Current News

Dr Bynoe has been involved with teaching 3rd year students fron the Hull York Medical School for some years. Many people may have been to the teaching surgeries and met students. Thanks to patients who are happy to meet students and be involved in teaching the next geneartion of doctors.

From September this year he has also been teaching more junior students at the University of Hull. This involves him being away from the practice on Tuesday and Friday afternoons in University term time.

His place is taken by Dr Susan Jones, who will be working all day Wednesdays and Friday afternoons. We welcome Dr Jones to the team, and hope that she enjoys her new post.

As you probably know, we have for many years run a twice weekly branch surgery in the Methodist Church Hall, each Tuesday and Friday at 11.30am. Dr Bynoe has run this for most of the past 30 years.

In recent years the branch surgery has been used less and less, and we plan from 8th September 2009 to discontinue the Friday surgery, and offer a once a week surgery on a Tuesday. It is planned that Dr Catriona Osman will take this over. Dr Bynoe is increasing his medical school teaching with two more weekly sessions at the Hull York Medical School. Delivery of medicines to the Post Office on a Wednesday and a Saturday will continue as at present.

We have run these surgeries mainly for the benefit of the elderly, and families with young children. As people have become more mobile, it seems that a trip to the main surgery in Sherburn is generally less difficult than it was. People prefer to see a doctor by appointment, in surroundings that are warmer and more comfortable, and then for their medication to be dispensed immediately. Increasingly health care is provided not only by doctors, but also by nurses, nurse practitioners and others such as physiotherapists. It is not right that people in Church Fenton should be denied this.

Doctors nowadays rely increasingly on notes, normally on computer. These contain not only the doctor’s notes, but letters from hospital specialists, test results, records of weight and blood pressure and smoking habits. We also have access to up to date information via the Internet. Computerisation has not proved possible for branch surgeries such as this, so again the people of Church Fenton are being denied a first class service.

People often come to the branch surgery by car, and it would often be more appropriate to offer them appointments at the main surgery. Dr Bynoe’s surgeries on Tuesday and Friday are shortened by 5 patients, to give him time to get to Church Fenton. The average attendance is only about 1 or 2 patients, so not doing the branch surgery would allow appointments for more patients.

We hope that offering the branch surgery once a week will still offer a good local service. We realise that there will be some inconvenience to a small number of patients, but hope that it allows us to provide good twenty first century care to the people of Church Fenton.

There is some flu about now, and anyone is at some risk of catching it, not just people who have travelled to high-risk areas.

If you think you might have flu, please DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY, but ring us, (or the Out of Hours Service).

If you do not think you have the flu, but have concerns or questions, please contact NHS Direct or the NHS Swine Flu Helpline on 0800 1513513.

To make the diagnosis you need to speak to a doctor by phone. On occasions we might need to see you, either by arrangement at the surgery or at your home. People diagnosed with the flu will be offered anti flu medication (though the benefits of this are slight, probably shortening the illness by about a day). Antiviral medication is not given to anyone who is NOT ill with the flu, even if they have been in contact with the flu or have other medical problems.

Swine influenza:Questions & Answers

What are the symptoms of swine influenza?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of flu, including fever, fatigue, aching, lack of appetite, coughing and sore throat. Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.

Is treatment available?
Testing has shown that the human swine influenza H1N1 can be treated with the antivirals oseltamavir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
Most of the previously reported swine influenza cases recovered fully from the disease without requiring medical attention and without antiviral medicines.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
It has been determined that this virus is contagious and it spreads between people.


What measures can I take to protect against infection?
General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes:
Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible
Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people
Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
Making sure your children follow this advice




A UK information line providing advice has also been set up, for recorded details about the virus call 0800 151 3513
For general advise please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647
or check the following websites
www.nhs.uk
www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

amended 16th July 2009

It is now possible to order your repeat prescriptions on line. If you already have access to booking your appointment on line, you can now order your repeat prescriptions using the same log-on facilities. We will still require 48 hours' notice for online repeat prescription requests.

If you do not have a log-on facility, but would like to make use of this facility, please come to the Surgery to register. You will need to bring some form of identity with you (ie passport, driving licence, and utility bill).

As you may have heard, many GPs are now offering some surgeries later in the evenings and on Saturday mornings for patients who find it hard to attend in normal working hours.

We are keeping the surgery open later on alternate Monday and Tuesday evenings, as well as on Saturday mornings.

Late evening appointments are intended for people who, because of work, find it difficult to attend at any time between 8.25am & 5.30pm.

Saturday morning appointments are intended for people who, because of work, find it difficult to attend at any time Monday to Friday.