Welcome to the late summer edition of our newsletter. Writing this in the fourth heatwave of the summer, I hope you are keeping yourselves safe in the heat.
It has been interesting to note some changes in the delivery of services in the surgery. I am very aware that there are still issues with accessing appointments but there have been changes in being able to book appointments like diabetic checks and annual health checks through AccurRx with reminders coming by text. We would be interested to hear fellow patients’ experience, but remember we are not able to deal with individual complaints.
I, along with two of our committee members, attended a meeting about the proposed Hemel Health Campus, which, to quote our MP David Taylor, ‘aims to provide a space for the delivery of NHS services within a more modern, fit for purpose premises at the heart of Hemel Hempstead’.
There were numerous questions about current services, hospital provision throughout West Herts, and what this new provision will look like, all within the backdrop of the planned housing expansion in the area which will undoubtedly impact on all services within the community. I was left wondering if this was a consultation with local people, or if the way forward is now set. I also wondered if my maternal relatives, who always saw themselves as ‘Old Hemel’ people, felt the same disquiet in the 1950s with the proposals for the New Town as it is likely that the next few years will change the face of our town in the same way as then .
One positive from the meeting was making contact with the Chair of another PPG in the area. We have met and are looking to meet with another surgery PPG to think about sharing our experiences in supporting patients and whether there are events we could usefully share.
As a committee, we are very aware that this is a time of change in health provision. We continue to strengthen our links with the surgery to the benefit of all patients. Do read the minutes of our meetings as they are a record of the discussions we have with the surgery.
‘Flu clinics
The surgery is currently in the process of organising the annual ‘flu clinics to ensure as many of its eligible patients are protected during the winter. For every jab the surgery gives, they receive additional funding from the NHS, which will go into improving services for everybody. Information will follow from the surgery soon, so if you are able to use the surgery for your ‘flu vaccine this year, please do.
Communications from the surgery
With the subject of funding in mind, the surgery would really benefit from being able to communicate with as many patients as possible by email rather than by text. Bulk text messaging comes with a significant cost to the surgery. If you are able to provide the surgery with your email address, please do; you can give them this information via the AccuRx admin form.
Check out the minutes of our meetings
The minutes from FPS’ monthly meetings, including our most recent July meeting, are available here. We hope this will improve the transparency for patients so you can see your concerns and queries are being raised.
HWEDSG webinars
Knit and Natter Group
The Knit and Natter group continues to meet on Tuesdays from 2-4pm, but temporarily at William Crook House, whilst the Community Hall on Great Sturgess Road is closed. If you’d like to come along to it, or know someone who would like a chat and some company, please contact Val on 01442 255449. Entrance to William Crook House is controlled, so calling Val is essential if you want to join.
Want to stay up to date?
One easy way to keep up to date with FPS’ events is to follow us on our Facebook page. Every time we update the website, we’ll post a link there!
Unsubscribe from FPS communications
If you wish to unsubscribe from receiving communications about FPS, you will need to contact the surgery to ask for this note to be placed on your file. FPS does not hold any data on patients other than that provided directly by them, such as emails sent to the FPS mailbox
Making medicines work for you
More isn’t always better with older people’s medicines. More than 1 in 10 people aged over 65 take at least eight different
prescribed medications each week. If you take lots of medicines, it’s important to check they are working for you.
Medicines can be vital to help manage health conditions and live well for longer; and you should not be concerned about taking large numbers of medicines if appropriately prescribed and correctly managed.
When you need to take medication, your GP, a pharmacist or other healthcare professionals involved in your care will work with you to make sure that you get the right choice of medicine at the right time. This includes understanding the benefits, risks, alternatives and considering the option of doing nothing.
Knowing how and when to take our medicines can be complicated. To get the most benefit from your medication, you should take it in exactly the way that it says on the medicine label. If you stop taking your medication – or if you stop taking it in the way it states on the label – please make an appointment with your GP Practice to talk about this. You can then make a shared decision about your medication.
If you’re not sure what all your medicines are for, it’s important to talk to your GP practice, pharmacist or another healthcare professional to find out.
It’s OK to ask if you have questions or worries about any of the medicines you’ve been prescribed. Your GP practice might invite you to discuss your medicines, and this is a great opportunity to raise any concerns you might have.
The NHS pays for every medicine it dispenses and each year spends around £300 million on medicines that are unused. Every pound wasted could have been used to treat someone else.
Please remember to:
Getting ready for school
Families across the country will soon be sending their 4-year-olds to school. There is a lot to get ready, from uniforms to organising wraparound care.
If you’d like some advice for how to prepare your child for school, try Health For Under 5s, which includes key skills to try to master before the big day.
If you’ve got specific questions about the health of your 0-5-year-old, Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-5 years called ChatHealth. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a health visitor within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the service reopens. Text 07480 635164.
All children in Key Stage 1 (Reception, Year 1 and 2) can get a free lunch at school. If you receive certain benefits and you register, the school can receive additional funding to support the students by hiring extra staff, buying equipment or paying for trips. Beyond Year 2, your child may also qualify for continued free school lunches. Check the Hertfordshire County Council website to see if you are eligible and to register.