Pandemic Flu

If you have flu symptoms (sudden fever,sudden cough and other symptoms such as headache, tiredness, aching muscles, diarrhoea, sore throat) please stay at home and contact the local Stoke-on-Trent flu line 0800 952 0188 or the national helpline 0800 151 3513. Information is also available on: www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

If you have a serious underlying illness, are pregnant, are caring for a child under 12 months who has the symptoms, or if your condition suddenly gets much worse please contact the surgery by telephone on 01538 308207.

If you are prescribed anti-viral medication please arrange for a 'flu friend' who does not have the infection to collect the medication for you.They will need their own ID as well as that of the patient.

For the vast majority of people swine flu has been mild. Some people find that they get better by staying in bed, drinking plenty of water and taking over-the-counter flu medication.

Please contact the surgery if you have any other concerns.

More detailed information about swine flu is available in the attached article by Dr Majid Artus.

One of our recent GP Registrars, Dr Zana Khan, now works as a deputy editor at BMJ learning, part of the British Medical Journal, and you can hear a podcast of her interview with a flu expert at: http://pandemicflu.bmj.com

Booking appointments online

You can now book your appointment online, 24 hours a day, Please ask at the reception desk at Waterhouses or Alton surgery for an information sheet and to register for this service. Once you are registered, click on the link to enter the EMIS Access website: https://access.e-mis.co.uk

Evening appointments

Appointments are now available at Waterhouses surgery between 6.30 and 8.00pm. These appointments can be booked in advance.

Please note that the telephone will still be put through to the Out-of-Hours service at 6.00pm,so it will not be possible to phone the surgery between 6.00 and 8.00pm should you be delayed or have any queries.

Automated check-in

When you visit the Waterhouses surgery you can now check yourself in on the touch screen in the reception area. It is simple to use, and is useful if the receptionist is busy or if there is a queue.