Granta Medical Practices, June 2021
COVID-19 Vaccinations Update
Have you had your first Covid vaccination yet? If not, and you are in a cohort between 1 and 6, please contact us as soon as possible to arrange an appointment.
If you fall into one of the cohorts 7 to 12, please ring 119 or go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ where you can directly book your first dose appointment at a central vaccination centre.
If you need to book your second dose, NHS England guidelines state that patients should return to the venue where they had their first vaccination, as the second dose will be allocated and sent to that original venue.
As always, if any of the Covid vaccination guidelines change we will let you know via our website www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk and our social media platforms. However, please don’t hesitate to contact us direct if you do not have access to the internet.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and kind words, as well as all the biscuits, chocolates and other lovely treats. The goodwill shown to us whilst we deliver the vaccines means so much to all of us.
Sandra East, Head of Patient Services
Email: sandra.east@nhs.net Direct dial: 01223 627743We are receiving an increased number of telephone calls about vaccinations for patients that fall into cohort 10 (40 to 49 year olds).
NHS England guidelines state that this cohort should have their vaccinations at central vaccination centres, whilst we concentrate on giving second doses to our patients who have had their first doses with us.
We respectfully ask that if you are in cohort 10 you do not contact us to book your vaccination, but instead book your vaccination via https://www.nhs.uk/.../coro.../book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Posted May 3 2021
Granta Medical Practices Update, May 2021
COVID-19 Vaccinations
We continue to deliver second vaccinations, working in date order, vaccinating patients 11-12 weeks following their first dose.
Current guidelines state that patients have to return to the venue where they had their first vaccination, as the second dose will be allocated and sent to that venue. Should these guidelines change we will, of course, let everyone know.
We appreciate that everyone wants to know when their appointment will be, and we are working as fast as possible to get through our patient lists. Please bear with us as our team continue to work incredibly hard to deliver the vaccine into our community.
COVID-19 Vaccine Safety
The UK vaccination programme has been very successful. At the time of writing, more than 30 million people have been vaccinated and it is estimated that 6,000 lives have already been saved.
There have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. This is being carefully monitored and reviewed.
Information is changing rapidly and we will keep our website as up to date as possible. If you do not have internet access, please feel free to ring us with any questions you may have.
Sandra East, Head of Patient Services
Email: sandra.east@nhs.net. Direct number: 01223 627743.
Posted April 11 2021
Granta April 2021 update
Granta has now (on March 8) vaccinated 17,805 patients. All patients in cohorts 1 to 4 should have been contacted and vaccinated by us. If you haven’t, or if you have previously declined the vaccine but have now changed your mind, please call us on 0300 234 5555 (option 2) and you will be prioritised for our next clinic. If you know of anyone that falls into one of these cohorts but have not yet been vaccinated please let us know as soon as possible.
We are currently vaccinating patients in cohorts 5 and 6. Some of you may receive a letter inviting you to a vaccination centre, and others may receive a text or telephone call inviting you to an appointment at Granta Sawston.
NHS England are starting to contact patients that fall into cohort 7 (over 60 years old) and cohort 8 (over 55 years old). You will receive a letter direct from NHS England giving you further instructions about how to book your vaccination.
May we take this opportunity to remind everyone that, if you have booked a vaccine appointment but are not going to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can offer your vaccine to someone else.
We appreciate that everyone wants to know when their appointment will be, and we are working as fast as possible to get through our patient lists. Contacting us before being invited however, will not make this process move any faster. Please bear us as our team continue to work incredibly hard to deliver the vaccine into our community.
Please remember – you will NEVER be asked for payment for the COVID-19 vaccination. Any text message, letter or telephone call requesting your bank details and/or payment should be ignored. Please pass this message on to anyone who may be more susceptible to this type of scam.
Information about the virus and the vaccine changes rapidly. To keep completely up to date with the latest guidance please go to the Government website www.gov.uk and the NHS UK website www.nhs.uk If you know of someone who does not have access to a computer and you do, please help them access the latest information.
As always, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me direct on 01223 627743 or sandra.east@nhs.net
Granta Medical Practices Update March 2021
It’s amazing to think that the UK has been in an emergency state for a year. We are now in our third national lockdown, and everyday life has changed beyond all recognition.
There is, however, a tiny light at the end of this long, dark tunnel and it is shining just a little brighter day by day with the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
As I write this (08/02/2021), we have vaccinated around 7,000 of our patients in cohorts 1 to 4. We continue to work our way through the priority groups, as instructed by NHS England.
You may be invited by us, or you may receive an NHS England letter inviting you to attend a mass vaccination centre. It is entirely your choice where you would like to go. All vaccinations are all recorded on a national database so please be assured that you will not be missed.
Information about the virus and the vaccine changes daily, sometimes even hourly. To keep completely up to date with the latest guidance it is advisable to look at the Government website www.gov.uk and the NHS UK website www.nhs.uk If you know of someone who does not have access to a computer and you do, please help them access the latest information.
As always, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me direct on 01223 627743 or sandra.east@nhs.net
Posted Feb 10 2021
Granta Medical Practices Covid update
We continue to vaccinate according to the Public Health England priority list and are working through groups 1 to 4. To date we have vaccinated 6,000 of our patients. Please may we ask that you do not contact us about when your vaccine may be – we will contact you when it is your turn.
Due to the continued extreme demand for the vaccines nationwide we may get deliveries at short notice, which means we may have to contact you at short notice.
When attending for your vaccination, you must wear a face mask at all times and follow the instructions given by our staff. If you have any symptoms of coronavirus please do not attend your appointment. Instead, please stay at home and organise a COVID-19 test to be done. We can rebook your appointment for another time.
Please remember that you will NEVER be asked for payment for the COVID-19 vaccination. Any text message, letter or telephone call requesting your bank details and / or payment should be ignored. Please pass this message on to anyone who may be susceptible to such scams.
Rest assured that everyone will be vaccinated. In the meantime, please continue to adhere to social distancing, the wearing of face masks and follow hand hygiene guidance, to stop the spread of coronavirus in our community and beyond.
If you have any questions please contact Sandra East, Communications & Patient Liaison Manager, on 01223 627743 or emailsandra.east@nhs.net
Granta Medical Practices Update February 2021
COVID-19 Vaccinations
At the time of writing, we are about to embark on the mammoth task of vaccinating our 44,000 patients with the COVID-19 vaccinations. Please be assured that everyone will be vaccinated. However, please remember that we have to vaccinate in accordance with Public Health England’s priority list. Details of the priority list can be found on our website or at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
Due to the extreme demand for the vaccine around the country we may get deliveries at short notice, which means we may have to contact you at short notice.
Please note that you will NEVER be asked for payment for a COVID-19 vaccination and any texts, phone calls, or letters requesting payment or bank details should be ignored.
Please continue to keep yourself and our community safe by adhering to national restrictions, social distancing, wearing of face masks and hand hygiene.
We would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding whilst you wait for your vaccine during this unprecedented time.
Sandra East
Granta Communications & Patient Liaison
T. 01223 627743
W. www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk
Granta Medical Practices Update December 2020
Coronavirus
We continue to work hard to keep our patients as safe as possible, along with our staff and our community.
Patient access continues to be by invitation only, following a prior telephone assessment. If the assessing clinician feels it is clinically necessary to see you, they will arrange for you to come in and see them.
Essential care, such as NHS immunisations, blood tests, smear tests, and mother and baby checks, continues to go ahead at selected sites. We carry out temperature checks on both staff and patients to minimise risk. Patients must wear a mask if entering any of our buildings.
Coronavirus information changes rapidly. For the very latest news and guidance, please go to www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ and www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Holiday Season Opening Times & Repeat Prescription Schedule
Day and date | Opening hours |
Repeat prescription schedule |
Wednesday 23rd December 2020 | Open as usual | Place order today, pick up 30th Dec |
Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve) | Open as usual | Place order today, pick up 31st Dec |
Friday 25th December (Christmas Day) | Closed | Place order today, pick up 4th Jan |
Saturday 26th December (Boxing Day) | Closed | Place order today, pick up 4th Jan |
Sunday 27th December | Closed | Place order today, pick up 4th Jan |
Monday 28th December (Bank Holiday) | Closed | Place order today, pick up 4th Jan |
Tuesday 29th December | Open as usual | Place order today, pick up 4th Jan |
Wednesday 30th December | Open as usual | Place order today, pick up 5th Jan |
Thursday 31st December | Open as usual | Place order today, pick up 6th Jan |
Friday 1st January 2021 (Bank Holiday) | Closed | Place order today, pick up 6th Jan |
Saturday 2nd January 2021 | Closed | Place order today, pick up 6th Jan |
Sunday 3rd January 2021 | Closed | Place order today, pick up 6th Jan |
Monday 4th January 2021 | Open as usual | Place order today, pick up 7th Jan |
You can treat many minor illnesses such as colds and coughs, sore throats, and upset stomachs easily at home. Make sure you keep stocked up with health care essentials such as pain relief (paracetamol), cough and sore throat remedies, a first aid kit, upset stomach treatment, rehydration treatment and heartburn / indigestion treatment. Having these essentials at home will not only save you time, and help you feel better quicker, but will also help save the NHS much needed resources.
Your local pharmacist can also offer you advice and guidance on the best treatment for you. Pharmacists are available on every high street and in supermarkets with many open evenings and weekends.
If you need urgent medical assistance when we are closed please use the NHS 111 service.
If you have an emergency that poses an immediate threat to life, please ring 999.
For further information on alternative services, please go to our website www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk
Repeat Prescriptions
Please make sure that you order your repeat prescriptions in a timely manner to ensure you are not without medication over the Christmas and New Year break.
We wish you all a healthy and peaceful holiday season.
Sandra East
Granta Communications
e. sandra.east@nhs.netGreat Shelford Dental Practice update
YOU CAN NOW GET YOUR MEDICINES DELIVERED FOR FREE …
… and you don’t have to be a Granta patient!
For further information and to sign up for this great new service from your local community pharmacy simply call us on 01223 727530 or email us on capccg.grantadispensing@nhs.net
(Please note that if you are ordering a repeat prescription please order 7 to 10 days before you are due to run out.)
We look forward to hearing from you.
Posted Sept 1 2020
Dr Katie Keller
It is with regret we announce that Dr Katie Keller, Shelford GP and GP Trainer will be leaving us at the end of September. Dr Keller arrived as a partner of Shelford Medical Practice in 2014, before coming across to Granta with the merger in 2018.
Dr Keller will now be focussing on her extensive work with the Training Hub and University of Cambridge, whilst keeping her hand in as a GP for one day a week at Bourn Surgery.
Dr Keller’s patients will be assigned new registered GPs, and we would like to take this opportunity to reassure patients that they can access care from any of our clinical team within Granta, irrespective of their registered GP.
Posted June 25 2020
June 2020 update
We remain open and continue to work hard to keep our patients as safe as possible, along with our staff and our community by managing medical care remotely. This way of working has proved very successful and is reflected in the very low number of covid-related illnesses in our area.
Patient access to any Granta site continues to be by invitation only, following a prior telephone assessment and only when the clinician assesses that the balance of risk and need justifies a face-to-face interaction.
We are working hard behind the scenes to see how we can start to safely reintroduce various services and we will keep you updated via our website and social media.
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Harrison as our new Chief Executive Officer.
Having previously worked in the John Lewis Partnership for over 23 years, Tim is committed to taking Granta forward, shaping the “new normal” of primary care, and embracing the concept of a Primary Care Network.
Tim’s vision is clear, “Granta Medical Practices are trail blazers in primary care services and I have been really impressed with their mix of professionalism and patient-centred care. Their response to the recent coronavirus pandemic has been exceptional and their commitment to the safety of their patients, their staff and their community is of paramount importance.
GP Managing Partner, Dr James Morrow, said “We are very pleased to welcome Tim to our team. More so than ever, primary care faces challenging times, and with Tim’s expertise I know we will continue to adapt and develop, whilst taking full responsibility for working with our patients to promote health when they are well and to deliver the care needed when they fall ill.”
Sandra East, Granta Communications
T. 0300 234 5555. sandra.east@nhs.net
March 2020 Coronavirus update
Coronavirus (Covid-19) update
Unfortunately the number of people affected by the coronavirus causing Covid-19 is increasingly rapidly and this new virus is taking a foothold within our community.
At Granta Medical Practices we have a dedicated Covid emergency team who are meeting daily to discuss how we can continue to provide the best possible care for our patients.
As a practice we are fortunate in having both multiple sites and a large team of people, including those with experience of managing this sort of situation. This gives us options for delivery of care that are not open to many practices during any epidemic.
Up to date information:
At a national level the Public Health England website
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england and NHS UK website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ provide up to date information about the national situation and plans, and health advice.
At Granta we will be keeping our website www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk updated regularly to reflect the local situation and our actions at Granta, along with our social media accounts. We may also use SMS messaging to mobile phones to communicate any urgent messages. Please let us know if you have changed your mobile number or have one that you haven’t yet told us about.
Prioritisation:
The current evidence is that for the vast majority of the population the Covid-19 virus is a mild illness which can be safely managed at home with rest, paracetamol and fluids just like a normal flu-like illness. However, for those with significant other medical problems and for the elderly it can be more serious.
With this in mind we have postponed all face to face GP appointments and some routine nurse appointments. This is for both our patient’s safety and the safety of our staff. Instead we are now offering an enhanced telephone service and also a non-urgent dedicated email address, capccg.covid19.gmp@nhs.net, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. We are working hard to make sure that those who are housebound will continue to receive their medications.
As a community we can help each other – both by following the advice given and by helping look after those who may need help within our communities. If you are able to volunteer to help out in your immediate area, please email your details to granta.socialnavigator@nhs.net
Practical advice:
First and foremost is the need to wash your hands on a regular basis – warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds. This alone will help slow down the spread of the virus and help protect you, your family and our community. Facemasks are not advised – and of very limited or no practical benefit.
Dr James Morrow, Managing Partner
16th March 2020
February 2020 Great Shelford Health news
Staff News
It is with regret that we inform our patients that Dr Mig Arbide and Dr Chris Schramm will be leaving us in March. Both doctors have dedicated over 20 years to the Linton practice and Shelford practice respectively and will be greatly missed.
Dr Abide and Dr Schramm’s patients have been assigned new registered GPs, and we would like to take this opportunity to reassure our patients that they can access care from any of our clinical team within Granta, irrespective of their registered GP.
Dr Schramm and Dr Arbide have asked us to share these announcements with you:-
A message from Dr Chris Schramm (Shelford site) who is leaving on 2nd March 2020:-
“After 20 intense and often satisfying years I have decided to move on to a new challenge. During 2020 I will be working at the national winner of the “RCGP Research Practice of the Year 2019" award, which is out of Cambridge. I am also taking on a role with the regional NHS Research network. I am deeply indebted to my Shelford colleagues, staff and numerous patients, all of whom have taught me many things which generally are not in books and who have, thereby, enriched my life.”
A message from Dr Mig Arbide (Linton site) who is leaving on 23rd March 2020:-
“I am immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my patients for the best part of twenty years. I have enjoyed the privilege of their trust, built through respect, dedication, and stability.
I am fortunate to continue offering my time, experience and knowledge to patients in the prison service. I will also continue to practice in my areas of clinical specialist skill and interest: enhanced minor surgery, vasectomy services, sports medicals and dermatology.”
Sandra East, Granta Communications
sandra.east@nhs.net
We are pleased to announce new extended access services for our patients, including:-
ü Pre-bookable and online appointments from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday at various Granta sites
ü Pre-bookable and online appointments on Saturdays at various Granta sites
ü Pre-bookable telephone consultations on Sundays and Bank holidays.
Please speak to a member of our Reception team if you would like further information.
Are you registered for online access?
Online services can help with the management of your health care requirements. You can book, amend and cancel appointments, request medication, and see your medical records, including test results.
To register, download a form from our website www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk or call in to one of our branches to pick up a SystmOnline Access application form.
Once you have registered for online access you can then also register for the NHS App. With this app you can:-
· Check your symptoms
· Find out what to do if you need help urgently
· Register to be an organ donor
· Choose how the NHS uses your data
Further information about the NHS App can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/.
Sandra East, Granta Communications
Granta Medical Practices Rated Outstanding by Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission inspected our GP practice in October and has rated it as outstanding, a mark of quality that is shared with only 5 of the 88 GP practices in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough health system.
This is first and foremost an opportunity to remind ourselves how tirelessly all 165 Granta staff work day-in-day-out. Many of them are our neighbours in our communities. They all deserve a big Thank You Team Granta! Their jobs have never been easy and have become much harder and more stressful over the past decade. Funding for healthcare is not keeping up with growing demand and finding people who are prepared to serve their communities as doctors and nurses is becoming ever more difficult. Fewer GPs and nurses care for more patients. This trend makes small general practices very vulnerable. A couple of retirements or long-term illnesses can lead to the collapse and closure of a practice, as we have witnessed recently in our own vicinity.
Granta has been created over the past four years through a merger of four well-run independent practices at Linton, Sawston, Barley/Market Hill and Shelford for one reason only - to create a sustainable GP practice that is fit to weather the funding and workforce crises, is able to attract and retain excellent staff, and will continue to offer reliable services to our communities. Granta is now of the right size for a modern GP practice and will not grow further. The practice is big enough to survive and thrive but remains small enough to care for our communities and retain the team spirit that is critical for general practice. The CQC rating is an external validation that Granta has chosen the right path.
Granta’s outstanding rating is not ‘mission accomplished’. There is lots of work still to do. While the on-the-day access at Granta for urgent needs is excellent, access to bookable appointments at all sites needs to be improved. The merger has led to changes in the provision of local services and challenges local identity, which is a concern to both patients and clinicians. These issues have been raised by the Patient Participation Group, who are helping the Granta team to understand how to best respond to workforce pressures, maintain the local identities of our practice sites and continue to offer patients access to their preferred doctor as much as possible.
Granta is grateful to all patients who provide feedback on its service and offer suggestions for improvements, and particularly to the members of the Patient Participation Group, who act as critical friends. For us, Granta is more than a business, it is a community asset. Both patients and staff can be proud of the outstanding rating. This gives us the reassurance and motivation to continue the journey to making Granta one of the best GP practices in the country.
Dave Arnold & Anne Thompson
Co-chairs of the Granta Medical Practices Patient Participation Group
Stefan Scholtes
Independent Patient-Chair of Granta Medical Practices Board
Appointment Availability & Continuity of Care
We understand that continuity of care and appointment accessibility are of paramount importance to our patients and we are continuously looking at how we can improve our offering across all 5 sites, as demand increases.
Appointment and continuity problems are not unique to Granta, nor are they due to the mergers we have undertaken. These are National problems - many surgeries in our area have stopped offering routine appointments altogether, instead opting for doctors to triage every single patient before they are offered an appointment. This is not the route we wish to take.
Patients with urgent problems will always be seen on the day in our Rapid Access clinics. Barley and Market Hill sites can appear to offer more routine appointments as due to their limited capacity, appointments are released daily, rather than 6-weekly at Sawston, Linton and Shelford.
We are constantly reviewing our appointments system to get the best balance between urgent-on-the-day and routine appointments across all sites, and are about to start a project with our PPG around continuity of care and what this means to our patients. If you would like to join our PPG (Patient Participation Group) please email ppg.grantamedicalpractices@nhs.net
Our 5 sites additionally offer telephone appointments and we also run early morning and late evening clinics at various sites (please check our website for details).
All of our patients are welcome to go to any of the five Granta sites.
Thank you to our patients who have taken the time to give us feedback. All comments are taken very seriously and contribute to how we shape and improve our services in the future.
Sandra East, Granta Communications
T. 0300 234 5555, @ sandra.east@nhs.net
August 2019 update
Flu vaccination clinics 2019
Granta Medical Practices have the pleasure in announcing their 2019 flu clinics, as follows:-
Saturday 5thOctober (morning)
Linton Health Centre (CB21 4JS)
Barley Surgery (SG8 8HY)
Saturday 12thOctober (morning)
Sawston Health Centre (CB22 3HU)
Shelford Medical Practice (CB22 5FY)
Saturday 19thOctober (morning)
Linton Health Centre (CB21 4JS)
Sawston Health Centre (CB22 3HU)
Saturday 26thOctober (morning)
Shelford Medical Practice (CB22 5FY)
Barley Surgery (SG8 8HY)
In addition, this year we will also be offering weekday clinics at all of our surgeries – please speak to our reception team for more details.
Granta patients can go to any of our surgeries to have their vaccination.
Private flu vaccinations
If you would like a flu vaccination but are not eligible for the free vaccination we also offer a private service via Granta Pharmacy for Granta patients. This is by far the easiest way of getting your private vaccination as we already have your medical records and there are no forms to fill in. Simply ring and book an appointment at any Granta surgery and pay on the day (£12.99).
If you have any queries, or if you are unsure if you are eligible for a free vaccination, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our reception team.
Sandra East
Granta Communications
0300 234 5555, sandra.east@nhs.net
July 2019 update
June 2019 update
May 2019 update
April 2019 update
March 2019 update
February 2019 update
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
The Benefits of Merging GP practices
Following on from Dr Wright’s article last month about why GP practices are merging, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the benefits that are starting to come through for our practice members (patients).
You may not have seen any benefits yet, in fact you may have only seen difficulties – particularly in obtaining routine appointments, which is perceived as being secondary to the merges. In fact, appointment waiting times is a national problem. Indeed, two surgeries in Cambridgeshire have stopped offering routine appointments to their patients altogether as their waiting times are longer than 6 weeks. We know there is a problem, and we are continually looking for solutions.
In the meantime, some of the benefits we can already offer Granta practice members include:-
1. Unlimited on-the-day access for all members. It may not be at your preferred site but if you need to be seen we will see you. Granta currently deals with approximately 19,000 practice members per month, compared to Addenbrookes Accident & Emergency department, who deal with roughly 12,000 per month.
2. Improved opening hours and access to appointments. Various Granta sites offer appointments from 8am to 8pm Monday to Thursday, 6.30am to 7pm Fridays and every Saturday morning.
3. Access to your medical records at any one of 5 sites, by any clinician you are booked in to see.
4. Access to a physiotherapy service that is offered on the day and on site for new problems. We are one of only 40 surgeries in the country offering this service.
5. The use of Emergency Care Practitioners (very advanced paramedics) for visits. This allows practice members to be seen quickly and if required, admission arranged, increasing chances of discharge on the same day, rather than waiting for the historical GP visit at lunch time, which almost guaranteed admission. The ECP’s have unlimited access to the duty medical team if required for advice and due to availability actually can give increased continuity.
6. Diagnostic imaging - ulltrasound scans are done on site at Granta Sawston.
7. Ear microsuction clinics are run on site at Granta Sawston.
8. Increased internal specialist input. By increasing our size we have increased our internal expertise. It is now possible to internally refer patients to another clinical member of staff who specialises in that area. They in turn may be able to see you in a much more timely manner, with your complete medical notes, and may reduce the possibility of having to attend a hospital appointment.
9. Access to a Social Navigator. This is a member of the Granta team who specifically looks at support from the community and ways of managing isolation and engaging patients from a holistic point of view.
10. Involvement in group consultations - a national initiative, which looks at providing information in groups to increase access and exposure and help people take ownership of their illness.
11. Fewer recruitment problems. We are in a relatively unique position of not having a recruitment crisis. In fact we have a number of clinicians approaching us asking if they can work for us because of what we are doing and ideas for the future.
12. An active Patient Participation Group (PPG). We are starting to really develop this and work together for the best of the practice.
These are but a few. We of course acknowledge there is a long way to go but with the merges we have given ourselves every opportunity possible to succeed and be able to provide continuing outstanding care to our practice members long into the future.
Sandra East
Communications Manager, Granta Medical Practicess
Why are GP Practices merging?
In April 2016 NHS England published the General Practice Forward View. In the introduction Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England states:
“There is arguably no more important job in modern Britain than that of the family doctor. GP’s are by far the largest branch of British medicine. A growing and ageing population, with complex multiple health conditions, means that personal and population-orientated primary care is central to any country’s health system. As a recent British Medical Journal headline put it – “if general practice fails, the whole NHS fails”.”
Unfortunately the NHS and in particular General Practice is under increasing pressure. There is currently a divergence in that there is an aging / elderly population with increasingly complex health needs requiring more time and continuity in a system with decreasing resources, social care and community support. General Practice is being asked to provide better access with improved opening times whilst having a recruitment and retention crisis.
Surgeries are collapsing and the unthinkable is happening, surgeries are closing as they are no longer sustainable.
There are therefore 2 options:
1) Continue the status quo. Comfort is taken from a system that is understood. However, in doing this we must acknowledge that there is a significant risk that Primary Care will not continue in its current guise.
2) Innovate and look at system wide change. This is difficult but provides a service that looks after the patient as a whole and is not fragmented and disjointed by the need to use different providers in the community.
With the mergers of Sawston, Linton, Barley and Shelford, Granta Medical Practices are addressing this struggle with a view to becoming a Primary Care Home. This provides stability as a practice, increased internal skills, and an increased ability to adapt to change. This then becomes more attractive to the multi-disciplinary teams as a place to work, removing the recruitment crisis. It will bring together a range of health and social care professionals to work together to provide enhanced personalised and preventative care for their local community. Focusing on local population needs, the aim is to provide care closer to patient’s homes, before hospital admission may become necessary.
With an increased size and thus sustainability come different working patterns. This provides increased access but then impacts on perceived continuity. You cannot have one with the other. However, behind the scenes increasing systems are put in place whereby GP’s are constantly communicating with each other about patient concerns, progress, improvement or deterioration and patient care plans and notes are routinely reviewed. There is still a single named GP for every patient who has overarching knowledge and understanding of their patients but they may lead a team that provides ongoing care, rather than run the team.
It is a fine line between offering unlimited on the day access and regular routine appointments and we must acknowledge that at times the balance can go either way, but it is with an understanding and open mind that we move things forward, learning from what we have achieved in the past to improve and redesign for the better in the future. We are in a time of significant change and all of the staff at Granta are looking to provide outstanding care for their patients. However, we can only do this with the support of our patients. We must adapt to patient’s needs, always be open to suggestions, but maintain our desire to move the practice forward to what we believe it can become.
On Behalf of Granta Medical Practices
Dr Tim Wright
Chief Operations Officer
Friday 21st December | OPEN 8am-6pm |
Saturday 22nd December | Closed |
Sunday 23rd December | Closed |
Monday 24th December | OPEN 8am-6pm |
Tuesday 25th December | Closed |
Wednesday 26th December | Closed |
Thursday 27th December | OPEN 8am-6pm |
Friday 28th December | OPEN 8am-6pm |
Saturday 29th December | Closed |
Sunday 30th December | Closed |
Monday 31st December | OPEN 8am-6pm |
Tuesday 1st January 2019 | Closed |
Wednesday 2nd January | OPEN 8am-6pm |
Please go to www.grantamedicalpractices.co.uk for opening times for our pharmacies, dispensaries and for details about our extended hours.
Alternative Services
When your local surgery is closed, there are GP’s on call at the Urgent Care Centre based at Addenbrookes. If you need to be seen by a doctor or nurse, or need advice while your surgery is closed, please call 111. This service operates between 6pm 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.
Home Help
You can treat many 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), cough and sore throat remedies, a first aid kit, upset stomach treatment, rehydration treatment, and heartburn / indigestion treatment. Having these winter essentials at hand will not only save you time and help you to feel better quicker, but help save the NHS much needed resources.
Your local pharmacist can also offer you advice and guidance on the best treatment for you – and no appointment is needed. Pharmacists are available on every high street and in supermarkets with many open evenings and weekends.
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 2 CLEAR working days from making your request to collecting the prescriptions.
Sandra East
Granta Communications Officer
Yellow "sharps" bins disposal
Shelford Medical Practice has changed its website following the merger with the Granta Medical Practice earlier this year.
The website is now shared with Granta.
Existing passwords will still work on the new site.
Here is a link to their new website.
Here is a statement about the changes.
Since the merge on 1st July 2018 we have been trying to get our website redirected to the Granta Medical Practices website. Unfortunately, on Friday 26 October 2018 our hosting company made the decision to take down the Shelford website without informing us first. Now, when our patients go to the Shelford website they see a standard default message, which apparently cannot be amended.
We are currently working to resolve this problem, with a view to setting up an appropriate redirection of Shelford Medical Practice’s website to the Granta Medical Practices website.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this sudden closure may have caused our patients. Please be assured that we are aware of this problem and are working towards a prompt satisfactory solution.
Sandra East
Communications Officer
Granta Medical Practices
Adult Flu Clinics
The 2018 flu clinic dates are as follows:-
|
Date
|
Surgery
|
Vaccine Type |
Time |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday 29th September |
Linton Health Centre T. 01223 892555
|
18-64yrs only* |
0800:1300 |
|
Saturday 29th September |
Shelford Health Centre T. 01223 843661
|
18-64yrs only* |
0730-1300 |
|
Saturday 6th October |
Sawston Health Centre T. 01223 727555
|
18-64yrs* Over 65yrs |
0730-1330 |
|
Saturday 6th October |
Barley Health Centre T. 01763 848244 |
18-64yrs* Over 65yrs
|
0800-1400 |
|
Saturday 27th October |
Linton Health Centre T. 01223 892555 |
18-64yrs* Over 65yrs
|
0800-1300 |
|
Saturday 27th October |
Shelford Health Centre T. 01223 843661
|
18-64yrs* Over 65yrs
|
0730-1300 |
|
Saturday 3rd November |
Sawston Health Centre T. 01223 727555
|
18-64yrs* Over 65yrs |
0730-1330 |
|
Saturday 3rd November |
Barley Health Centre T. 01763 848244
|
18-64yrs* Over 65yrs |
0800-1400 |
Childrens Flu Clinics
These will be announced once the Department of Health have confirmed their delivery schedules.
Patients eligible for flu vaccinations are:-
· All healthy children aged 2 to 4 years of age as of 1st September 2018. Please note that children aged 5 to 9 years (but not 10 years or older on 31st August 2018) should be vaccinated in school. Please speak to your local practice nurse if you have any queries about this.
· Clinically eligible patients, aged 6 months to 17 years of age and 18 to 64 years of age*
· Pregnant women
· Those aged 65 years and over
· Those in long-stay residential care homes
· Carers
If you are a patient registered with Granta Medical Practices you have the flexibility of choosing where you would like to go for your vaccination. When you ring to book your appointment, please state your age so that you can be booked into the appropriate clinic.
Did you know … having your flu jab at your doctors’ surgery is the quickest and most convenient way as there are no forms to fill out – the doctors and nurses have your medical history at their finger-tips.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our surgeries.
Sandra East, Granta Communications
Tel: 01223 843661, sandra.east@nhs.net
Shelford Medical Practice opening hours
Shelford Medical Practice’s computer system is scheduled to be merged with Granta Medical Practices computer system on Tuesday 4thSeptember 2018. Once merged, Shelford patients will be able to take full advantage of all the benefits that Granta patients are offered, including a wider choice of appointments, a choice of venues, and access to various community-based services.
We hope to keep disruption to our Shelford patients to a minimum, and opening times will be as follows:-
|
Monday 3rd September |
8am to 6pm |
Practice open as usual |
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday 4th September |
8am to 1pm 1pm to 6pm |
Practice open as usual No appointments available |
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday 5th September |
8am to 12 noon 12 noon to 6pm |
No appointments available Practice open for emergency appointments |
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday 6th September |
8am to 6pm |
Practice open as usual |
There are currently no routine pre-bookable appointments for Shelford doctors or nurses after the 5thSeptember. However, as from Thursday 6thSeptember onwards there will be lots of new appointments available so please call then to arrange your future routine appointments.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sandra East
Granta Communications
Tel: Shelford - 01223 843661 / Sawston - 01223 727555
Newsletter August 2018
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
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 Health Centre 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