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Shelford Medical Practice newsletter June 2018

The national flu immunisation programme 2018/19

 

This year sees significant changes as to how we will be vaccinating our patients, the main one being that there are now 2 different vaccines for adults:-

 

1.    The adjuvanted trivalent vaccine (aTIV) for all patients over 65 years of age

 

2.    The quadrivalent vaccine (QIV) for patients 18 years old and over and for patients under 65 years of age eligible for NHS vaccinations

 

Eligible children will continue to receive the nasal spray live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).

 

The following patients are eligible for flu vaccination:-

 

·         All children aged 2 to 9 years of age (but not 10 years or older) on 31 August 2018

·         Patients with clinical need, aged 6 months to under 65 years of age

·         Pregnant women

·         Those aged 65 years and over

·         Those in long-stay residential care homes

·         Carers

 

In addition, flu vaccines are recommended for frontline health and social care workers.

 

The other significant change of note is the way in which we will receive our supply of vaccines – there will be 3 separate deliveries between the months of September and November.

 

All of the above means that this year booking your flu appointment won’t be quite as straight forward for us as in previous years. We will have to separate adults by age, vaccination type, and by when deliveries are due so please bear with us as we manage this huge task which could involve up to 15,000 patients!

 

In the next issue we hope to publish our flu clinic dates. Additionally, text messages will be sent, there will be local posters, and the dates will be published on our websites.

 

As always, if you have any questions concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at Shelford Medical Practice or your local Granta surgery.

 

 

Sandra East

Communications Manager

Shelford Medical Practice / Granta Medical Practices

 

 

Shelford Medical Practice Newsletter, May 2018

 

Travel Health & Vaccinations

It’s that time of year again when we are starting to plan our summer holidays.  Please remember though that some destinations require more than just suntan lotion and a swim suit!

There are many places you can get great travel advice from and we suggest you start by checking the recommendations for your travel destination on the Fit For Travel website http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

At Shelford Medical Practice we can provide you with the following NHS vaccines: 

  • diphtheria, polio and tetanus booster 
  • hepatitis A 
  • typhoid

If you require any of the NHS vaccinations listed above please book an appointment at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to travel. You also need to complete a travel form – this can be found on our website or you can obtain a copy from our reception.  Your completed form needs to be returned prior to your appointment to enable the practice nurse to prepare appropriately for your consultation.

For any complex or high risk travel, or if you require vaccines not available on the NHS, you will need to book a travel advice consultation with one of the local travel clinics. These clinics provide the full range of private immunisations and comprehensive advice.  Details of local travel clinics can be found on our website and include Granta Medical Practices, Boots, and The Travel Clinic.

Previous Vaccination history

Our administration team can provide you with an up to date record of your previous vaccination history but please allow 3 working days for us to process your request. Alternatively, you can register for online access to your records.

Regular Medication 

If you are on regular medication, please ensure your annual review is up to date, and that you have requested adequate supplies prior to travel.

We regret that we cannot issue more than 3 months of medication in advance, and if your travel is for longer than this, you will have to access further medication while you are away.

Your doctor or the practice nurses are happy to review with you any complex health or medication needs prior to travel to ensure you are as prepared as possible. We cannot do this in emergency appointments, so please book early for travel vaccinations.

If you have recently registered with us, it can take up to 10 weeks for your notes to arrive here from your previous practice, so you will need to bring with you details of any vaccinations you may previously have had. This is so you are not given any vaccinations you do not need.

Don’t leave it too late!

Most vaccinations need to be administered at least 4 weeks before departure and for some risky areas you will need to have injections 3 months before you travel. Please remember to book in plenty of time, ideally 4 to 6 weeks before departure.

As always, we welcome any patient feedback so please feel free to contact us with comments, queries or questions – our aim is to provide the best possible service we can to all of our patients.

 

Sandra East, Communications Manager

Shelford Medical Practice Newsletter, April 2018

 

 

Surgery Remedial Work


By the time you are reading this, our remedial work should be finished and we should have beautifully tarmacked footpaths and car park. Thank you all for being so patient (no pun intended!) whilst this work was been carried out and please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this caused you over the last few weeks. 

Car Park Spaces 


We have noticed an increasing number of car parking spaces being taken up by people not using the surgery. Please may we request that if you are not coming into the surgery you use one of the other two village car parks -many of our patients are less mobile and really need to use our parking spaces. 


Easter Opening Times & Alternative Services 



Thursday 29 March – Open 8am to 6pm 

Friday 30 March - Good Friday - Closed 

Saturday 31 March – Closed 

Sunday 1 April - Closed 

Monday 2 April – Easter Monday – Closed 

Tuesday 3 April – Open 8am to 6pm 


When the surgery is closed, there are local GPs on call at the local urgent care centre at Addenbrookes. If you need to be seen by a doctor or nurse, or need advice while the surgery is closed, please call 111. This service operates between 6:30pm and 8am on weekdays and 24 hours at weekends and on bank holidays. It is free to call from mobile ‘phones and landlines. Your condition will be assessed over the ‘phone and if they think you need to be seen by a health professional they will refer you to the out-of-hours GP services. 



You can take simple steps such as stocking up on essential medicines to help you treat minor illnesses at home, helping you avoid unnecessary trips to your GP or A&E department. Medicine cabinet essentials include: 



· Pain relief (paracetamol) 

Cost to your local NHS £1.2m; cost for you to buy 25p (16 tablets) 



· Upset stomach treatment 

Cost to your local NHS £295,000; cost for you to buy £2 (200ml) 



· Heartburn and indigestion treatment 

Cost to your local NHS £1.1m; cost for you to buy £1 (6 capsules) 



· First aid kit 



Repeat Prescriptions 



Please ensure you have enough medication to cover the Easter break by ordering what you need in good time, allowing 3 days from making your request to collecting your prescription. 


As always, we welcome any patient feedback so please feel free to contact us with comments, queries or questions – our aim is to provide the best possible service we can to all of our patients. 


Sandra East 

Communications Manager
Shelford Medical Practice proposed changes


Report from Granta Medical Practices and Shelford Medical Practice Proposed Merger Public Consultation 1st February 2018 


Firstly, thank you to all of you that came along to the Public Consultation on 1st February. There was an amazing turnout - approximately 145 people! 


Dr Chris Schramm opened the meeting by giving a presentation about the future of healthcare and the merger proposition. This was followed by question time. 


The main issues addressed were:-


Retaining the surgery in Shelford - the proposed merger is to Retain, Maintain & Improve our presence and service we offer in Shelford. 


Continuity of care – there will be no staff changes at Shelford, but there will be more choices. If, for example, a Shelford slot offered did not fit with your schedule, you could then have extended choice of other Granta sites. 


Maintaining - the Granta management structure was also explained in the meeting. By having dedicated expert managers for each part of the business means that GP’s can be freed up to do what they do best – doctoring. 


Out of Hours was discussed but is a separate NHS service which will not be affected by the proposed merger. 


Merging reduces risk of privatisation – merging giving us more strength, making takeover by a corporate giant very unlikely. 


Dr James Morrow from Granta went into further detail about how GP surgeries are funded. A GP practice is paid £136 per patient per year. This is a standard amount - whether the patient sees a GP once or 20 times in a year. (Interestingly, it costs more to insure a pet gerbil for one year!) 


Improvements - part of the Granta future plan is about moving hospital services out into the community, giving easier and quicker access for patients. Ear microsuction is already being offered and services currently in development include a paediatric clinic, ENT, Ophthalmology and MSK (orthopaedics and physiotherapy). 


Feedback following the meeting was very positive indeed, with many members of the public coming to speak to representatives to offer their support for the proposed merger. 


If you should have any further queries about the proposed merger please do not hesitate to contact Gerard Newnham, Business Practice Manager of Granta on 01223 727555, Gerard.newnham@nhs.net or Sandra East, Admin & Comms Manager of Shelford on 01223 843661, sandra.east@nhs.net. 


Surgery Remedial Work 



Over the next few weeks we are having the car park resurfaced, the footpaths repaired and the flat roof replaced. There will be reduced parking spaces whilst this work is going ahead and we would ask that if you able-bodied you consider parking in one of the village car parks so that our less mobile patients can park near to the surgery. Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Shelford Medical Practice Newsletter, February 2018

 

 

Winter Pressures on the NHS

 

As you will be aware, the NHS is currently experiencing a surge in demand for all health services, which in turn is putting pressures on acute and emergency services as well as GP surgeries.

 

With the NHS under such huge winter pressures we would like to remind our patients about appropriately accessing emergency services.

 

Infection control – Emergency Departments in our region have seen an increase in patients going in with flu and diarrhoea/vomiting conditions. There has also been norovirus outbreaks, leading to ward closures. Emergency departments have asked that the general public stay away from hospitals with non-acute infectious illnesses and instead seek advice from 111, local pharmacies or self-care.

Getting yourself to hospital – The ambulance service has been tweeting to ask the public to choose wisely when calling an ambulance or visiting a hospital and to do so only in a genuine emergency.  They are finding that some patients are calling for an ambulance for non-emergencies as they have trouble travelling to see their GP.

The NHS is encouraging patients without transport to approach family, friends and neighbours and ask to be taken to hospitals and practices in non-emergency situations, before relying on ambulance transfers. If it is an option, it will be much quicker for the patient than using an ambulance.

NHS 111 promotion begins this week

NHS England has launched a new TV advertising campaign to help promote the NHS 111 service. We hope this will help you choose the right services for your conditions.

If you need any help or assistance with choosing the right service please call the surgery and we will be happy to help you.

 

Proposed Shelford Medical Practice and Granta Medical Practices Merger

 

Further to the announcement by Granta Medical Practices and Shelford Medical Practice, there will be a public consultation meeting on Thursday 1st February from 2pm to 3pm, in Great Shelford Memorial Hall.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

 

Sandra East

Admin & Comms Manager

Shelford Medical Practice proposed changes

Shelford Medical Practice could merge with the larger Granta Group in 2018. 

A consultation meeting to kick off the proposals will take place at 2pm on February 1 at Great Shelford Memorial Hall.

The move would ensure the future sustainability of the Medical Practice in Great Shelford.

The merger could happen for several reasons:

1) Specialist outpatients services for Shelford and Stapleford would be provided as part of any new arrangement

2) An emergency home care service across the area would be provided by the merged group

3) Any merger would guarantee the future of the Shelford Medical Practice

4) Management services would be shared between the different members of the group.

The Granta Group currently has 3 practices operating from four different sites, including Sawston.

A consultation about any changes is expected to happen in early 2018. Read a full statement from the Shelford Medical Practice.

* The Shelford Medical Practice, which has 9,000 patients, is also considering options around a new medical practice building for the Shelfords and Stapleford.

Shelford Health Centre Update

December 2017 


Christmas Opening Times & Alternative Services 



We will be open providing care as usual over the holiday period, only shutting for the bank holidays. 



Wednesday 20 December – Open 8am to 6pm (including INR clinic 10am to 12:30pm) 

Thursday 21 December – Open 8am to 6pm 

Friday 22 December – Open 8am to 6pm 

Monday 25 December – CLOSED 

Tuesday 26 December – CLOSED 

Wednesday 27 December – Open 8am to 6pm (including INR clinic 10am to 12:30pm) 

Thursday 28 December – Open 8am to 6pm 

Friday 29 December – Open 8am to 6pm 

Monday 1st January – CLOSED 

Tuesday 2nd January – Open 8am to 6pm 



When the surgery is closed, there are local GPs on call at the local urgent care centre at Addenbrookes. If you need to be seen by a doctor or nurse, or need advice while the surgery is closed, please call 111. This service operates between 6:30pm and 8am on weekdays and 24 hours at weekends and on bank holidays. It is free to call from mobile phones and landlines. Your condition will be assessed over the phone and if they think you need to be seen by a health professional, they will refer you to the out-of-hours GP service. 

Additionally, you can treat minor winter illnesses such as colds and coughs, sore throats, and upset stomachs easily at home. Make sure you are stocked up with winter health essentials such as pain relief (paracetamol), cold and cough remedies, a first aid kit, upset stomach treatment, rehydration treatment, and heartburn / indigestion treatment. 

Repeat Prescriptions 



Please ensure you have enough medication to cover the holiday period: ordering what you need in good time is the most stress-free approach for all, allowing 3 working days for the Practice to process your request and 2 working days for your nominated pharmacy to dispense it. We are happy to issue 2 month’s supply to cover Christmas and the New Year. Please mark your request “double” if you would like this. 



All that is left to say is that all of us at Shelford Medical Practice wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

Sandra East 

Admin & Comms Manager 

November 2017 update

 

Additional Flu Clinic

We are holding a second flu clinic on the evening of Thursday 2 November, 5pm to 8pm. Please ring and book a slot if you have not yet had your flu vaccination.

Research Studies

We have been very busy this year with research studies, the biggest ones being Best3 and iQuit.

Best3 is a very exciting trial involving the swallowing of a capsule / sponge to obtain cells from the inside of your throat (oesophagus) which may suggest a future risk of cancer and deal with them appropriately.  We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our patients that have taken part in this invaluable study so far. 

iQuit is ongoing.  All participating quitters receive standard support and half of those who sign up get a tailored smoking advice report and text messages.  This evaluates the extra benefit of the iQuit package of support. 

To be eligible for the study you need to be 18 or over and:

ü  want to quit

ü  be willing to set a quite date within 2 weeks of joining the study

ü  own a mobile phone

ü  not be currently part of any other smoking study

 

Please ring the surgery or call in to reception for further information.

 

Daylight Robbery

 

One of the GP’s bicycles was stolen from outside the surgery last week. Any information on this would be very much appreciated ……!

As always, we welcome any patient feedback so please feel free to contact us with comments, queries or questions – our aim is to provide the best possible service we can to all of our patients. 

Sandra East

Admin & Comms Manager



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