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Ship House Surgery changes - Freddie Dawkins (29th Sep 2006 - 19:11:49) Did anyone pick up the recent story about the relaunch of the Ship House Surgery, including its name chnage to the Liphook Village Surgery? I met up with Dr Alan Ward recently (he's the new senior partner). I was really impressed by his views and vision for the future. The doctors have been very honest in their media messages about the problems the surgery has faced over the past few years. Too many good doctors have stayed for short times and then moved on. The good news is that the partners are investing more into the surgery, doing away with the premium rate phone calls etc and every patient will go back to having their own dedicated GP. The nurses too are being backed with more resources and the whole practice is being expanded to offer more services to us, the patients. There will be services like alternative treatments, etc. A real modernisation process. I think it's a shame we are losing the surgery name - but I can understand the reasoning. Freddie Dawkins

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Allan (30th Sep 2006 - 01:02:26) Hi Freddie, Can't quite understand the name change. "The Village Surgery" could probably be confused by some with "Newtown Surgery" I suppose there is the possibility that they would like to establish a clear disassociation from the bank next door, but can't think why.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Chris (30th Sep 2006 - 05:01:05) I've always found them extremely responsive, caring and professional, especially Doctor Judge.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Janet (30th Sep 2006 - 16:22:51) That's excellent news! I had been thinking of trying to register somewhere else. I'll stay put for the time being and see how it all works out. Does the surgery have a new phone number now, then? I found their phone system so annoying before. I would phone in the morning and get a recorded message saying "please call back when the surgery is less busy." How on earth was I supposed to know when they were less busy, without phoning them to ask?!! I hope they've removed that feature now.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Paul Robinson (1st Oct 2006 - 09:50:37) Can you tell me if they are going to do away with the practice of only seeing patients on the day they phone up and not accepting forward appointments. I remember Prime Minister Blair being brought up sharply by a member of the public bemoaning this practice and saying that it was a nonsense and that it should not happen in future. Paul Robinson

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - rob (1st Oct 2006 - 15:21:40) I suppose their patients will be known as the Village People from now on? rob.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Freddie Dawkins (2nd Oct 2006 - 10:34:40) Take a look at the new website: www.liphookvillagesurgery.co.uk Lots of info there. As I understand the phone changes, they have replaced the premium rate service to low rate and are going to be reverting back to normal telephone service asap. The same day only appointment system is being dropped and commonsense service is being resumed. All positive stuff.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Alan Ward (1st Nov 2006 - 10:19:02) Dear Talkback Users Thank you for your interest. To answer one or two of the queries raised: Name change - it really was a knife edge decision. I had long discussions with well over 100 people about the pro's and con's of changing the name. There was a small majority of local people favour. At the end of the day - like the (ex) Anchor Garage - people can and will refer to the surgery as they prefer. The thing that swung my mind was the unfavourable reputation the surgery had recently acquired (over the last 5 years or so)amongst the Health Care Community. Such people (clinicians, controllers of resources etc) UNANIMOUSLY supported, indeed encouraged, a name change. I, after very considerable reflection (I am old enough and grey enough to be a traditionalist!) gave the suggestion my support. Phone number change - When the current phone system was chosen by a previous practice manager a relatively expensive premium rate number was chosen to help fund the upgrade/cover 'administrative' costs. Negative feedback about the costs of dialing this number were directed through to the phone supplier and an alternative number (08444778646) provided. I am told that phoning this number costs the same as a standard BT line for the first minutes but 0.5p per minute more than BT for all subsequent minutes. I strongly feel that this remains unacceptable. I am currently negotiating buying ourselves out of this arrangement (7 year contract had been signed - it will cost us personally many thousands of pounds to get out of it) and reverting to a totally standard local line. I anticipate that this occur in about 3-4months time. Paul - yes. You can now book for up to 4 weeks ahead -soon this will be 8 weeks. All the doctors are committed to working (even!) more hours to 'service' our own patients requirements and hence reducing the amount of locum doctor cover at the surgey. Please bear with us as systems change - a non-urgent appointment with your own doctor may (particularly just prior/during/after leave for that doctor) sometimes have to be two weeks (or very occasionally even longer) hence but urgent appointments will always be available very much sooner. We will be setting up a Patient Participation Group over the winter to facilitate interactive dialogue between the surgery and our patients/their representatives - watch this space. Apologies that I have written at such length. Alan Dr Alan Ward

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Helen (1st Nov 2006 - 13:25:55) I have been fortunate to have had Dr Ward allocated as my doctor and he has been extremely supportive to me recently which has been really appreciated. There is a real positive change in the surgery now that he is there and it is obvious that all who work there are pulling together to make things better for us patients. I am lucky to have a GP who really listens and doesn't just rush me out of the door because my times up and we are lucky to have a surgery in Liphook where we can now make advance appointments. Thankyou eveyone at the Village Surgery especially Dr Ward.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - N (2nd Nov 2006 - 23:56:52) while the doctors may be doing a good job prehaps the receptionists not so much just yesterday my friend called to get a appointment as she had run out of medication having not realised there was not another box from the doc only to be told she could not have an appointment that day when she asked to make an appointment with her own or another doctor for thurs or friday she was told to ring on the day not very helpfull at all!!!

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Helen (3rd Nov 2006 - 18:36:08) N - Perhaps you could mention to your friend that repeat prescriptions have been in place for ages now and save everyone's time not least the overworked doctors who don't need to see someone just to dole out a packet of pills thats already been prescribed! - Lloyds will even go and pick it up for her - crikey give them a break they are trying their best under an already difficult system, its not the receptionists fault if she hasn't got an appointment left that day - if it was an emergency she would have been fitted in, I always have been. Still think they're doing a great job.

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - N (4th Nov 2006 - 23:14:03) Helen, it is not a usuall repeat script hence the need to MAKE an appointment with her OWN doctor!!! thanks for your input though :-)

Re: Ship House Surgery changes - Dave L (5th Nov 2006 - 20:16:19) Can I just say that since coming to Liphook three years ago I have received a level of care from this surgery that I thought no longer existed within the National health service from ALL members of staff!!. Keep up the good work and I for one dont care how much a phone call costs.

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