A View from the Chair – Yvonne Metcalf

Welcome to the FPS July Newsletter. We’ve been in a heatwave for what seems like weeks now and the warm weather and the World Cup have been described as a ‘summer onslaught’ in the NHS, accounting for record attendances in A&E. NHS news this month indicates that satisfaction with GP services is bouncing back too, which means that there is an inevitable increase in demand for GP services.

FPS committee members have held two Tuesday afternoon surgery visits since our last newsletter. These have given us the opportunity talk with patients about their experience of the surgery and, with minor exceptions, feedback has generally been more positive than when we started these sessions a few months ago.

We have continued with our monthly committee meetings. There have been staff changes in the surgery, with a new Interim Practice Manager, Syed Ali, having joined recently, and several new faces in reception. Lloanne, our secretary, and I met with Syed prior to our July committee meeting to introduce ourselves and the work of FPS in liaising with the surgery. I have had the misfortune of having to visit the surgery more often than I might wish over the last six weeks and on one visit, I noted with interest that most patients were called to see a clinician other than a GP, highlighting the difference in how our health care is provided in the ever changing NHS.

A new development is that from this month FPS is able to send out our Newsletter to patients via email. This is, of course, dependent on the surgery having your email address so please ensure your information is up to date . You can do this by pressing the ‘Update your Details’ tab on the surgery website.

As usual, the minutes of our monthly meetings are on our website. Do have a look and see what we’ve been doing in more detail. Our next visit to the surgery is in the afternoon of 4th August. We’d love the opportunity to be able to talk with you, whether or not you have an appointment that day. Perhaps we’ll see you then?

Feedback from the Surgery

As your committee, we regularly put forward your queries, concerns and feedback to the surgery management.

Providing feedback to the surgery

Patients have queried how to provide feedback – both positive and less so – to the surgery. The surgery has made this more accessible on their website, on the ‘Contact the Practice’ page. Positive feedback can be given by emailing the surgery directly or writing a Google review. The complaints procedure is detailed on the ‘Complaints and Feedback’ page.

Giving the surgery your email address

The surgery would be grateful if you were able to give them your email address to enable cheaper communications. Text messages have text limits and significant costs, whilst emails are more flexible and cost effective. If you’re able to give the surgery this information, you can do so via the online form, selecting ‘I have an admin or routine care request’.

What’s been happening with FPS?

Come and see us on 4th August

Members of the FPS committee will be available to talk to at the surgery on Tuesday 4th August between 2.00 and 4.00pm. Let us know what’s working and what isn’t, and what you’d like to see FPS doing more.

Check out the minutes of our meetings
The minutes from FPS’ monthly meetings, including our most recent July meeting, are available here.

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

Staying healthy in a heat wave

As much as we complain about the winter, we are seemingly always unprepared for the summer!

The heat can prove challenging, especially for more vulnerable people, such as the very young, the elderly and those with certain health conditions. In addition, people who take medication such as SSRIs can be more susceptible to the heat.

So what can we do to beat the heat?

Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm.

Use high-factor sunscreen if you are outside, and keep this regularly topped up throughout the day. Use other protective measures, such as clothing, a hat or staying the shade, alongside the sunscreen.

Stay hydrated, by drinking cool drinks. Tea and coffee can make you more dehydrated.

Keep windows, blinds and curtains closed during the day, until the temperature outside has dropped.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, so you can spot it in yourself and others.

Tech and Tea – help with using technology

If you’d like some support with using technology to access things like the NHS App, email or online shopping, Community Action Dacorum runs a free monthly drop-in service. Between 10.30am and 12 noon, you can get help using your tablet, phone or laptop. Simply bring it along to The Centre in the Park, Half Moon Yard, High Street, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3AE.

For more information, contact 01442 253935 or email DeborahT@communityactiondacorum.org.uk