Firstly may we wish all our patients a very happy and healthy New Year. We will, I imagine, all start 2024 with some new year resolutions – some perhaps more achievable than others!
However, it is perhaps timely to remind everyone that we offer a smokestop service at the surgery and are delighted to help those who have taken the decision to try to put an end to the habit. Smoking is widely recognised as a primary cause of many severe health complications and chronic diseases – plus it can reduce life expectancy by 10 years (when compared with non-smokers). We can also advise on weight management if losing weight is one of your goals for the new year.
A further plea, please to keep your appointments. From June to November 2023 561 appointments were missed, wasting around 115 hours of clinical time. Many individual patients missed 5 or more appointments and one patient made, and subsequently failed to attend, 10 appointments during that period.
I should also like to thank the whole team for all their hard work and commitment to the surgery during the past year.
Unfortunately, there have been several occasions recently when patients have been abusive – especially to our reception staff. This is not acceptable. They always work hard to do their very best for our patients under often difficult circumstances and we would ask you to treat them respectfully.
Dr. Adam Smith