MEDICAL

The RSU Medical Centre provides first line care for all military and UK based personnel and their dependants based in JHQ.  Secondary and tertiary treatment is provided by German hospitals in the nearby towns of Dulken and Viersen. The Defence Medical Welfare Service provides emotional and practical support to all service personnel, entitled civilians and their dependants who are undergoing treatment in the German hospitals.  The medical care and treatment in the German hospitals are excellent and the majority of the German medical staff speak English.  The RSU Dental Centre serves the RMC community.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Emergency Ambulance 112

Out of Hours 02161 472 2969 or JHQ Military 2969

JHQ Civilian (02161 472) + extension number

Military 74 + extension number

Medical Care

Medical care is provided for all military personnel, UK based personnel and registered dependants who are based at JHQ, and Javelin Medical Centres.

Registration

All civilian personnel should register with the practice as soon as possible (for serving personnel registration is done automatically).  We will wish to request your medical records from your previous doctor.  These frequently take some time to achieve, so the earlier this can be done, the better.  By registering at the Medical Centre you are asking us to request and hold your medical records i.e. your previous GP will no longer be responsible for your care.

If you are on long-term treatment or are under hospital care (in UK or Germany), please make an appointment as soon as possible with one of the doctors to ensure that the appropriate follow-up treatment is arranged.

Please note:  Civilians may register at either JHQ or Javelin Barracks Medical Centres, but for continuity you must use the same Medical Centre for all routine treatment.  Patients registered at Javelin Barracks will be seen at JHQ for urgent treatment during silent hours.

In the event of an emergency the nearest Medical Centre should be accessed, or an ambulance called if the situation is life threatening.

How to See your Doctor

Appointments may be made preferably by telephoning JHQ Military 2969/MG Civil (02161) 472 2969 or booking in person.

Normally patients will be seen within 3 days if an appointment with a named Doctor is required.  If the problem is urgent and no routine appointments are free, a nurse is available to access your condition, by telephone, provide treatment or refer to the Duty Doctor if necessary.  Midwives are on call 24hrs, contactable by the Duty Nurse.  An Out of Hours Service is available for urgent cases which arise when the Medical Centre is closed.  It is in the interests of all patients to be seen in the Medical Centre whenever possible so that necessary examinations and investigations can be done and where dispensary facilities are available.  If you feel that a home visit is appropriate, rather than coming to the Medical Centre, please ring the Duty Nurse.

Your Typical Medical Centre Week

Please note that clinics may be delayed when an emergency is being dealt with.

Appointments

            Monday – Friday (JHQ 2969/Javelin 2600)

            08:30 – 12:30 and 14:00 – 16.30

Please note that the Medical Centres are closed for staff training on Wednesday between 13:30 & 15:30.  In case of emergency, ring the bell at the Pharmacy entrance, at JHQ, or the main door at Javelin.

Sat/Sun and Public Holidays (via JHQ Medical Centre) – Urgent Cases only (Ext 2969)

            09:30 – 10:30 and 17:00 – 18:00

For urgent enquiries outside these times please contact JHQ Medical Centre on Ext 2969 for advice.  This phone line is manned 24 hours per day and there is always a GP on call.

Dispensary  

The dispensary is stocked with a range of British drugs that are commonly used. If you are on regular medication the doctor will issue with a repeat prescription.  You will also be asked to see the doctor at regular intervals for a check and renewal of the prescription every few months.  If you have a repeat prescription, please ask for your medication 48 hours before it is needed.  This is to allow the Doctor enough time to get the prescription ready.

Hospital and outpatient care is provided by our German colleagues, who on occasions will recommend German medications.  While not wishing to interfere with their treatment, these products are not fully compliant with UK legislation in that they do not have English instructions or information.  Whenever possible, our doctors will seek to provide the British equivalent.  If this is not possible, then the German product will be purchased for you and labelled appropriately.

We regret that we are unable to prescribe routine or repeat medications for non-entitled visiting relatives or friends.  Visitors should bring with them a sufficient supply for the duration of their stay.

Visiting Relatives

If relatives or friends are coming to visit you, your Unit Welfare Office will give you sponsorship forms before they arrive.  This entitles them, whilst here, to see us for urgent GP care at the Medical Centre.  We are unable to prescribe routine or repeat medications for non-entitled visitors.  For any hospital care, including A&E in an emergency, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is required.  This has replaced the E111 and application forms are available from UK Post Offices.  For more information on EHIC, contact:  EHIC Applications on (UK) 0845 606 2030 or (UK) 0191 2035555.  Further information can be found on the website:  www.dh.gov.uk or www.ehic.org.uk.  Formal medical insurance is better still.  Without insurance your visitors may be liable to full medical costs in the event of an emergency.

Enquiries about Hospital Appointments

If you have problems with hospital appointments we will try and help.  In the first instance speak to the Referral Clerk on JHQ 2641 or Javelin 3397.

Sick Parade

Military sick parade takes place Monday – Friday between 08:30 – 09:30 hours.  Military personnel who are on duty during these times and reporting “Special Sick” may be seen outside of these hours.

Any other enquiries for ARRC or RSU Military personnel, please call JHQ Mil 2841.

Clinics

JHQ

Well Woman -                       Monday pm

Baby Clinic -                         Tuesday am

Asthma -                               Tuesday pm

Travel Clinic                          Wednesday pm

Childhood Immunisations -    Thursday am

Travel vaccs-                         Thursday pm

Family Planning-                    Friday pm

Diabetes -                              Thursday am

Minor Surgery -                      Monthly (last Thursday)

(Please consult the Medical Centre for the latest clinic timings)

Enquiries about Hospital Appointments

If you have problems with hospital appointments we will try and help.  In the first instance speak to the Referral Clerk on JHQ 2641 or Javelin 3397.

When you leave the Practice

Please remember to de-register all members of the family when you are posted out of JHQ/Javelin, So that your notes can be sent on with the minimum delay.  This is particularly important if you have been having regular treatment or hospital care.

Health care User Groups

Representatives from the practices attend the HEALTH CARE User Group (HUG).  The group is used for communication between the practice and the population we serve and meets approximately three times per year.  All units and married accommodation areas are represented.  If you have general comments about the services provided please either contact your representative (usually through Unit Welfare Offices) or speak to us.  We always try to provide the highest standard of service, within the resources at our disposal.

Patient Participation Group (JHQ)

The PPG is run by the patients for the patients and acts as a body to suggest, support, advise and liaise with the Medical centre in JHQ.  Meetings are held regularly, are advertised widely and open to all.  A suggestion box is situated in the waiting area for any ideas or comments you may wish to have discussed at the meetings.

Medical Centre Transport Arrangements

Emergency procedure

Should an ambulance be required in an emergency, ring Civil 112, (remembering to have your Post Code available) and a German ambulance will be dispatched to you as quickly as possible.

Please remember to call the Medical Centre (JHQ 2969 /Javelin 2600) to inform us what is happening and to seek advice if required whilst awaiting the arrival of the ambulance.

Routine, non-emergency transport

Garrison Welfare Transport is available during working hours between the Medical Centre and local clinics/hospitals.  Requests for transport should be made at least 48hrs prior to travel by contacting JHQ 2847 or Javelin 2600.  Transport is available only for patients; if you require transport as a visitor, please contact your Unit Welfare Office.

Dentists

Dental Centre

The facility of dental treatment in British Forces Germany (BFG) is supplied by the Defence Dental Services (DDS).  This is a tri - service organisation which ensures that all the Garrisons in BFG have dental cover.  All military personnel, their families and entitled civilians may be treated by DDS.

The dental service is in great demand with its primary task ensuring that all serving personnel are ‘dentally fit’.  Therefore there may be a delay in the extensive range of treatment and referral service that is available to other entitled personnel.

Location of Dental Centre

Your Dental Centre is located at 7 Beresford Road (behind the fire station).

Opening Hours

The Dental Centre is open Monday to Friday during the following times:

            Monday – Thursday                 0800hrs – 1230 hrs and 1330hrs – 1630 hrs

            Friday                                      0800hrs – 1230 hrs and 1330hrs – 1600 hrs

Services Provided

Dental Centre Rheindahlen has General Duty Dental Officers, Civilian Dental Practitioners, Dental Hygienists, a specialist in Orthodontics, a Dental therapist and a visiting Specialist in restorative Dentistry. 

Dental Appointments

All personnel can arrange for a check up and routine dental appointments in person at the Dental centre or by contacting the Dental Centre on:

            Mil: (94872) 2495

            Civ: (02161) 472 2495

If you require emergency treatment during normal working hours contact the Dental Centre between 0800hrs – 0830hrs, so that an appointment can be arranged for you on the same day.

Emergency Treatment Out of Hours, Weekends and Public Holidays

All personnel requiring emergency dental treatment outside of normal working hours should contact Rheindahlen Medical centre on Mil: (94872) 3333 or Civ: (02161) 472 3333 where the duty dentist will be contacted on your behalf.

Non Attendance of Appointments

Should there be a need to cancel an appointment, it is requested this is done so at least 24 hrs in advance so that this appointment may be offered to another patient at short notice.  Appointments that are not kept waste time and therefore money.  Patients who persistently fail to keep an appointment will be de-registered and will have to attend for an interview with the practice manager before further appointments will be offered.

Entitlement to Treatment

All Military Personnel, dependants and United Kingdom Based Civilians (UKBC) are entitled to routine dental treatment provided they carry the appropriate identification.  Visitors including close relatives are not entitled to routine care.  However they can receive emergency treatment (for the relief of pain), provided they are in possession of a Commanding Officers authority for visit of close relatives (available from the Unit Welfare Officer), a National Health Insurance Card and a passport.

Boarding School Children

Children at Boarding School in the UK are entitled to emergency treatment when visiting their parents.  Routine treatment during the school holidays is also available.  However, serving personnel and other entitled patients living in BFG may take priority.  Parents who wish their children to have a check up should reserve appointments in advance of the school holidays to avoid disappointment.

Charges for Dental Treatment

All Military personnel will receive free dental treatment.  Treatment for dependants and UKBC’s is subject to charge although there are a number of exceptions.

Exemptions from dental charges are available to expectant mothers and those women who have had a baby within 12 months.  All children in full time education and those families receiving Income Support are also entitled to free treatment.

Financial Charges are levied in line with UK National Health Service Dental Charges and all treatment is placed in one of three payment bands.  The most current charges will be posted in your Dental Centre, local HIVE and the Unit Administration Office (UAO).

Payment of treatment is expected to be prompt and your Dental Centre will advise you how to do this via the UAO.  Failure to pay for your dental treatment may also leave you without access to a dental facility.