September has brought summer to a wet and rainy end and we’ve been meeting with the practice about the flu campaign for this year. The major news is the appointment of a new Practice and Business Manager, Tushar Shah, who has joined the practice from a London surgery. His title highlights the complexity of running a GP practice in the ever-changing world of the NHS. We have been able to meet with him twice in the last few weeks and hope this is the beginning of a sound and collaborative relationship which will benefit us all as patients.
Some of you will have already had your invitation for your flu vaccine. We were pleased to see that the surgery has developed a formal action plan this year so that hopefully some of the misunderstandings and queues that occurred in the last couple of years can be avoided. They were interested to hear our comments and we came away with a better understanding of how the system works, for example: estimating the amount of vaccine needed for each day; which practitioners are able to administer the vaccines and to whom; and the eligibility criteria for both the flu and Covid vaccines.
I was able to attend a presentation at another patient group by the Integrated Care Board about the NHS app. Although I have used it personally, it was interesting to hear why the NHS is advocating the use of the NHS app rather than Patient Access as this aligns with our Health Secretary, Wes Streeting’s, agenda for creating a single health record. I had not understood that Patient Access is ‘ local’ and so for instance would not be able to be used if a patient moved to another county. Highlighted at the presentation were significant time and cost savings using the app. In FPS, we very much appreciate that the use of technology is difficult for some of us and we hope to work with the surgery in the future to consider what support we could offer.
Members of the committee will be present on the Saturday flu clinics and some of the daytime clinics. Do come and talk to us – it is a chance to hear directly from fellow patients about what is important in the delivery of health care. Remember, we are your representatives.
As your committee, we regularly put forward your queries, concerns and feedback to the surgery management.
‘Flu clinics
The surgery is in the process of sending out invites for the annual ‘flu clinics. If you’re eligible for the ‘flu and/or Covid vaccines this year, you can expect to receive a text with a link to book an appointment for one of the Saturday or weekday clinics. 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.
If you’re coming to a Saturday clinic and are able to walk to the surgery, please consider doing so; past experience tells us that the car park can get very busy!
Check out the minutes of our meetings
The minutes from FPS’ monthly meetings, including our most recent September 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 needs you! Our lovely group leader Val will soon be moving away, and so we need someone else to organise the sessions. If you’re able to knit or crochet – or you just really like a natter! – and are available on Tuesdays from 2pm-4pm, please get in touch with FPS and we can give you some more details.
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
Know the symptoms: heart attacks
Around 100,000 hospitalisations a year are a direct result of a heart attack – that’s one every 5 minutes! But would you know the symptoms?
You might think you’d definitely know if you were having a heart attack, but the symptoms can include:
Know what to look for and what to do – find out more here
It’s that time of year again, when all the viruses begin spreading in earnest. As you probably know, there is literally no cure for the common cold – but there are some things you can do to help yourself to feel better, such as:
getting plenty of rest
drinking lots of fluids, such as water, to avoid dehydration
eating healthy food (it’s common for small children to lose their appetite for a few days)
gargling salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children)
drinking a hot lemon and honey drink to soothe a sore throat
breathing in steam to ease a blocked nose – try sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running
If you want advice over cold and ‘flu medication, speak to your pharmacist. Remember, antibiotics won’t help a cold or the ‘flu – they are viruses which don’t respond to antibiotics.
And don’t forget to get your ‘flu and Covid vaccinations if you’re eligible!