This is the text of the version dated 27th April 2003 and is therefore very out of date. Up to date leaflets are available from the Health Centre.
In January 2002,
Dr Causer became senior partner of the Minster Practice on the retirement of the
previous senior partner Dr Barry Jones. With the departure of Drs Sidaway &
Deaville the practice structure changed significantly.
Dr Causer has
taken this opportunity to improve services provided to his patients in ways
suggested by the patients themselves. He has a new team offering a friendly
personal service responsive to your needs. You will be greeted with a smile not
a frown.
Please note that his practice area is within the boundaries of the City of Lichfield - NOT the wider Lichfield District.
The most important
change is the guarantee that the waiting time for a routine appointment is
never more than 2 working days
with the
doctor of your choice. This is
not an empty promise as it has been consistently achieved since May 2002.
However, you are not forced to wait until 48 hours beforehand if you prefer to
book ahead. Appointments are opened for the period at least 4 weeks ahead and
often more.
The length of
consultations has also been
increased from 7˝ to 12 minutes. This gives you more time with your doctor and
also your doctor more time to give you more information about aspects of your
health.
Our Nurse Practitioner combines
the roles of practice sister and nurse practitioner. It is
your choice
whether to see a nurse or a doctor
depending on your needs. Besides assessing & treating common health problems,
her services include well person clinics, family planning, cervical smears,
asthma and other lung disorders, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, travel advice and immunisations, hearing tests, hormone
replacement therapy and numerous other services.
Telephone
consultations
Available throughout the day. You may have to leave a contact number at busy
periods. It would b helpful to us if you would tell the receptionist the reason
for your call so that it can be properly allocated & prioritised.
Please ensure that you keep us informed of any change in your contact details &
phone numbers. We look for opportunities of reducing the number of times you
have to attend surgery e.g. phoning you with details of test results etc.
Practice Equipment
The practice is fully equipped for modern general practice. This includes ECG,
heart resuscitation facilities, computer linked stethoscope for heart
monitoring, 24 hr blood pressure monitoring, lung function assessments for
asthma & other lung diseases, hearing screening kit, body fat assessment
monitor, electroacupuncture, digital camera for monitoring skin problems etc.
Community Services
The practice works in conjunction with a full primary health care team including
district nurses, health visitors, community psychiatric nurses, psychologists,
consultant community child specialists (for child health surveillance &
developmental assessments in addition to those done by Dr King) ,
physiotherapists, speech therapists, chiropodists and podiatrists, dieticians,
midwives etc.
Disabled facilities
The health centre has parking
for the disabled (limited), a ramp to entrance level, automatic doors, and a
lift to the first floor. There is a disabled toilet but it is also the baby
changing room. Wheelchairs are available near the front entrance but we also
have our own modern chair for comfort. Hearing loops are fitted in all
consulting rooms. These are specially designed to maintain confidentiality
within 1 metre around each transmitter. If you are hard of hearing but do not
wear an aid, we have a portable facility with patient controlled headphones. To
assist the partially sighted, the corridor lighting is the brightest possible
and our doors are numbered using black numbers on a yellow background. All
assistance dogs are allowed in the Health Centre. If you require advice on aids
and adaptations, please speak to Dr Causer who keeps up to date on where to
obtain items via the NHS, social services or at reasonable cost from reputable
dealers.
Patient Information
Your practice believes that if patients are provided with sufficient information
about conditions they have, their health improvement is much greater. We fully
support the Department of Health Expert Patient Programme but we also produce a
wide range of information booklets & leaflets ourselves. A leaflet listing the
items is available.
Repeat Prescriptions
A separate leaflet describes our system which has been approved by the Health
Authority. If you are newly registered, you will need to make an appointment to
see your Dr so that the repeat prescriptions can be set up for you.
Request before 11 pick up @ 5
same day.
Victoria Hospital
Built with funds raised by Lichfield residents at 3d per brick in the 1930s, this hospital is highly
valued by the community. Plans are afoot to build a new hospital on the St
Michaels Hospital site. Our experience in managing health service provision will
be used to ensure that the facilities provided will meet the community’s needs
now and in the future.
The Minster Practice, Lichfield
