litchdon news—2020 litchdon medical centre€¦ · sam ismael has 28 years experience working in...

Surgery Newsletter

Litchdon Medical Centre

Litchdon News—2020

We’re on the Web! www.litchdonmedicalcentre.co.uk

Goodbyes Goodbye and thank you to Dr Brian Malcolm who has handed over the internal skin clinics to Dr Hazel Warner. Dr Malcolm was with the surgery for over 25 years. We wish him all the best and hope he’ll keep in touch! Julia Clarke, one of our Same Day Team Nurses, left us at the beginning of January. We wish her luck in her new role and thank her for her continued hard work at Litchdon. Finally Jayne Fewings, who worked with Litchdon for over 10 years as one of our Nurse Specialists in diabetes, has retired. She will be greatly missed by all here at Litchdon and we wish her the very best in her retirement.

Welcome Lorraine Morris and Laura Williams our new Same Day Team Nurses.

Congratulations

Big congratulations to Alan Bond who passed his BSc (Hons) Professional Development in Health and Social Care.

A huge well done to Dr Simon Jones who has gained his Public Health Masters.

About us The practice provides care to approximately 15,600 patients living in North Devon. A total of 22% of the practice population are aged above 65years.This is higher than the national average of 17%.The practice currently supports these patients through management of frailty, falls reduction and reducing unplanned admissions. Less than 2.5% of the practice population have an ethnic minority background. There is a team of 11 GP partners ,one salaried and two GP retainers, six male and eight female. The team are supported by a practice manager, 10 practice nurses and three health care assistants/phlebotomists (staff who take blood). The clinical team are supported by additional healthcare administrators, secretarial and administration staff. The practice is open between 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Appointments are available between 8.30am and 6.00pm.Extended hours appointments are offered Monday morning from 8am and Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 8pm.The practice also participates in hosting additional appointments as part of the North Devon Improved Access rota. Litchdon provides a dispensary service for patients who live more than 1.5 miles from the nearest pharmacy.


BARNSTAPLE ALLIANCE PRIMARY CARE NETWORK

Barnstaple Alliance became a Primary Care Network on 1st July 2019.

What are primary care networks? Primary care networks form a key building block of the NHS long-term plan. Bringing general practices to-gether to work at scale has been a policy priority for some years for a range of reasons, including improv-ing the ability of practices to recruit and retain staff; to manage financial and estates pressures; to provide a wider range of services to patients and to more easily integrate with the wider health and care system, voluntary sector and other organisations.

While GP practices have been finding different ways of working together over many years - for example in super-partnerships, federations, clusters and networks - the NHS long-term plan and the new GP contract, which took effect in April 2019, put a more formal structure around this way of working, but without cre-ating new statutory bodies.

All GP practices are expected to come together in geographical networks covering populations of approxi-mately 30-50,000 patients by July 2019 if they are to take advantage of additional funding attached to the GP contract.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/redesign/primary-care-networks/

What does this mean for Barnstaple? The four practices that make up Barnstaple Alliance (Litchdon, Brannam, Queens and Fremington) will still be independent practices but will work closer together to provide care for our 48,000 patients.

We have appointed Dr Oliver Hassall and Dr Sophia Erdozain as joint Clinical Directors for the Primary Care Network. Their role is to provide clinical leadership and support our collaborative working across all 4 prac-tices.

We have employed some new additional staff to work across the 4 practices. We welcome the following people to our alliance - * Social Prescriber - Sam Ismael * Clinical Pharmacist - Sarah Barrett * First Contact Physiotherapist - Charlie Wilkins

They all work across all 4 practices on different days throughout the week. You can find out more about them and their roles from your practice.



https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/gpfv/redesign/primary-care-networks/


Current Projects Proactive care home and housebound service.

We are piloting a new service to help care for our patients in care homes and the housebound. This is a six month project that started in January. We have some additional dedicated GP, Nurse and Clinical Pharma-cist time and they are systematically visiting all of the care homes where our patients live plus some of our housebound patients to carry out some health checks and medication reviews.

GP visiting service.

The second pilot we have started in February for six months is some additional dedicated GP time every morning Mon-Fri to start visiting our patients who are too unwell to attend our practices. The aim is to visit some patients between 9-1 and if anyone needs admission to hospital or referral to another service we can organise that promptly in the morning rather than later in the day.

Both of the above new services are provided in a joint way across all 4 practices in the Barnstaple Alliance.





FRIENDS & FAMILY SURVEY

We are taking part in the National Friends

and Family Test where you can give

us feedback anytime and as often as you

like about the surgery. You can do

this by answering two simple questions,

either by completing a form in surgery,

online on our website or by responding to our text message.

Your feedback is

anonymous and will help us to understand

how you feel about the surgery and where we can

improve services.


FREE WI-FI

Free Wi-Fi is now available for all

patients in our waiting areas.

Log on to NHS Wi-Fi in your phone settings.

QUIT SMOKING

Thinking about quitting smoking for good? Why not pop along and give your details to the staff on the helpdesk. We will then get one of our Healthcare Assistants to contact you about making an appointment to come and see them for all of the help and support to get you on your way to a smoke free 2020.

SOCIAL PRESCRIBING

Sam Ismael—Working on behalf of the Barnstaple Alliance Primary Care Network

Sam Ismael has 28 years experience working in the Public Sector and has worked closely with a wide range of patients, local community groups and organisations. Her last role was working within Secondary Adult Mental Health Services. She has also had experience working with young people, those suffering with addiction and people with learning disabilities. Sam will be splitting her time across the four practices that make up the Primary Care Network (Litchdon, Queens, Brannams and Fremington). Social prescribing can help strengthen a patient’s personal resilience, maximise independence, reduce health and wellbeing inequalities by addressing wider issues of health such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity. The aim is to increase patients’ active involvement with their local communities, group support etc. which promotes a positive attitude and meaning to their lives. Patients with long term conditions (including support for those with mental health difficulties), and people who have complex social needs and those who feel isolated, lonely or vulnerable will benefit hugely. The new social prescribing service is now live. If you think this may be useful to you please let your GP or Nurse know and they can refer you to Sam.




On the 5th of November 2019 an announced focused inspection was carried out at Litchdon Medical Centre. The inspection team was led by a lead CQC Inspector and a GP Specialist Advisor. We are delighted to announce that we achieved a rating of outstanding.




RAFT—Refugee Aid From Taunton Refugee Aid from Taunton have been running since 2015. It takes unwanted donations such as clothes and shoes from supporters in Devon, Somerset and Dorset. They then distribute them to refugees displaced by current on-going conflicts such as in Syria. We have started a collection here for this great charity and would appreciate any donations made. Please see below a ‘list of items in need’ and kindly hand any donations in to the helpdesk. Thank you. Dried or tinned food Baby clothes Baby bath and lotions Baby toothpaste and toothbrushes Baby wipes Cotton wool Nappies Nappy cream

Blankets First aid kits Hand sanitisers Packs of tissues Razors Sanitary towels Shower gel Toothpaste Toothbrushes Wet wipes

Clothing and survival gear -Men’s (special need for small mens) -Women’s -Children’s Boots, shoes and trainers ALL WASHED AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITION

Let us know Are you an unpaid carer? If so please let us know so that we can record it on your records as there are sometimes offers we can make to carers for things like flu vaccines and health checks. Are you a military veteran? If so please let us know as we are joining the veteran friendly practice scheme and would like to know how many of our patients are military veterans.

eConsult

You can now receive help, advice and treatment for your health problems at a convenient time for

you and your lifestyle.

Patients can access safe and efficient advice for lots of health conditions and symptoms on our eConsult website 24/7.

If you need further advice or think you may require treatment you can now consult with your GP online! All you need to do is fill out a simple form about your problem and a GP will get back to you within 3 working days.

You can also request further sick certificates (sick notes), discuss recent tests or get help for other ad-ministrative issues at a time that is convenient for you.

Your GP will email you back within 3 working days unless a different method of contact is more appro-priate. Please ensure we have a verified email address saved on your record so your GP is able to get back to you.

Your completed form will be sent to your registered GP unless they are unavailable. If your registered GP is absent your form will be forwarded to an available GP who will get back to you within 3 working days.

You are unable to book appointments or order repeat medications via eConsult, however you are able to do this online by registering with Systm Online.




What’s news?

Your Summary Cared Record (SCR)

Your SCR is a copy of key information held in your GP record, it contains information on medicines you are taking, any allergies you have or any bad reactions to medicines you have had in the past. They can be seen and used by authorised staff in other areas of the health and care system involved in the pa-tient's direct care. You can also have additional information (such as any health conditions, health care preferences & personal preferences) added to your SCR. To find out more, visit www.digital.nhs.uk/scr or contact the practice.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.digital.nhs.uk%2Fscr%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3_AhYPlcN9WVUMILYO_4fFN9qYxZGmmNFLwddQRTPlFkWygcDHOjiGbHc&h=AT0nvxqT6Pu7lmvIvfE7PtYkW9ZErdMID9oxPVH220sJH0vpbqBGYvqIm5HQ6ePeWKDhrRGx9BpNTIJZHApjBglhLM46m8eGqeTa1EgbfSGHkFXAfj4


NHS 111

111

North Devon District Hospital

01271 322577

Devon County Social Services:

Adults

01271 323210

Children

01271 388600

Mental Health

01271 388600

Alzheimer’s Society

01271 328234

Barnstaple Dementia Action Alliance

07516 879418

Go North Devon

01271 328866

Barnstaple Health Centre

01271 371761

Genito—Urinary Clinic (VD/HIV)

01271 322577

Samaritans

0345 909090

Age Concern

01271 324488

Quay Centre Drug Problems

01271 344454

Alcohol Problems

01271 325232

Cruse—Bereavement Help

01271 379719

Patient Advice & Liaison Service

01271 314090

Litchdon House (Dermatology)

01271 312850

Police non emergency

101

See Hear Centre

01271 373236

NDVS (N.Devon Voluntary Services)

01271 374274

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

HOW YOU CAN HELP US HELP YOU

· If you are unable to attend your appointment please let us know

in advance so we are able to offer this time to another patient.

· If you think you will be late for an appointment please do phone

us as soon as possible.

· If you feel you have a number of things to discuss with the Dr

speak to reception to see if a double appointment may be available

(regular appointments are 10 minutes).

· Please notify us as soon as possible if you change your title, name,

address or telephone number so that we can update our records.

NEED HELP WITH TRANSPORT?

North Devon Voluntary Services: Devon Access to Services Project. (DASP) can help you find transport services if you are unable to drive and if public transport is inaccessible to you. Information can be found on this website http://www.northerndevon-services.co.uk/transport.html BUT IF YOU DON’T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS YOU CAN TELEPHONE North Devon Ring & Ride - Go North Devon Albert Lane, Barnstaple EX3 8RL 01271 328866 Or CarShare Devon Office Open Monday - Friday 9.30am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-4.00pm. 01271 324488

http://www.northerndevon-services.co.uk/transport.html

Surgery News / Updates


Opening Times

Monday to Friday: Doors open: 08.15am to 6.00pm We are currently offering a number of evening appointments with a doctor or nurse on a Wednesday and Thursday evening. Please contact our Helpdesk Receptionist for further

details.

Repeat Prescriptions

Please allow a minimum of 3 working days (72 hours) for your prescription to be processed. To avoid error and the risk of mistakes, we do not accept repeat prescription requests over the telephone.

Out of Hours Service

For urgent medical attention (when the surgery is closed) please telephone the surgery number on

01271 323443. Your call will automatically be re directed to NHS 111, or you can call 111 directly this is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

New Patients

We welcome new patients joining the Practice. When you register, you will be asked to complete a

registration form and a health questionnaire. Our doctors will look forward to meeting you.

SURGERY ONLINE ACCESS

Did you know on-line access is available for booking appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions & looking at your

medication history, allergies and blood results.

To register for online access all you need to do is come in to the surgery with a form of photographic ID and speak to re-

ception who can print you off a username & password along with some instructions on how to use the online access ser-

vice.

Please note this service is only available to persons aged over 16 years.

Please provide us with your email address as another form of contact for the surgery.

PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP (PPG)

The patient participation group is one of 100’s of PPGs across the country which work independently but

collaboratively with the surgery to improve services to patients.

Here at Litchdon we welcomed our new PPG Chair, Sue Matthews, who was elected in July 2017.

If you wish to attend future meetings, or for further information, please get in touch via the details as shown below.

We are interested in hearing about your experiences of the surgery & welcome your ideas on how things may be done

better or what you think we may be doing wrong. Of course, compliments are always welcome!

Contacting us:

By e-mail to

[email protected] By website:

litchdonpatientsgroup.co.uk

Or leave a message (in a sealed envelope) at reception in the surgery addressed to Litchdon

Patients Group.

mailto:[email protected]

litchdon news—2020 litchdon medical centre€¦ · sam ismael has 28 years experience working in...

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