News
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE SCOTTISH IMMUNISATION PROGRAMME
Visit www.immunisationscotland.org.uk to find out more.
TRAINING PRACTICE
We are pleased to announce that we have been given the opportunity to become a training/educational practice for general practice trainees. There are a number of requirements but we are working towards full accreditation by August 2014. This means that doctors in their 3rd and 5th post graduate year will be attached for 6 & 12 months respectively. As part of the preparation, we are required to video ourselves consulting for external review though we will only do this with patients who are happy to consent to it.
UPDATE ON PHARMACY APPLICATION
May 2013
As you may be aware NHS Fife decided to approve an application for a pharmacy at the practice in November of last year. Under normal circumstances we would have hoped to be open for business by now.
However we have received the bitterly disappointing news that following appeals against the decision by Leuchars Pharmacy and Rowlands Pharmacy, a reconvened hearing met on Thursday 2nd May 2013 and has voted to reverse their original decision and have now rejected the application.
Obviously this is a huge blow to our efforts to provide a pharmaceutical service directly to patients from Pitcairn practice. We do still have the right of appeal against the decision of the appeal, and we fully intend to pursue all avenues left to us.
However, as things stand currently there will be no pharmacy service available from Balmullo any time in the near future.
Can I once again take the opportunity to thank everyone for their unswerving level of support throughout this whole process, and we are just sorry that we have to report such sad news.
NHS Fife's Pharmacy Practices Committee met on Thursday 1st November 2012 to consider the application for a Pharmacy in Balmullo, located in the GP surgery at 1 Pitcairn Drive, Balmullo.
Following this meeting the committee has taken the decision to APPROVE this application.
We are delighted to announce that it is therefore our intention to open the pharmacy as soon as is practically possible.
However, there is still a possibility that the other pharmacies who raised objections to the application may decide to appeal against NHS Fife's decision. There is a statutory time period in which any appeals can be lodged and we must now wait and see if any appeals are submitted.
If an appeal is made, this will be passed on to the National Appeal Panel for Pharmacy, who will rule on whether there are valid grounds for appeal and if an appeal hearing is deemed necessary.
Allowing for all the processes involved, we would hope that a final and binding decision will be made sometime in the next six to eight weeks.
We will endeavor to update you as to any progress as and when we have more information.
Can I take the opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you for the phenomenal level of support we have received throughout the last few months, and we hope to be able to deliver a first class pharmaceutical service for our patients in the near future."
RAY KELLY
Lomond Pharmacy
ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM SCREENING
It is estimated that about 1 in 20 men aged 65 in Scotland have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This condition can affect the main artery in the abdomen. As some people get older, the wall of the aorta can become weak and balloon out to form an aneurysm. AAA screening is for all men aged 65. It will help detect aneurysms early and offer monitoring or treatment. Invitations to screening will be sent by NHS Scotland.
For further information call NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88 or vist www.nhsinform.co.uk/screening/aaa
LISTENING SERVICE
Commencing soon (May 2013) on a Thursday afternoon at Balmullo, will be a new Listening service. A trained listener will have appointments of 45 minutes to provide support through professional listening skills.You can be referred to this service by your GP or Practice Nurse.
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