend Appointments

We are open 08:00 – 12:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, alternate weekends, for pre-bookable appointments.  For any urgent health needs please contact 111, or ring 999 for an emergency.

Our next Saturday and Sunday appointments are scheduled for:

Saturday 26th / Sunday 27th January
Saturday 9th / Sunday 10th February
Saturday 23rd / Sunday 24th February
Saturday 9th  / Sunday 10th March
Saturday 23rd / Sunday 24th March

December 2018 – Evening and Weekend Appointments

The Practice now offers weekend appointments with a Doctor, Nurse and Healthcare Assistant on Saturdays and Sundays, every two weeks, starting from 1 December 2018.

These appointments are available to all patients in the Marple and Werneth locality.  The Doctor, Nurse and Healthcare Assistant may not always be a clinician who routinely works at the Practice.

There are also appointments available Monday – Friday, 6:30pm – 8:00pm, with a Doctor, Nurse and Healthcare Assistant at Kingsgate House, Wellington Road North, Stockport.

These are routine pre-booked appointments.  If you need urgent medical assistance during the evening (from 6:30pm) or over the weekend, you will need need to call the NHS111 Service, as usual, by dialling 111. For life threatening medical emergencies, dial 999.

November 2018 – Parkrun practice initiative

Marple Cottage Surgery is encouraging people to get involved with Parkrun @marpleparkrun, not just for the exercise, but also to get a real feeling of involvement in a community

Our first run in September was great fun and we are planning another practice run on 24th November 2018

So, why not encourage all your family, friends, neighbours, people you know to come on down to a parkrun and to be involved. You don’t have to run, you can walk, and meet lots of great people

It might seem daunting at first but come along, everyone so friendly, and the more you do it the easier it will be!

To find out more about the Marple ParkRun visit bit.ly/MarplePR

October 2018 – Breast Cancer Awareness Month – WEAR IT PINK!

Doctors, Nurses, and Staff from the Surgery run alongside patients and local community at the @marpleparkrun

If you would like to find out more information about the #ParkRun visit our website https://t.co/abhVwXnJ7l pic.twitter.com/8L0OgMWuNO

— Marple Cottage Surgery (@MarpleSurgery) October 23, 2018

Doctors, Nurses, and Staff from the Surgery run alongside patients and local community at the @marpleparkrun

If you would like to find out more information about the #ParkRun visit our website https://t.co/abhVwXnJ7l pic.twitter.com/8L0OgMWuNO

— Marple Cottage Surgery (@MarpleSurgery) October 23, 2018

Staff run alongside Patients and Local Community at the Marple ParkRun

At Marple Cottage Surgery we are committed to improving the health of our community, so that’s why on World Heart Day, Saturday 29^th September, Doctors, Nurses and Staff from the surgery ran alongside patients and local community at the Marple ParkRun!

Doctors, Nurses, and Staff from the Surgery run alongside patients and local community at the @marpleparkrun

If you would like to find out more information about the #ParkRun visit our website https://t.co/abhVwXnJ7l pic.twitter.com/8L0OgMWuNO

— Marple Cottage Surgery (@MarpleSurgery) October 23, 2018

To find out more about the Marple ParkRun visit bit.ly/MarplePR

October 2018 – Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Whatever concerns you have or challenges you’re facing, support is available. For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-awareness

10 October 2018 – World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is on Wednesday, 10 October 2018. Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust are hosting an event 10am-3pm, at Stockport County Football Club, SK3 9DD. Hear inspiring patient stories & find out about the work they are doing to improve Mental Health care.

World Mental Health Day Stockport Celebration Event

29 September 2018 – World Heart Day

150,000 people in the UK (and in Marple alone 55 people) will die from heart and circulatory disease every year. Regular exercise is a well established protective risk factor for heart disease, yet 40% of adults in the UK do not reach the target of recommended activity, which is 150 minutes of moderate activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.

At Marple Cottage Surgery we are committed to improving the health of our community, so on World Heart Day, Saturday 29^th September, doctors, nurses and staff from the surgery will be joining our patients at the Marple ParkRun. We hope you too can join us for the 5km jog and kick start your healthy heart exercise!

WC 17 September 2018 – IT IS NOW TIME FOR YOUR FLU VACCINATION

We are now booking for flu vaccinations WC 17 September 2018.  

Book your appointment online at www.patientaccess.com or by phone on 0161 426 0011.

If you would like to find out more about the online booking system, click here, ask at Reception or email [email protected]

7th September 2018 – Video consultations

Struggle to attend an appointment due to work? Why not ask about a video consultation with the GP?  With a video consultation you will receive a unique link via email or text which will allow you and the GP to see each other via your computer, tablet or mobile.  It is quick and simple.  Please ask reception if you would like to book a video consultation appointment

16th August 2018 – New doctors

Dr Jessica Caldwell has commenced a four month placement with the practice from the beginning of August.

From 27th August 2018 Dr Ben Liu will be starting a 6 month placement at the practice.

28 July 2018 – Dr Dawson and Dr Bhattacharya

Dr Dawson and Dr Bhattacharya have now finished their GP Placements and will be leaving the practice week ending 29 July 2018.

26 July 2018 – NHS 111 Online Service for Stockport Patients

The new NHS 111 Online Service has been launched for Stockport Patients from 23 July 2018.

This service provides the same urgent medical advice from the 111 phone line online at 111.nhs.uk 

NHS 111 Online Service Stockport Patient Information

19 July 2018 – Blood in Pee, Be Clear on Cancer Campaign

A campaign has launched to pick up bladder and kidney cancer, based on the presence of blood in the urine. It is important to know that blood in the urine is unlikely to be due to cancer, which usually affects only the older population. More likely causes of blood in the urine include urine infection, kidney stones, and irritation of the urine passages.

We would normally recommend, if concerned, come and discuss this with your GP, we will run through any symptoms and talk you through the next steps if necessary.

19 July 2018 – Marple Cottage Patient Forum Meeting 24 July 2018

Invitation: There is a Marple Cottage Patient Forum Meeting, Tuesday 24 July at Marple Methodist Church at 6:15pm.

Dr Maher Al-Ausi will be here to provide a talk on Dementia.

This is a special event, any patients who are registered at a practice in Marple, Marple Bridge and High Lane are welcome to attend.

05 July 2018 – Diabetes X-Pert Course

The Diabetes X-Pert course is a programme run by Stockport Foundation Trust health professionals who guide patients through all aspects of their diabetes. The course supports the practice staff in delivering all the self-care information people need to manage their condition by providing more time than we have in surgery in a group setting.

The course is made up of 6 sessions lasting 2 ½ hours each session once a week for 6 weeks, covering the following topics:

1. Understanding Diabetes
2. Weight management
3. Carbohydrate awareness
4. Food labelling
5. Possible complications of diabetes
6. Living with diabetes and planning the future

The course is always very well evaluated. People from Marple Cottage Surgery said:

“The course is very enjoyable and very informative, people were given time to learn from each other and ask questions”

“The presentations were excellent, you learnt about food and its effect on your body, what to eat and what to cut out”

“I have been a diabetic for many years and thought I knew all about it, but I have learnt so much it has enabled me to change my diet and reduce my insulin doses”

If you are interested in attending this FREE course, telephone 0161 835 6689

28 May 2018 – Public Holiday – Practice Closed

The Practice is closed today, Monday 28 May 2018, for the public holidays. The following Pharmacies are open across Stockport.

The Practice will reopen as usual on Tuesday 29 May 2018.

21- 27 May 2018 – Dementia Action Week #DAW2018

There are a number of support groups in Stockport for those people living with Dementia, their families, friends and carers.

Dementia Support Groups in Stockport

Here’s 4 things you should know about Dementia.

4 things you should know about Dementia

Monday 7 May 2018 – CLOSED FOR PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Practice is closed on Monday 7 May for the public Holidays and will reopen, as usual, on Tuesday 8 May. If you require urgent medical assistance, whilst we are closed, please call 111.

If you have a life threatening emergency dial 999.

See website for more info www.marplecottage.co.uk

The following pharmacies will be open on Monday 7 May:

30 April 2018 – Couch to 5K Health App.

The Couch to 5K app has been designed to get you off the couch and running in just 9 weeks. Grab your trainers, download the app and follow the step-by-step instructions.

Go to bit.ly/NHS-Couch-to-5K to find out more or to download the app.

24 April 2018 – Signpost for Carers Latest Newsletter

Signpost for Carers are an independent local charity which provide free, confidential information and support to unwaged carers of all ages in the Stockport area.

Their latest newsletter for Stockport Carers is now available to read below.

Carelink Spring 18 Newsletter

20 April 2018 – Visit from Professor Steve Field, Chief Inspector of General Practice, Care Quality Commission

In February 2016 we were rated as an ‘Outstanding’ practice by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in three out of five assessment areas. We are delighted to confirm that we were reassessed in February 2018 and have been rated as ‘Outstanding’ in four out of five assessment areas, with an overall rating of Outstanding. We are the first GP Practice in the North of England to be reassessed as Outstanding, and the only practice in England to have improved our outstanding rating.

18 April 2018 – Macmillan Support Bus

The Macmillan Mobile Information and Support Service is out in Marple today until 11:30am, outside The Hollins, Stockport Road.

They will move to Sainsbury’s in Hazel Grove from 12:00pm – 4:00pm today.

They are there to bring free, confidential information and support to anyone with questions or worries about cancer, for themselves or anyone else.

16 April 2018 – Diabetes Prevention Week

This week is Diabetes Prevention Week.

Certain groups are at high-risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. You can help to prevent it by eating healthily, being more active & losing weight.

Calculate your risk at diabetes.org.uk/risk – and ask us about the NHS #Type2Diabetes Prevention Programme #PreventingType2

7 April 2018 – World Health Day 2018

Saturday, 7 April 2018 is World Health Day.

11am-3pm at Vernon park, Stockport, there will be various different services there from mental health, to Signpost for Carers, Healthier Stockport doing blood pressure and Friendly Fridays doing a craft table and Children’s activities.

The day will be all about local people finding out about local services in a relaxed fun environment.

World Health Day Flyer

18 April 2018 – Carers Event, Manchester

Carers Event – Wednesday 18 April 2018, Manchester
Open attendance invitation to all carers, and former carers, in Greater Manchester.

The event will be organised by a steering group of people with experience of caring for someone living with dementia.

Prostate Specific Antigen Test

There’s been a lot of publicity lately about prostate cancer and encouragement for men to get a PSA test.

Whilst undoubtedly the rates of prostate cancer are increasing, the main reason for this is likely to be the fact we’re living longer.

The PSA test on it’s own in not necessarily a good thing as some men with prostate cancer can get a normal result and some men without cancer can get an abnormal result.

01 MAR 2018 – Car Park Closed

Due to severe weather conditions today, our Car Park has been closed.  The surgery is open as usual.

26 MAR 2018 – Stockport together Information Talk

There is a Marple Cottage Patient Forum Meeting at 7:00m on 26 March 2018, at Marple Methodist Church. Tim Ryley, Director of Stockport Together Programme will be there to explain what will happen in our area now that the planning has been completed

Marple Cottage Patient Forum would urge patients to attend to listen / ask questions.

22 FEB 2018 – PATIENT DRUG ALERT – ACCUHALERS ASTHMA INHALERS

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a patient level drug alert recalling two specific affected lots manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited.

Patients who have used the affected batches of Ventolin may find that their symptoms are not relieved as normal by their Ventolin Accuhaler. If this happens, they should seek medical advice. Affected Accuhalers should be returned to their pharmacist for a replacement.

Three specific lots of asthma inhalers are being recalled, including preventer and emergency relief inhalers.

For more information, see GOV UK

Feb 2018 – New Doctor

Dr Ronjan Bhattacharya will be joining the practice in February for 6 months as part of his GP training programme.

Jan 2018 – Late evening and weekend appointments

Patients who are registered at this practice can book an appointment to see a GP on weekday evenings after 6.30pm on Mondays and Thursday evenings.

Patients are also able to book an appointment with a GP or nurse on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Mastercall in Hazel Grove. Please ask at reception if you would like to book a weekend appointment.

Jan 2018 – Falls prevention

Please see information below regarding how to seek advice regarding prevention of falls.

Steady in Stockport

Dec 2017 – INFLUENZA VIRUS

Influenza A and B viruses are circulating widely in the community and this has led to 21 hospital admissions in the last 10 days – 3 of these have been on ICU.

We are also currently dealing with a nursing home outbreak of influenza A, which has resulted in a number of hospital admissions and two possibly related deaths: the home remains closed to admissions.

Several of these inpatients have been vaccinated this season – this is consistent with the earlier Australia experience where the H3N2 and B vaccine components had a slightly reduced efficacy but did provide some protection against serious disease complications.

Please continue to vaccinate susceptible individuals – 65 years and above, 6 months to 64 years at risk and pregnant women. Healthcare workers and carers should also be offered flu vaccine.

Please contact Public Health for more information/support on 0161 474 2440.

We highly recommend that all eligible patients have the Influenza Vaccination as soon as possible.  We are at the end of our Vaccination Programme now, and would urge all remaining patients to attend for the vaccination.

You can walk-in anytime during normal surgery hours between 9am – 11:30am, and 3pm – 5:30pm.

Nov 2017 – Stockport Local

Want to get involved in your community?

Please see below link to Stockport Local, an online directory of community groups, services and activities in your community.

www.stockport.gov.uk/events

Stockport Local

Nov 2017 – A&E Access to Patient Records

Until now if you needed emergency treatment at Stepping Hill the doctors and nurses did not have access to your medial records.

As from November 2017 they will start to use a system which allows them to see your records but only when they have express consent ie they have to ask your permission to look at your records (with the except of an emergency where you were unable to expressly consent eg you were unconscious).  They would need to ask permission each time you attended.

If you do not the A&E department to be able to see your records, even in an emergency, then you can opt out – please complete opt out form below

A&E data sharing opt out form

Nov 2017 – Late night clinic changes

From mid-November 2017 we are changing our late night clinics (until 8pm) to Mondays and Thursdays.  This will enable up to two clinicians to work concurrently, which improves safety and will hopefully avoid cancelling clinics during times of holiday or sick leave.

Oct 2017 – Stockport together Information Talk

At 18:15 on 18th Oct 2017, at Marple Methodist Church, a representative from Stockport Together will be talking about changes to health & social care in Marple.

Marple Cottage Patient Forum would urge patients to listen / ask questions.

Please email confirmation to [email protected].

Sep 2017 – Flu vaccinations – don’t wait until its too late!

This year we are giving flu vaccinations from mid-September 2017.  Flu is common around November and the vaccines takes up to 8 weeks to take effect, so please don’t wait until later in the year as you may already have caught it!

If you are eligible please book an appointment in one of our early morning, mid afternoon or late evening flu clinics, or simply pop in between 9-11, or 3.30-5.30pm, Monday – Friday, and a GP will give a flu vac whilst you wait.

Sep 2017 – Osteoporosis Workshop

Please see attached information leaflet from Stockport MBC re: Osteoporosis workshop on Tuesday 3rd October 2017 where patients will be presented with expert advice from clinicians on how to manage their condition and treatment.

Osteoporosis workshop 3.10.17

July 2017 – Walking for Health (www.walkingforhealth.org.uk)

The 12 week Walking for Health programme has not finished, and may restart in September 2017. If anyone is interested in becoming a Walk Leader for this walk please contact the Managing Partner, [email protected].

Surgery Closed From 12:30pm – 6:30pm on Wednesday 19 July 2017 for Staff Training

If you need urgent medical assistance between this time please contact Mastercall Healthcare on 0161 476 2299.

20 June 2017 – Health and Care in Stockport

On Monday 19 June, the “Stockport Together” began a ‘listening phase’ with the public, and they are inviting ideas from the public to explore the possibilities for change and the impact on members of the public which may not have been considered.

The listening phase will run until Monday 31 July and will involve a number of events for the public that will take place throughout the borough talking about the case for change;

• New models of care;
• Investment into prevention and early intervention;
• Moving capacity from hospital to community
• Bringing health and social care teams together.

Please see further information below; we hope you can get involved.

Stockport Together – Health and Care in Stockport

10th May 2017 – SURGERY CLOSED FROM 12:30pm until 6:30pm for Staff Training

The practice will be closed on 10th May 2017 from 12:30pm until 6:30pm, for a staff training event.

If you need urgent medical assistance between this time please contact Mastercall Healthcare on 0161 476 2299. The surgery will reopen at 6:30pm for pre-booked appointments and prescription collections as normal.

May 2017 – Dr Hatton

Dr Hatton is providing GP locum cover between May – Aug 2017 whilst Dr Wyatt is on maternity leave. Please note that as a Locum GP Dr Hatton will not be providing the following services that she did when she was employed at the practice: Acupuncture, Minor surgery, IUCD / Implants, and she will not respond to email queries.

May 2017 – New telephone system

We have listened to patient feedback and installed a new telephone system which will inform patients where there are positioned in the queue.

Please note that our reception team and administration team all take calls, and, therefore, when busy you may experience an engaged tone as every member of staff is speaking to a patient and there are patients waiting in the queue.

February 2017 – Walking for Health
(www.walkingforhealth.org.uk)

As from 1st March 2017 a new 12 week walk programme will begin. The walks will start at Marple Cottage Surgery at 10:30am and last around 40mins.

To book on the walk please download registration form below

Walker registration form final

Feb 2017 – Late evening surgery changes

In February we have some changes to our normal late night surgeries. We will not have a late evening (18:30 – 20:00) clinic on 15th, 21st or 22nd February, but we will be adding two additional evening clinics on monday 13th February and a saturday morning clinic on 18th February.

Jan 2017 – New doctors

Dr Fraser and Dr Wilson will complete their placement at the practice on 2nd February and will be replaced by Dr Charlotte Reddick

In addition, whilst Dr Wise is still on maternity leave we will have some regular locums covering, including Dr Spreckley, Dr Kumar and Dr Hatton.

11 January 2017 – SURGERY CLOSED FROM 1:00pm until 6:00pm for Staff Training

The practice will be closed on 11 January 2017 from 1:00pm until 6:00pm, for staff training.

If you need urgent medical assistance between this time, which cannot wait until we reopen, please contact Mastercall Healthcare on 0161 476 2299.

The surgery will reopen at 6:00pm for pre-booked appointments as normal.

November 2016 – Dementia Presentation with Dr Steve Bradshaw

On 16th November 2016 the Patient Forum organised for Dr Steve Bradshaw to present his fascinating insight and knowledge of dementia. We had a limited availability for seating but everyone attended and it was a thoroughly interesting talk.

Dr Bradshaw kindly provided some notes of the interactive discussion which are attached below

Dementia presentation – Notes from Patient forum Q and A 16 (1)

November 2016 – Reducing the Pressure in General Practice

Please find below information about a new collaborative model of working. Stockport CCG have forwarded to practices and we have discussed at our Patient forum meeting on 23rd November 2016. If you have any thoughts, ideas or interested in this please let me know by emailing [email protected].

Reducing the Pressure in General Practice – A New Model of Collaborative Practice

November 2016 – Rapid access physiotherapy service

From November 2016 we are piloting a new service which aims to provide quicker access to physiotherapy. If a GP feels you would benefit from this service, and subject to specific suitability criteria, you will be offered an initial assessment appointment at the practice.

October 2016 – Late evening surgery changes

In October we have some changes to our normal late night surgeries. We will not have a Wednesday evening (18:30 – 20:00) clinic on 5th, 19th or 26th October, and we will be adding additional clinics on Thursday evenings instead.

WEDNESDAY 5th OCTOBER SEPTEMBER 16 – SURGERY CLOSED AT 18:30

The surgery will reopen as normal at 8:15am (Telephone from 8:00am) on Thursday.

September 2016 – Flu vaccinations

We will begin our flu vaccinations from mid-September on the recommendation that it is important to get you flu vac sooner rather than later as it can take up to six weeks to be effective. Please do not wait, flu is not dependent on the weather being cold.

August 2016 – New doctors

Dr Clelland and Crabtree completed their placement at the practice on 2nd August and have been replaced by Dr Emily Wilson and Dr Megan Fraser

July 2016 – New GP

As you will be aware Dr Hatton left the practice in April and we have been recruiting for a replacement and we are delighted to confirm that Dr Antonia Wyatt will be joining the practice in August 2016. Dr Wyatt will be working Monday – Thursday.

June 2016 – Dr Al-Ausi

Dr Al-Ausi has now returned to full time work and would like to pass on thanks to all the patients for their kind comments and good wishes.

Apr 2016 – Important information: Dr Al-Ausi and Cancellation of Managing Common Child Ailments Presentation

This week Dr Al-Ausi was seriously injured in a bike accident. He is now recovering but will not return to work for several weeks and we will need to reschedule any appointments currently booked with him.

We are doing our best to create some additional clinics but it is difficult to find GPs to work at such short notice, and whilst we will continue to manage urgent need each day you may find it more difficult to book routine appointments in advance. We are grateful for your patience and understanding at this time.

As our priority at this time is to ensure we have sufficient appointments it is with regret that we are postponing Dr Johnson’s Patient Presentation: Managing Common Child Ailments presentation (originally scheduled for Wednesday 27 April 2016). We will inform you of a new date as soon as we can.

Once again thank you for your understanding at this time.

Mar 2016 – Outstanding Practice – Care Quality Commission Inspection Report

We are delighted to confirm that following our recent Care Quality Commission inspection, we have been rated as an Outstanding Practice. For further information please read the report below.

Mar 2016 – Pharmacy Opening Times over Easter period

Please find a list of local pharmacies opening times over the Easter Period.
Easter 2016 Pharmacy Opening Times

Feb 2016 – Men B immunisation programme

The national Men B immunisation programme started on 1 September 2015 for babies aged 2 months, i.e. babies born on or after 1 July 2015, and there was a limited catch-up programme for babies born on or after 1 May 2015. The routine schedule is for immunisation to be given at 2 and 4 months with primary immunisations, with a booster at 12 months.

However following the recent media coverage about the death of a young girl from invasive meningococcal disease caused by Men B we have received a lot of queries from parents about the availability of Men B immunisation.

Due to the shortage of the Bexsero® vaccine we have been issued express instruction by NHS England not to vaccinate children born before 1 May 2015 ie the national stock should only be used to vaccinate children who are eligible for the NHS vaccination.

It may be possible to contact provider organisations who can vaccinate for a private fee, and they will charge the full costs of the vaccine and any additional administration charges that the private provider may apply. We do not hold any information about local private vaccination providers.

Dec 2015 – Pain Management Patient Presentation

On 24th November 2015 the Patient forum arranged a patient presentation on managing back and muscoloskeletel pain from Dr Yousaf Khan, a former Spinal Register from Stepping Hill.

The event was well attended (we didn’t have enough chairs!).  Thank you for everyone who came, and if any patients have although ideas for patient presentations please let the practice know

Pain Management

Oct 2015 – Flu vaccinations

If you are eleigible for a flu vaccination please ring, email or book online your flu vaccination (select online appointment named “Flu – 1min”.  Please refer to Further Information menu for more details.

Note: Children aged 2, 3, or 4 (on 31^st August 2015) are eligible for a FREE nasal flu vaccine to protect them against flu this coming winter.  The nasal vaccine is given by spraying a very small amount of fluid vaccine up each nostril – it’s easily administered and painless. There is no injection involved.

Sep 2015 –  Meningitis B vaccination (Men B) for your baby

From September 2015, a vaccine will be available as part of the NHS childhood immunisation programme, to help protect against Meningitis B disease.

Meningococcal disease (meningitis) is a bacterial infection which causes inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. There are 12 identified groups of bacteria which cause Meningococcal disease; B, C, W and Y were historically the most common in the UK.

Meningococcal disease most commonly presents as meningitis or septicaemia and can affect all age groups, particularly children under 2 years. The new vaccination will help to protect babies from this serious disease.

Babies will be offered the Men B vaccine with the other routine vaccinations at two months, four months and 12 months of age. Vaccinating babies at these times helps protect them when they are most at risk of developing Meningitis B disease.

Using paracetamol to prevent fever in babies after the Men B vaccination

Fever can be expected after any vaccination, but is more common when the Meningitis B vaccine is given than with the other routine vaccines at two and four months. The fever shows the baby’s body is responding to the vaccine, although not getting a fever doesn’t mean it hasn’t worked.

Giving paracetamol will reduce the risk of fever after vaccination. Your nurse will give you more information about paracetamol at your vaccination appointment.

Infant paracetamol should be on your essential shopping list in preparation for your baby’s arrival. If you do not have any paracetamol liquid for infants at home you should get some from your local pharmacy or supermarket ready for your two month vaccination visit.

Aug 2015 – New clinicians

We are delighted to confirm that Dr Samantha wise has joined the practice on a permanent basis.  Dr Wise will have clinics on Tues – Friday.

As you may also be aware Dr Poon has left the practice to continue his training elsewhere, and Dr Cressida Crabtree has started her placement with us.  Dr Crabtree will be at the practice until April 2017.

Dr Rebora is staying with the practice for a few more months, and we are also pleased to welcome Dr Shoaib Amaan and Dr Yousaf Khan, who will be with the practice for 6 months.

July 2015 – Marple Cottage Patient Forum

The Patient Forum is a valuable group of patients who meet to discuss clinical services, and offer ideas and support to maintaining the practice.  The Forum are keen for more patients to share their thoughts and the next meeting will be a “drop in” meeting where all patients are well to sit in and contribute.

If you would to attend the meeting will be 6.15pm on Wednesday 5th August 2015

Jun 2015 – New Personalised care plans

At Marple Cottage Surgery we have always created personalised care plans for patients with a long term condition eg astha, diabetes etc.

We are now extending this service to patients who are deemed at risk of being admitted to hospital based on various factors including age, chrinic illness, previous admissions etc.

If you receive a letter advising you that we will be contacting you to make a care plan please do not worry, we will contact you over the next few weeks.

May 2015 – Named GP for all patients

From 1 April 2015, general practices are required to allocate a named, accountable GP to all patients and to inform them of this named GP by March 2016.

We have allocated Dr Johnson and Dr Al-Ausi as the “named GPs”, as they are the GP Partners and legally responsible for all patient care. This does not mean that you have to see these GPs, you are free to see whomever you prefer.

Apr 2015 – Appointments for ill children

We reserve some appointments each day for children. These appointments are used for acutely ill children and are released on the day (ie not bookable in advance). If there are no appointments you will be able to speak to the on-call doctor.

Mar 2015 – Patient Questionnaire Results and Action plans

The 2014-15 Patient Questionnaire results and action plan, and PPG progress report, are not available to view here.

Thank you for everyone that participated.

Mar 2015 – Online services

For over ten years we have been enabling patients to book their appointments and order repeat prescription online, and over the last 7 years we have provided online access to medical records.

From 1st April 2015 these services will be become mandatory in all GP practices.  However, the requirement to provide online access to patients’ medical records only extends to providing a summary of the records eg allergies, adverse reactions.

Marple Cottage Surgery will continue to offer online access to your medical records to include consultations, test results, immunisation history. For more details – Online services for patients

However, due to governance issues raised nationally regarding online access to patient letters, and potential third party data disclosure, we have deactivated access to letters received from hospitals etc as we cannot police what information is recorded.  You will still be able to access these letters from the source eg the hospital, or, if you wish, through the usual process of requesting copies of medical records.  There may be a charge for this, please ask or email reception.

Feb 2015 – Want to make a positive improvement to your health?

Making a decision to improve your overall lifestyle is a positive and proactive decision which will help you live a healthier life.  Try the ‘Your Lifetyle Assistant’ tool available athttps://www.healthystockport.co.uk/

Jan 2015 – Patient Survey 2014-15

Over the last few months we’ve been running our annual patient survey campaign.  If you’d like to take take part please find a link below to an electronic version of the final questionnaire. Many thanks for your help and support.

https://stockport-haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/primary-care/marple-cottage-patient-survey-2014-2015

Jan 2015 – Children’s Flu Vaccination Programme – all 2, 3 and 4 year olds

Disappointingly the uptake of the flu vaccine across Greater Manchester for pre-school age children has been low. At Marple Cottage Surgery we have been working hard to encourage parents to bring their children along for the immunisation.

The immunisation is given as a nasal spray which is not painful; most children find it tickles their nose. We have not seen children becoming unwell after the immunisation and it offers very good protection for young children against influenza (flu). Additionally, it protects older people and those with health conditions from contracting flu as it prevents young children spreading the illness.

Flu is now circulating and we would like to re-emphasise the importance of having your child vaccinated. We will continue to have a supply of the vaccines throughout January and urge you to contact the surgery to book an appointment. Alternatively, if you call in it may be possible for your child to be vaccinated if we can fit you in.

Oct 2014 – Online services

We are committed to provide online services for patients, such as appointment booking and accessing medical records, and to use IT innovation as a means of providing effective and efficient clinical care. For more details – Online services for patients

Sep 2014 – Flu vaccinations and Nasal Flu Vaccinations for Pre-school Children

We are approaching the time of year when those nasty influenza viruses will start to spread and cause illness amongst Stockport residents.

As from 25th September 2014 we are commencing our annual flu vaccination programme.

We will be offering a variety of clinics, early/late morning, early / late afternoon, Saturdays.

In addition, if you are popping into the surgery to collect a prescription and wants a vaccination let us know and we will try and do it there and then!

Nasal Flu Vaccinations for Pre-school Children

If your child was aged 2, 3, or 4 (on 1st September 2014), they are eligible for a FREE nasal flu vaccine to protect them against flu this coming winter.

The nasal vaccine is given by spraying a very small amount of fluid vaccine up each nostril – it’s easily administered and painless. There is no injection involved. This is the 2nd year that this type of vaccine has been used in the UK although it has been given in America for several years.

It is a very safe vaccine – the most common side effect, seen in about one in ten children, is a runny nose coming on a day or two after vaccination and lasting for a couple of days. The vaccine may also have the added benefit of stopping your child spreading influenza to any vulnerable members of your family such as those with serious medical conditions, young babies, or elderly relatives.

The vaccine doesn’t stop coughs or colds, but is very effective at preventing influenza, an illness that can be severe and sadly sometimes life-threatening.

Nasal flu vaccines will be available for eligible 2, 3 or 4 year olds from the beginning of October. Please book your child an appointment through reception.

June 2014 – Named GP

For all patients who are 75 years of age or over we are now obliged to inform you of a “named GP”.  This will be one of the GP Partners at the practice, not necessarily the GP you usually see.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO SEE WHICHEVER GP YOU PREFER.  Thank you.

April 2014 – Dr Lamont

Dr Lamont will be leaving the practice in May 2014 to take on a new locum GP role.  In her place Dr Jon Weidner and Dr Sally Evans will be providing clinics between May – July 2014

Mar 2014 – Results of Patient Questionnaire 2013-14

We are pleased to publish the results and report of our Patient Questionnaire 2013-14 campaign.  Thank you to everyone who contributed.  Anyone you would like to join the Patient Reference Group or the Patient Forum please email [email protected].

Feb 2014 – Appointments for ill children

We reserve some appointments each day for children. These appointments are used for acutely ill children and are released on the day (ie not bookable in advance). If there are no appointments you will be able to speak to the on-call doctor.

Sep 2013 – FLU – time to get your jab!

We are now taking bookings for our flu clinics which commence on Wednesday 2nd October 2013. Please ring 0161 426 0011 to make an appointment but please avoid ringing between 8.00 – 10:00 when we are booking acute appointments. Also this year flu vaccinations are available for 2-3 year old children

Sep 2013 – IMPORTANT CHANGES TO HOW WE HANDLE PERSONAL DATA

Are you aware that your personal medical information that you share with your GP or other healthcare professional is about to be extracted and stored on a computer outside of the control of this practice where the practice will have no say on who has access to that information? Purpose of this leaflet: There are changes occurring in how we protect the confidential and personal information that we record in your medical records. The changes make it a legal obligation for us to share your information (see below). The proposed benefits of sharing identifiable data are to help to plan and monitor effective patient services, especially where patients receive care from several different organisations. We feel it is vital that you as our patient are made aware of these changes. This leaflet has been produced to help you understand what currently happens to information you share with your health professional and how that information may be used outside of your direct care. The majority of patients come to their GP Practice when they have something wrong with them. Problems discussed are usually of a personal nature and patients expect that the information they are sharing will remain confidential. This confidentiality is central to the trust between healthcare professionals and you as our patient. Without doctor–‐patient confidentiality, you may be reluctant to disclose information of a personal nature that we may need to help provide you with the best possible healthcare. What we record at Our Practice Healthcare professionals in our practice record information about the care we provide. The type of information that is recorded includes the following: • Demographics, e.g. address, telephone number, email, date of birth, gender, etc. • What you tell us when you see us in consultations e.g. about your physical and psychological health and social circumstances • Diagnoses, investigations, treatments, referrals, family background • Social information e.g. housing status, alcohol, smoking data • Third party sources e.g. hospital letters, A&E attendances, relatives, carers, insurance companies, solicitors. What we already share about you: We share different types of information about our patients. These include: • Personal information about you and your illness, when needed for your direct care, e.g. referral to hospital consultants, district nurses, health visitors, midwives, counsellors, the summary care record • Patient identifiable information to public health, in order to arrange programs for childhood immunisations, communicable diseases, cervical smears and retinal screening • With explicit consent, personal information to other organisations outside the NHS, e.g. insurance companies, benefits agencies. • Limited information about you, if relevant to protect you and others, e.g. to social services child protection investigations • under certain acts of parliament to protect you and others e.g. court order • Summary information which is anonymised (cannot identify you) e.g. quality and outcome frameworks (QoF), medical research and clinical audit. It is also important to understand that currently a limited amount of patient information or data is used mostly at local level to help design health services or undertake clinical audit. Some information is used at a national level. Information from lots of individual patients allows the NHS to build a picture of what is happening to the nation’s health. The majority of this information is anonymised before it leaves the healthcare professional, in other words no one can identify who the information relates to. How we protect your personal information: Currently, your GP is responsible for protecting your information and to do this they comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). As part of the DPA, all healthcare professionals have an obligation to only share information on a need to know basis. For further information on the DPA please follow this link; (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/contents) The physical storage of information is on secure servers which are protected by firewalls. Access to the information is by strong authenticated password. The number of people who have access to your information is limited to members of the practice team and in a few instances some pre agreed data is shared with other health care professional e.g. District Nurses but on a ‘need to know’ basis. So what is changing? Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 the Health &Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) on behalf of NHS England (the body responsible for commissioning health services across England) will be able to extract personal and identifiable information about all patients in England. The programme, called care.data, is administered by the HSCIC using software and services provided by a private sector company. Once your identifiable information has been taken from different health organisations (GP practices, hospitals, mental health trusts) it will then be linked together to produce a complete record about you. This information will be stored on national secure servers and will be managed by HSCIC. Although access to information will be strictly controlled, the HSCIC is planning to share this information with other organisations both NHS and private. The HSCIC will decide what information they will share and who they then share this information with. Your GP will not be able to object to this information being released to HSCIC and will no longer be able to protect your information under the DPA as stated above. Effectively, where the HSCIC is concerned the health and social care act over rules the DPA with regard to disclosure of personal information. What you need to do: If you are happy for NHS England to direct the HSCIC to extract, store and manage/use your personal information then you need do nothing as the information be automatically taken from your GP’s computer systems. If you don’t wish your information to be extracted then you MUST inform your GP practice who will then block the uploading of your identifiable and personal information to the HSCIC. If you are happy for your information to be extracted and used by the HSCIC for anonymised reports but NOT shared by the HSCIC with other agencies or companies in identifiable format, you can ask your GP practice to add a code to your record which will alert the HSCIC not to use your information in this way. It should be emphasised that your access to health care and the care that you receive will not be affected by either decision. Further information: If you have any questions or concerns regarding what you read, please contact the surgery.

Sep 2013 – Appointments for ill children

We reserve some appointments each day for children. These appointments are used for acutely ill children and are released on the day (ie not bookable in advance). If there are no appointments you will be able to speak to the on-call doctor.

Aug 2013 – NHS: How patient information is used

Please see below message from NHS England: “Confidential information from your medical records can be used by the NHS to improve the services offered so we can provide the best possible care for everyone. This information along with your postcode and NHS number but not your name, are sent to a secure system where it can be linked with other health information. This allows those planning NHS services or carrying out medical research to use information from different parts of the NHS in a way which does not identify you. You have a choice. If you are happy for your information to be used in this way you do not have to do anything. More information can be found here www.nhs.uk/caredata”; or download a patient leaflet here: https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/records/healthrecords/Documents/nhs-england-care-data-paient-leaflet.PDF If you would have any concerns regarding this matter or wish to prevent this from happening please email ………

Jul 2013 – Shingles vaccines for adults

Shingles Vaccine to Protect Older Adults A new vaccination programme to protect older adults against herpes zoster (shingles) is being rolled out across England from 1 September 2013. Adults aged 70 years on 1 September 2013 (born between 2 September, 1942, and 1 September, 1943) will be routinely offered the vaccine during 2013/14 by their GP practice. In addition to this group of patients, a phased catch-up programme is being introduced with adults aged 79 years on 1 September 2013 also being offered the vaccine this year. Shingles can be a painful illness in older people and the risk and severity of the illness increases with age. An important complication of shingles is the development of post-herpetic neuralgia (nerve pain) which is more common in older age groups and can be particularly severe. The aim of the vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles in older adults. Offering the shingles vaccine routinely to individuals at the age of 70 years aims to boost immunity to prevent the development of shingles in later years. An estimated 50,000 people aged 70 years and above are affected by shingles in England and Wales each year, with approximately 50 cases proving fatal. Patients at Marple Cottage Surgery will be offered the Shingles vaccine during the Flu vaccination months stating the first week of October. We will only be able to give you the vaccine if you are aged 70 years or 79 years as this year as we will only have this number of vaccines available. Further information can be found on the DH website, see below or ask your doctor or nurse. Find out more

Jun 2013 – Rotavirus Vaccination Programme

In July 2013 a new vaccine will be introduced into the childhood immunisation schedule. What is rotavirus? Rotavirus is a highly infectious virus which causes gastroenteritis; diarrhoea and dehydration. It is the commonest cause of gastroenteritis among young children. Infections are often recurrent. Most children will experience at least one or more rotavirus infection by five years of age. Who is affected by rotavirus? Rotavirus can affect people of all ages but the highest incidence is in young children. It is estimated that rotavirus infections cause around half of all gastroenteritis in children less than five years of age. Young infants are more likely to suffer from dehydration if they become infected with rotavirus than older children or adults and need admitting to hospital. The rotavirus vaccination programme The rotavirus vaccination programme will be introduced in all parts of the UK. Rotavirus vaccination is also part of the routine infant immunisation programme in a number of other countries including Australia, Canada and USA. In the USA, studies have shown that rotavirus related hospital admissions for young children have been cut by more than two thirds since rotavirus vaccination was introduced. How many doses will infants receive? The objective of the programme is to provide two doses of Rotarix to infants before 24 weeks of age. Infants will be offered two doses with an interval of least four weeks between doses: at 8 weeks (2 months) and again at 12 weeks (3 months). When will infants receive the vaccine? All babies scheduled to receive their primary vaccines at age 8 weeks and 12 weeks will be offered the rotavirus vaccine when they attend for their usual vaccinations at that age.

May 2013 – Clinical system change

On 21st May 2013 we are migrating to a new clinical system. After over 15 years using the same clinical system this is a big change for a lot of the team, and we are learning as we go along. There may be some delays such as issuing prescriptions, answering the telephone, over the next few days, and I would be very grateful for your patience at this time. Also, as a result of the system migration patients will not be able to access the online services e.g. online appointments, nor receive appointment text reminders, until week ending 24th May Thank you for your understanding. Johan Taylor Practice Manager

Mar 2013 – Patient Questionnaire results & actions 2012-13

We are pleased to confirm that the results of the 2012-2013 Patient Questionnaire are now available to view on the practice website. We are very pleased with the results of the surveys, with 97% of patients rating their overall satisfaction as “very satisfied” or “fairly satisfied” As a result of the results we have implemented an action plan, which has been reviewed by the Patient Forum and the Virtual PRG, to address some of the patient feedback received We have also included a report detailing the process followed which demonstrate our patient-centred approach to running the patient survey campaign All reports are available to view in the Patient Information section of the practice website.

Mar 2013 – Message from Dr Wells

As I am about to retire I would like to thank all Colleagues, Staff and Patients, past and present, who enabled me to have such an interesting and fulfilling career in medicine. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Marple and have been privileged to be part of the tremendous development of Primary Care which has occurred over the last 25 years. In my retirement I intend to continue my hobby of travelling, spend more time at my villa in France, enjoy my Grandchildren and last but not least to get remarried to Jo. “This is not the end It is not even the beginning of the end But it may be the end of the beginning”

Feb 2013 – Dr Wells` retirement

As you may be aware Dr Wells will be retiring on 13th March 2013. We are having a farewell `lunch` on Wednesday 13th March; there will be no appointments on this afternoon and telephone and clinical cover will be provided by Mastercall (Stockport`s out of hours service.) For any patients who would like to personally pass on their best wishes to Dr Wells, you are very welcome to pop in at any time between 13:30 – 18:30 to share a farewell drink and a memory or two! For those that cannot attend (and for those that can) there is also a message book in reception for patients if you would like to write note of thanks and best wishes. Obviously we are very sad to see Dr Wells retire, and it is not an easy task to find someone to fill his shoes. However, we are delighted to inform patients that Dr Maher Al-Ausi will taking over from Dr Wells in April 2013. You may remember Dr Al-Ausi from when he worked at the practice in 2010-11. Dr Al-Ausi will be offering a few surgeries in March 2013, before formally starting at the practice on 2nd April 2013. If you have any questions please ask at reception or email me directly at [email protected]. Many thanks, Johan Taylor Managing Partner

Feb 2013 – Shingles vaccination

Shingles Vaccine to Protect Older Adults A new vaccination programme to protect older adults against herpes zoster (shingles) is being rolled out across England from 1 September 2013. Adults aged 70 years on 1 September 2013 (born between 2 September, 1942, and 1 September, 1943) will be routinely offered the vaccine during 2013/14 by their GP practice. In addition to this group of patients, a phased catch-up programme is being introduced with adults aged 79 years on 1 September 2013 also being offered the vaccine this year. Shingles can be a painful illness in older people and the risk and severity of the illness increases with age. An important complication of shingles is the development of post-herpetic neuralgia (nerve pain) which is more common in older age groups and can be particularly severe. The aim of the vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles in older adults. Offering the shingles vaccine routinely to individuals at the age of 70 years aims to boost immunity to prevent the development of shingles in later years. An estimated 50,000 people aged 70 years and above are affected by shingles in England and Wales each year, with approximately 50 cases proving fatal. Patients at Marple Cottage Surgery will be offered the Shingles vaccine during the Flu vaccination months stating the first week of October. We will only be able to give you the vaccine if you are aged 70 years or 79 years as this year as we will only have this number of vaccines available. Further information can be found on the DH website, see below or ask your doctor or nurse. Find out more

Jan 2013 – External DDA access improvements in February

We are commencing some external premises improvements as from Monday 4th February to develop better DDA access from the car park to the entrance on Church Street. We have been advised the project will last for two 2 weeks and the only access from Church Street will be from current DDA access path which borders the Conservative Club car park (ie the gate post entrance on Church Street will not be available). We apologise for any inconvenience but we hope that all patients we benefit from the improvements.

Jan 2013 – Increased number of flu outbreaks reported: update

Can we remind you that if you are in an at-risk group that you are entitled to a free flu jab. This includes those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and those with clinical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or certain neurological conditions. Over half of under 65s in at-risk groups, including children, have already had the flu jab. But we need to aim for higher uptake to reduce the amount of flu around and also protect people who can’t have the vaccine but are at risk of catching the virus. Flu can cause serious illness. The virus is unpredictable and can really take hold in those that are most vulnerable possibly leading to serious complications, hospitalisation or very sadly death. Individuals suffering from chronic degenerative neurological diseases are 40 times more likely to die than an individual with no underlying health conditions and those suffering from chronic liver disease are 48 times more likely to die. We will continue to have a supply of vaccines for the next few weeks and would urge you to book an appointment with us to have this done.

Dec 2012 – TELEPHONE FAULT

We are currently experiencing technical difficulties with our telephone system due to a BT Exchange fault. We are sorry for any delays getting through whilst we wait for this to be fixed, and appreciate your patience.

Dec 2012 – Keeping warm and well in extremely cold weather

There are weather alerts of very cold weather with snow, sleet and icy conditions in December. Department of Health advice on how to keep warm and well during spells of cold weather include: Draw your curtains at dusk and keep your doors closed to block out draughts. Have regular hot drinks and eat at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps keep energy levels up during winter. Wear several light layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer). Keep as active in your home as possible. Wrap up warm and wear shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside on cold days. Keep your main living room at around 18-21°C (65-70°F), and the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F). If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep. Icy pavements and roads can be very slippery. Take extra care if you go out and wear boots or shoes with good grip on the soles. The Met Office advises putting grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping. Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be more vulnerable to cold weather. Cold weather is especially dangerous for older people or people with serious illnesses, so check up on them if you can. People with heart or respiratory (breathing) problems may have worse symptoms during a cold spell and for several days after temperatures return to normal.

Nov 2012 – Clinical room refurbishment

As part of our premises improvement plans we are currently refurbishing our clinical rooms at the practice. These improvements are improvements recommended at our last Infection Control Assessment, and although we achieved a very high mark of 95%, we are keen to continuously improve our standards of care. Obviously there will be some noise and disruption whilst we carry out these works and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

Oct 2012 – Patient Priorities for Patient Survey 2012 – 2013

Thank you everyone’s you completed the Practice Priorities survey The results of the survey, in order of priority, showed that the preferred topics to include in the Patient Questionnaire 2012-2013 were: Communication with patients 74.41% Ease of getting an appointment 69.77% Quality of consultation 69.77% Understanding your consultation 69.77% Satisfaction with opening hours 69.77% Quality of customer care 69.77% We will now review these results with the Patient Forum and develop questions for the survey If you feel would like to be part of the Virtual Patient Reference Group please email [email protected]. Once again thank you for your support.

Sep 2012 – Expert Patient Progamme (EPP)

What is the Expert Patient Programme? The Expert Patients Programme is a FREE course run over 6 weeks for people living with long-term health conditions. Each 2 ½ hour session is delivered by two trained volunteer tutors who themselves live with long-term health conditions. The EPP course can help patients to learn new skills to manage your condition better and take more control from day to day, including: •dealing with pain and tiredness •coping with feelings of depression •relaxation techniques and gentle exercise •healthy eating •communicating with family, friends and health professionals •planning for the future Who can take part? Anyone living with one or more long-term health conditions. How can it help patients? By taking part in an EPP course, in a welcoming and friendly environment, attendees can: •learn new skills to enable them to manage their health condition •develop more confidence in the daily management of their condition •meet others who share similar experiences •learn about developing more effective working and communication relationships with healthcare professionals Patients can refer themselves, just by calling 0161 426 9366.

Aug 2012 – New doctors at the practice

As you may be aware Dr Vicki Curd has completed her 12 month placement and has moved on to become a GP in Manchester. To replace Dr Curd we are pleased to inform you that Dr Clare Lamont will be working at the practice until August 2013. We also have Dr Sara Syed and Dr Horsley working at the practice until December 2012.

Jun 2012 – NHS Pension Strike – Thursday 21st June 2012

The GPs at Marple Cottage Surgery agree with the sentiment of the GP strike on pensions, which is taking place on Thursday 21st June 2012. However we have agreed not to jeopardise patient care and are working as normal. We would value the support of patients in our campaign as the current plans would mean GPs paying up to 25% of their salary to fund their pensions reforms. No other public sector workers eg teachers, lawyers, judges, MPs pay anywhere near this amount. Thank you Dr Johnson & Dr Wells

Apr 2012 – NHS Cervical Screening Programme

The cervical screening programme aims to reduce the number of women who develop invasive cervical cancer and the number of women who die from it. It does this by regularly screening women between the ages of 25 and 64. The screening programme has just introduced testing for a virus that can cause abnormal cells called ‘HPV’. What is HPV? HPV stands for Human Papilloma Virus. It is a very common infection and most women get it at some time in their life. In most cases it clears up by itself without the need for treatment. There are many types of HPV. Most are harmless but some can cause abnormalities in the cervix and are known as ‘high-risk’ HPV types. These abnormalities often clear up without treatment when the virus clears up. But in some women the virus persists, placing them at greater risk of developing cervical abnormalities which may need treatment. How do people catch HPV? HPV is a very common infection among people who have been sexually active at some time during their life. The virus shows no symptoms, so people are unaware they have been infected with it. Remember HPV is very common and usually harmless, like a common cold. How long might a woman have had the infection? The virus might have been present for some time before its detection. Some people come across the virus and never show its presence, developing a kind of immunity. In others it can remain in the body without harm for considerable periods of time or be quickly dealt with by the immune system. Is there any treatment? There is no reliable treatment to get rid of the virus, but since in most women it disappears spontaneously over time. Can men be tested for HPV? At present there is no reliable test to demonstrate the presence of the virus in men. HPV testing The HPV test will be done using the sample of cells that have been taken when you have had your recent smear test. Your sample will only be tested for HPV is your smear result shows the presence of abnormal cells. It is important to test for HPV as the presence or absence of ‘high-risk’ HPV indicates which women need to have further treatment. This means that the right women are being invited for colposcopy at the hospital and women who do not need any follow up are not having unnecessary procedures. There is more information on the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes website at www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk. If you have any concerns please speak to one of the nurses at the practice.

Apr 2012 – Repeat prescription requests – Friday 27th April

Due to a clinical server upgrade at the practice on Friday 27th April we will not be able to issue repeat prescriptions. Any repeat prescriptions handed in on Friday will be processed on Monday and available to collect on Tuesday. Thank you for your cooperation.

Apr 2012 – Patient Forum AGM – 18:30 on Monday 23rd April

Dear Patient, You are cordially invited to the Annual General Meeting of Marple Cottage Patient Forum. Come along and find out who is representing you, the patient. Find out what the Patient Forum does, what we have achieved so far, and what are plans are for this year. If you would like to attend please inform the reception team or email: [email protected] We look forward to seeing you soon!

Mar 2012 – Patient Survey Results and Action Plan 2011-12

We are pleased to confirm that the results of the 2011-12 Patient Questionnaire are available.We are very pleased with the results of the surveys, with 97% of patients rating their overall satisfaction as “very satisfied” or “fairly satisfied”.

As a result of the results we have implemented an action plan, which has been reviewed by the Patient Forum and the Virtual PRG, to address some of the patient feedback received – click here.

We also included a report detailing the process followed to develop a new Virtual Patient Reference Group (PRG) and the how we ran the patient survey campaign – click here.

All reports are available to view in our Patient Surveys section.

Mar 2012 – Measles!

We have received confirmation from Dr David Baxter (Consultant in Health Protection) there are currently two confirmed cases of measles in the Stockport area. We do not want to unduly worry parents but it is vitally important that children are protected against this disease which has the potential to be extremely dangerous Whilst most children recover from measles without any lasting effects, a significant number will go on to develop complications including pneumonia or encephalitis – although uncommon the illness can also prove fatal. The following symptoms are commonly seen in measles infection: • Fever • Cough • Sore and watering eyes • Grayish/white spots in the mouth and throat • Widespread red/brown spotty rash that develops 3-4 days after the onset of the illness, starting with the face and head and spreading down the body. Further information can be found on the NHS Choices website at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Measles/Pages/Introduction.aspx The most effective way of protecting children against measles infection is immunisation with the MMR vaccine. If your child has missed one or both of the MMR jabs please contact the surgery and arrange an appointment for the vaccination as soon as possible.

Feb 2012 – Be Clear on Bowel Cancer Campaign

What is the Be Clear on Cancer campaign? Be Clear on Cancer is a Department of Health campaign which aims to improve early diagnosis of cancer by raising the public’s awareness of the symptoms of cancer and encouraging people to see their doctor earlier. Be Clear on Cancer bowel campaign is the first national Government campaign to raise awareness of the early signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. There will be advertisement on the TV, radio and press encouraging people who have blood in their poo or loose poo for more than 3 weeks to see their doctor. Who is included in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme? Men and women aged 60-69 are sent a home testing kit every two years. The Programme is currently being extended to invite men and women aged 70 to their 75th birthday, with over half of England covered so far. People over the screening invitation age can request a kit every two years by calling the helpline number: 0800 707 6060 More information can be found on the NHS Cancer Screening website: www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel

Dec 2011 – Patient Questionnaire

I am pleased to confirm that the annual Patient Questionnaire is now finalised and available for patients to complete in paper format or online (see below). I would like to thank Marple Cottage Patient Forum and the “Virtual” patient reference group who, together, have helped created this survey. We hope that it is asking the questions the majority of our patients are keen to know the answers to. Of course there were many more questions and we will use these in the next questionnaire next year. For the time being everyone at Marple Cottage surgery would be very grateful if you could complete the survey online via the link below. I know everyone is busy, especially with Christmas so close, but we want to have a good representation of feedback from patients, so we need your help. I hope you will share your thoughts – just click on the link below: https://www.citizenspace.com/stockport-haveyoursay/primary-care/mcs-patient-survey-2011-12 The results of the questionnaire will be published on the practice website by 31st March 2012

Oct 2011 – Patient Priorities Pre-Questionnaire Survey

Thank you everyone’s you completed the Practice Priorities survey – aimed at deciding the “topics” of questions for the forthcoming patient questionnaire. The results of the survey, in order of priority, showed that the preferred topics were: Ease of getting an appointment 65% Ability to see preferred GP 64% Online services 64% Quality of consultation 61% Communication with patients 59% Understanding your consultation 55% Out of hours care 54% Satisfaction with opening hours 53% Quality of customer care 50% We will now review these results with the Patient Forum and draft some questions to fit the topics and email this out to the Patient Forum and the Virtual Patient Reference Group for review. If you feel would like to be part of the Virtual Patient Reference Group please email [email protected]. Once again thank you for your support.

Oct 2011 – Fire and Flu Event!

As part of NHS Stockport campaign to improve vaccinations for >80% of the over 65’s and 75% of the under 65’s in at risk groups (e.g. people with asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and cancer, as well as Carers) we wanted to make a good start to the campaign with a big launch day. Therefore on 12th October 2011 we held a special “Flu & Fire” event which was a great success with 600 patients vaccinated in one afternoon! Also: – £116 was raised for Marple Cancer Charities – The fire crew have signed up over 80 households for fire safety check / smoke alarm installations – Signpost for Carers attended and raised awareness of services and support available for carers – 11 more new patients signed up for virtual patient reference group – 2 more patients registered an interest in joining Marple Cottage Patient Forum A special thank you to the Marple fire crew who were a great help setting up the stalls (and topping up the tea urn!), and also a big thank you to the Practice Forum members who were on hand helping and raising awareness of the great work they do.

Sep 2011 – Your Views Count – Join our Virtual Patient Group

Marple Cottage Surgery and Marple Cottage Patient Forum are encouraging patients to give their views about how the practice is doing. We would like to be able to ask the opinions of as many patients as possible and are asking if people if they would like to provide their email addresses so that we can contact you by email every now and again to ask you a question or two. Are you interested? If so, please complete a form at the practice or email your details to sto – pct . marple cottage reception  nhs . net Thank you for your support.

Sep 2011 – Small Change, Big Difference

Stockport NHS (formerly Stockport Primary Care Trust) is working with local doctors to reduce the amount spent on medicines each year. We have to make as many savings as possible whilst maintaining our high standard of care. Doctors have been asked to work out which medicines can be given out more cost effectively. Small changes can make a big difference: a branded drug may cost a great deal more than what is known as a generic drug because different companies charge different prices for the same thing. Doctors have been asked to make vital savings by using more generic drugs than they may have done up to now. The main differences between generic and branded drugs are the names and packaging. The active ingredients remains the same. The savings made here will help to prevent cuts in other vital sevices. Stockport NHS and their doctors need your help! We cannot make the savings without your cooperation and understanding. You and your family can help in lots of small but important ways, all of which add up to a big difference for everyone! Here are some examples of how you can help us: • Switch to alternative drugs if you are asked to. • Indulge in a little light exercise. Even a brisk 10 minute walk every day makes a big difference! • Treat yourself to a nice piece (or two) of fruit each day. • If you smoke and want to quit, ask your doctor for help. • Accept alternative treatment suggestions from your GP. Drugs are not always necessary! • Use your (supermarket) pharmacy for minor ailments. • Always discuss any problems with your medicine with your GP, Nurse or Pharmacist. Making these few small changes will help your local health service to save money, which can then be used in other areas to improve the health of the town. We are all in this together!

Aug 2011 – Childhood illnesses

‘Knowing how to tell when a child is just off colour, or seriously ill, causes a great deal of anguish to many parents. Over the years I have often been asked what is ‘normal’ and what are more serious symptoms’ says Andrew a father of two girls. ‘Thankfully serious childhood illnesses are extremely rare. However, a parent knows their child better than anyone, so they should trust their instincts and seek help if something doesn’t seem right or is worrying’ ‘Common childhood illnesses include colds, often as many as eight a year, diahorrea, vomiting, rashes and Chicken Pox. Many parents find the speed with which babies and young children get poorly unnerving. One moment your child is fine, the next they are unwell, but they also get better again quickly. ‘A good starting point when trying to gauge how unwell your child is simply to see how they interact with you compared to their normal behaviour. If your baby is smiling, active or gurgling there is usually no need to worry. Babies often go off their feed for a short time and get stuffed up with cold. However, if your baby is floppy, lifeless, sleepy or staring into space you should get help. Babies often don’t show a fever so taking their temperature may not help. ‘For babies under six months who are off colour, but still interacting as usual the best course of action is simply to keep a watchful eye on them and to reassess the situation if any of the symptoms worsen. Older babies may be given a Paracetamol suspension, such as Calpol to make them more comfortable, which can be purchased from the local pharmacy without need of a prescription. ‘Toddlers will probably be able to give you some idea about how they feel and show you where it hurts. If they are alert, active, watching TV or running around these are good signs. Make them comfortable, keep an eye on them for any changes and give them Calpol, or similar, to ease their symptoms. ‘The fear of Meningitis is understandable and many parents think the worst if their child develops a rash. Unfortunately, their worries aren’t helped by the fact that rashes are fairly common and often accompany a raised temperature and viral infection. Whilst parents should always bear in mind the possibility of Meningitis they may find it helpful to know a little more about the severity of the symptoms they would expect to see with this illness – namely a high temperature, stiff neck, light sensitivity, aching limbs and a rash – and compare them to the typical symptoms of a viral infection that we are all familiar with. ‘For instance the stiff neck associated with Meningitis is rigid rather than just sore, the patient usually can’t move it at all. The sensitivity to light will be so great that the patient will flinch and the aching limbs so severe that moving them may not be possible. Development of the rash, which doesn’t disappear when pressed, usually follows on from these symptoms. ‘Another area of concern for parents is sickness and diarrhoea. Whilst this is unpleasant and distressing the illness usually runs its course within 24 hours. A common worry with vomiting is dehydration through loss of fluid. To prevent this the patient should be given little sips of water on a regular basis, rather than a big drink. One teaspoon at a time is fine. ‘In the past people believed it was best not to eat when they had diarrhoea, today we recommend eating normally and drinking plenty of fluid. The food helps provide strength to fight the illness and the urge to go to the loo is simply a reflex reaction. ‘As before, a common sense approach is to see how your child interacts with you and look out for worsening of symptoms. Chicken Pox is a very common childhood illness. It is contagious, so anyone with the disease should be kept out of contact from those who haven’t had it. The illness isn’t usually serious in babies and young children, but the rash and blisters that accompany it may be uncomfortable. Calamine lotion is still the best way to sooth any discomfort. ‘Parents can find plenty of sound advice about a wide range of common childhood illnesses from websites such as www.nhs.uk/conditions as well as advice from their GP practice many of which offer a telephone triage service where patients can discuss their concerns. ‘Finally, I would like to put in a plea for parents to vaccinate their children against Measles, Mumps and Rubella, all of which are potentially serious illnesses that can be fatal. Sadly all three of these preventable diseases are on the increase in the U.K., due to the fall in the number of children being vaccinated. We’ve recently had an outbreak of Measles in Stockport, so this is a real and present danger. Fears linking the jab to autism have been extensively investigated and found to be untrue. I can’t stress enough the importance of protecting your child against these diseases. As a parent I had no hesitation in having my own two children vaccinated. If your child was not vaccinated as a baby it is still possible to have it done, your doctor or health visitor would be happy to discuss it with you.’ Dr Andrew Johnson

Jul 2011 – Skin Cancer awareness

Skin cancer is becoming more common and it is now the second most diagnosed cancer in the UK. The cause of skin cancer is nearly always over exposure to ultraviolet radiation – from the sun or a sun bed. We also know that most skin damage from UV radiation occurs before the age of 20 • Remember you can still get sunburnt through light cloud and whilst in the car • There is nothing healthy about a suntan. Your skin darkens because it has been damaged • Sunburn is especially dangerous • 99% of cases of skin cancer could be easily prevented by following the sun safety code PROTECT YOURSELF AND FOLLOW THE SUN SAFETY CODE • Use a Sunscreen – SPF 15 or higher on any exposed skin. Use it half an hour before going outside and keep reapplying it generously every couple of hours • Protect Children – they are particularly vulnerable. Sunburn during childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life. Keep babies under 6 months out of the sun altogether • Seek Shade – especially during the hottest part of the day, from 10am to 3pm • Cover Up – with loose, cool clothing. Wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim and 100% UV-blocking sunglasses, by using sunglasses you could prevent vision loss and help prevent cataracts. WHAT TO LOOK FOR You should see your doctor straight away if you have a mole that is 

• Getting bigger especially over weeks or months
• Changing shape, particularly if it has an irregular edge
• Changing colour – getting darker, becoming patchy or multi shaded
• Itching or painful
• Bleeding or becoming crusty Remember, skin cancer can be very slow to develop. The sunburn you receive this week may take 20 years or more to become skin cancer. Enjoy the sun but know how to protect yourself and your family against long term damage.

Jan 2007 – nGMS & PMS QoF Awards of Excellence

In November 2006 Marple Cottage Surgery won the Service Innovation for Medicines Management Award, which was presented by the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt to Dr Andrew Johnson at the NHS Alliance 2006 conference in Bournemouth.
This award was in recognition was for our continued efforts in preventing unnecessary referral to hospital, providing more services at the practice, and developing our range of online services for patients.
See our Practice Award page for further details.

Jan 2007 – Patient Access Survey

Between January – March 2007 you may receive a request from the Department of Health to complete their “Your doctor, Your experience, Your say” patient survey. As part of the government`s “Improved Access Scheme” this national survey will ask for your experience of accessing appointments at the practice. We believe that we offer a very high standard of access to our patients, and in our recent patient survey 98% of patients felt they could get an appointment with a GP within 48 hours. We hope you will agree when completing the survey.

Jan 2007 – Patient Choice (Choose & Book)

As part of the national Patient Choice initiaive we are now making referrals to hospital via the NHS `Choose & Book` system.

Aug 2004 – Hib Campaign

As part of the Department of Health initiative we will be offering parents with children aged 6 months to four years at 1st April 2003 the opportunity to take advantage of an Hib vaccine catch-up programme.
The introduction of Hib vaccine into the routine immunisation programme in 1992 has proved very successful, with confirmed cases of Hib disease in children under 5 years of age falling by 98% by 1998. However, a small increase in the disease over the last few years has prompted the DoH to offer this catch-up immunisation programme.

Therefore, over the next few months we will be sending letters to parents with children that fall within the age category and ask that you ring the surgery to make an appointment with one of our Practice Nurses.

Sep 2003 – Flu Clinics

It`s that time again! If you are over 65 years of age, or under 65 years of age but in an `at risk group` (e.g. have diabetes, chronic heart disease, chronic asthma), you will be receiving a letter soon about booking an appointment for a flu vaccination.If you do receive a letter please ring the surgery and book into one of our clinics, either Wednesday afternoons or Saturday mornings.

Also this year we are following DoH guidance to offer patients over 80 years of age Pneumoccocal immunisation (this protects individuals against pneumonia and meningitis). If you receive a letter, or feel that you are in an `at risk group`, please ring the surgery for an appointment.

Alternatively, you can request your appointment by clicking on the link below and entering all your details required. This will automatically be sent to the surgery and you will receive notification of your appointment as soon as possible. Both vaccinations can be administered at the same appointment.

Sep 2003 – Dr Checkland`s departure

As you probably already know, Dr Checkland has left the surgery to make a new life with her family on the other side of the Pennines. We are still drying our eyes and clearing away the cups of tea, but we thought we had better keep everyone up to date with what is happening.

W e have an advertisement out for a new GP as a replacement but (as you might have read in the newspaper) there seems to be a national GP shortage, and so finding a permanent replacement may take a little longer than we would like. In the meantime we have three female doctor locums working with us until a new GP is in post, they will be Dr Nicole Ward, Dr Helen Bain, and Dr Mary Atherton.

As usual you can make an appointment with any of the GPs here including the locums, and also the Nurse Practitioner.

I will keep you regularly updated with our progress.

Aug 2003 – HRT – a balanced view

Recently there have been news reports linking an increase risk of breast cancer for HRT patients.If you are worried or unsure please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment with our Nurse Practitioner.

Aug 2003 – A Message From Dr Checkland

`I am very sorry to announce that I will be leaving the practice at the end of August. This is for family reasons, as we are leaving the area. I have been here for twelve years, and have thoroughly enjoyed working with both the staff and the patients. Many of you have become friends in that time, and it will seem very strange to no longer be involved with your care.

I realise that some of you would like to say goodbye, and, therefore, I have organised an ~open afternoon~ on Thursday 28th August, between 12 – 2pm. I look forward to seeing you then. Thank you to everyone for making me so welcome in Marple; it has been a good twelve years!`

Aug 2003 – ETP Programme Termination

Marple Cottage Surgery has over the last year been involved with a NHS national pilot to allow patients prescriptions to be electronically securely transferred (via encryption) between practice and pharmacy. The aim of this service is to allow patients to order and pick up their repeat prescription all from the pharmacy, without having to come to the surgery first.

Unfortunately, as from the end of July this pilot will be closed whilst the Department of Health decide upon which technical solution they would like to adopt nationally.

However, for those patients who have been using the ETP solution you can still arrange for the pharmacy to request prescriptions items, and to collect your prescriptions, on your behalf. Please liaise with your pharmacy accordingly.

We will keep you informed on when a decision is made by the Department of Health on rolling out a national ETP programme.

Aug 2003 – NEW Appointment Booking System

As part of our commitment to increasing patient access to our services we are piloting a new and improved 24 hour online appointment booking system. This system will allow access to all our GPs and our Nurse Practitioner. However, all nurse appointments e.g. blood tests, blood pressures, diabetic reviews, will need to be made via the telephone. As well as 24 hours online booking access, we hope, in time, to be able to offer patients the choice of additional on-line services such as the ability to review useful medical records such as vaccinations, treatments or medication, repeat prescription ordering, making address changes, and more.

In line with our confidentiality and security policies regarding patient information all communications with the practice web site are encrypted, using the same high security that major banks use for their internet transactions (128 bit SSL). Only you can see the personal information you enter. The web site is administered at a remote high-security site managed by EMIS, not at the practice, so there is no possibility of unauthorised access.

Jul 2003 – Remote Access

Following a recent pilot by the NHSIA into the technical capabilities of remote access into primary care systems via Broadband, Marple Cottage is conducting further work into the benefits of remore access to general practice as a whole. We believe the ability and choice for both clinical and non-clinical staff to have access to our systems whilst based from home is an important step forward in the productive use of information technogy advances, and fits well into our overall Work Life balance policy.

Jul 2003 – Electronic Transfer of Prescriptions (ETP)

Marple Cottage Surgery has over the last year been involved with a NHS national pilot to allow patients prescriptions to be electronically securely transferred (via encryption) between practice and pharmacy. The aim of this service is to allow patients to order and pick up their repeat prescription all from the pharmacy, without having to come to the surgery first.
Working in partnership with the Coop Pharmacies in Marple we have found many patients finding this service very useful, convenient and ultimately saves time.
If you would like to find out more about this service please ask our reception staff or any local Coop Pharmacy.

Jul 2003 – Work Life Balance (WLB)

In line with the government’s Improving Working Lives’ initiative Marple Cottage surgery has worked alongside an leading consultancy group to develop our own Work Life Balance policy. As part of this policy we are committed to, where feasible, create flexible working opportunities for our staff, helping create a better mix of personal and working lives. We aim to break the common stressful, long working hour culture inherent in General Practice, for both clinical and non-clinical staff.