Newsletter –

Patient Newsletter

December 2024

Dear all,

As you may be aware due to a cyber-attack at Arrowe Park Hospital, their systems remain down. This has resulted in the Laboratory systems and IT reporting systems also being shut down.

The hospital has put into place their emergency protocol and are only actioning urgent samples.

Unfortunately, this has impacted all the surgeries in the area, resulting in cancelled blood tests, no Xray ordering being completed. We had hoped this would have been resolved over the weekend, but the issue is on-going. The hospital is giving updates daily and aim to resolve the problem as quick as possible.

We can only apologies for the inconvenience this is causing to our patients. Due to the daily updates, it may be short notice for the cancellations.

Please follow our surgery Facebook page or Instagram page for the most up-to-date information.

 Prenton and Woodchurch Medical Centre | Facebook

https:/www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552316393552

or call the surgery should you have any questions.

Yours sincerely

Kelly Knight

Practice Manager

September 2024 updates

PCN ( Primary care network)

We have now changed PCN’s and our new Care Coordinators, Social Prescribers, Health Coaches and Physio are now ready to assist you in many ways.

  • We have a team of care coordinators who will be helping with new cancer diagnoses so patients get the right support and care best suited to them and their needs.
  • The social prescribers team can help in many ways from housing issues, care needs and sign posting to the correct support networks you need.
  • The Health Coaches are here to help get you back in the best shape for your health needs, they are looking and physical health and social health needs.
  • First contact Physio is held at WOODCHURCH Medical Centre every Tuesday: Max is here to see you and you will be asked to see him first for back pain joint pain muscular pain, this is because he can assess you, then arrange follow on appointments for MRI’s, Xrays, Injections and much more. This is quicker and more affective then seeing the doctor.
  • Our in house counselor is also based in Woodchurch and see’s patients on a Wednesday this is on a sessional bases and if the current appointments are full you will be added to the waiting list.
  • Ear irrigation clinics are now held at WOODCHURCH Medical Centre weekly. you must see the doctor or nurse for assessment then the referral will be made.
  • We have been lucky to have Liz rejoin the team at WOODCHURCH as our Advance nurse practitioner, Liz is a familiar face to the practice as she has worked here before.

Health updates

  • Summer is on its way, please thinking of safe sun & use suncream even on cloudy days. The smallest of burns can lead on to skin cancer. Should you have any worries about new moles or skin changes please book to see your GP.
  • Nhs health checks. If you are aged between 40-75 and not had your NHS health check in the last 5 years, please call the surgery to book in. Preventing health conditions can save you a lot of trouble in the future and this health check an pickup changes before they become a problem.
  • Breast screen & cervical screening are very important checks and can save a life.
  • Breast screening invites will be sent in the coming months to all patients eligible. Ladies between the age of 50 -70 done miss your appointment.
  • Cervical screening is for ladies between the ages of 25- 64 please contact the surgery to book your test it is a short appointment held by our friendly and competent nurses, who will talk you through the procedure and results process.
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening for men aged over 65.
  • Bowel cancer screening for both men and women aged 60-74 years every 2 years.

Mental health reviews, learning disability health checks, contraception reviews, chronic disease reviews are part of our daily routine if its been 12 months since your review please call the surgery to arrange.

Cholesterol and blood pressure can be silent killers done be their victim !!!!!!! simple checks can be carried out to prevent heart attacks and strokes which are linked to high cholesterol and hypertension ( high blood pressure ) call the surgery to request a check.

  • Blood pressure checks, please send in your home readings when requested via text messages or book to see the nurse for a routine blood pressure check.

HOW TO ACT ACCORDING TO YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS Remember:

 · Take your blood pressure twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, FOR the first seven days of each month.

 · Whenever your BP is taken, you should take it twice, waiting for 1-2 minutes in between.

 · Write down the lowest measure of both systolic blood pressure (TOP reading) measurements in your monthly notebook. · In the case of a strange value, or a possible error in a measurement, repeat it to get 2 valid measurements. Once you have entered your blood pressure values in your monthly notebook, act according to the following TABLE, unless your doctor has indicated otherwise.

VERY HIGH Your systolic blood pressure (TOP reading) is 180 or more or your diastolic blood pressure (BOTTOM reading) is 100 or more Your blood pressure is too high Contact your doctor or visit your health care centre.

 HIGH If your systolic blood pressure (TOP reading) or your diastolic blood pressure (BOTTOM reading) is above the target values marked by your doctor. Your blood pressure is raised If FOUR or more readings a week, once a month were high, proceed make an appointment with your doctor within 3 weeks.

NORMAL Your blood pressure values are in the range of your BP target. Your blood pressure is well controlled Continue with your usual medication and when you go to visit your doctor for any reason, show your doctor your blood pressure booklet measurements. Reading is below 140- 80.

LOW Your systolic blood pressure (TOP reading) is 100 or less. Your blood pressure is too low Contact your doctor or visit your health care centre

Chronic disease management

  • Make sure if you are diabetic, you have had your diabetic blood test and review in the last 12 months, please book your appointment now if you have not.
  • It is important we keep your diabetes under control to maintain a health life. You are due a diabetic foot check and eye test every 12 months; these are carried out to help prevent further complications due to diabetes. Please contact the surgery should you have any questions.
  • COPD and Asthma reviews are also carried out yearly, please book these if you have not had one in the last 12 months or should you feel they are not under control.

Local health news and breakouts.

Measles outbreak.

Please inform a member of staff immediately on arrival if you or your child have measles or are suffering from cold-like symptoms, such as: high temperature runny or blocked nose sneezing a cough red, sore, watery eyes A rash usually appears a few days after the cold-like symptoms. Please also tell us if you have been in contact with someone with measles in the last 21 days.

We are working to improve MMR uptake among children under the age of 11 years remains an important priority & 1 dose at 2 years old and 2 doses at 5 years old. This is the  NHS Long-Term Plan commitment and a high priority within NHS England.

Whooping cough outbreaks

Should you be pregnant, and 16 weeks plus please contact the surgery to arrange your vaccination.

  • Covid boosters are in progress, should you have received a text please contact the surgery or 119 to arrange this.
  • EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 65 SHOULD BE OFFERED A YEARLY FLU VACCINATION DON’T MISS YOURS THIS WINTER.
  • You may be eligible for a pneumonia vaccination if you are over the age of 65 and not had one yet.
  • The shingles vaccine is recommended for some older adults and people with a severely weakened immune system.

People who turn 65 on or after 1 September 2023

People aged 70 to 79

People aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system

  • Childhood vaccinations are carried out in both surgeries’ should your child be in need of an appointment please call the reception team to arrange this.

Routine childhood immunisations are at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, one years and pre school boosters

Helping us help you update

Our reception team are always here to help you and are trained in care navigation. This means you may be directed to a pharmacy, nurse, HCA or to another service instead of your doctor. This is so you get the correct treatment from the correct person first time.

Accessing Pharmacy First services

The following table shows the 7 conditions pharmacists can manage across various age ranges.

Clinical pathwayAge range
Acute otitis media*1 to 17 years
Impetigo1 year and over
Infected insect bites1 year and over
Shingles18 years and over
Sinusitis12 years and over
Sore throat5 years and over
Uncomplicated urinary tract infectionsWomen 16-64 years

Should you have one of the above conditions please contact the pharmacy instead of the doctor’s surgery.

Within our team we have

  • Doctors
  •  Nurses
  • HCA
  • Pharmacist. She can deal with any medication questions and carries out some health reviews.
  • Podiatrist for diabetic foot checks only (and referral needed for treatment.)
  • Physio (referral needed)
  • Social prescriber for welfare needs
  • Opioid reduction program (referral needed)
  • Women’s menopause clinic (referral needed)
  • Cancer care support worker (information can be given should you need this service)
  • Health coach (referral needed)

We do like to see patients face to face and try to offer emergency appointments with our on the day 8am and 2pm call service. Please be aware the reception team will use their care navigation training for each call.

We do have pre bookable appointments which can be made weeks in advance. These can be accessed by calling any time of the day to arrange.

Our telephone system may cut out when the lines are being overloaded with incoming calls. This may be frustrating should this happen; we do ask you to still respect our staff, and this is not a fault on their side, and they are not putting the phone down on any of our patients.  

We do offer 12 /13 appointments for each doctor session which is either AM or PM session. These appointments are the face to face. Our doctors then deal with paperwork from incoming clinic letters, referrals, and blood results, xray results & medication requests. They will also deal with the sicknote requests and telephone calls and home visits. This is within the NHS safe working guidance for doctors.

Should you not be able to see a GP on the day we encourage you to understand why this has not been possible, we do fully understand your frustrations in relation to this and once again I ask for full respect to our staff who are trying their best to help you.

Should you have a complaint please contact the practice manager Kelly on kellyknight@nhs.net who will try to help solve the issue.

  • What support do your Social Prescribing Team provide? Conversations with patient’s centre on ‘what matters to you’. Staff are trained to actively listen to a patient’s issues and to support the patient to unpick issues, identifying priority and what actions they can take to address what matters to them. The team will use a range of tools in conversation with a patient to identify needs. This may include the wellbeing wheel, stress vessel, PEAS (pleasure, exercise, activity and social), COLOURS programme. Our approach is to empower patients to take control of the situation they find themselves in, creating sustainable change. The Social Prescribing Link Worker might offer support to access a service by referral, sign posting or support to attend a service. The team are trained mental health first aiders and are all Asist suicide prevention trained. Other training completed this year includes Gambling awareness – spotting signs and symptoms of harmful gambling Illegal money lending (loan sharks – spotting signs and symptoms) See below for further information on continuing professional development completed this year. Main themes Impact upon mental health and diagnosed mental health illness of socio-economic issues such as:
  •  ● Housing support
  • ● Food and fuel poverty and finances
  •   ● Mental Health.
  •  ● Isolation
  • ● ADHD – providing support for those navigating complex pathways.
  • ● Liaison with CADT – to keep people independent in their home, supporting carers in particular
  •  ● Lots of time spent motivating clients and providing positive challenge where patients can make change. Overcoming barriers (mental and physical) to tackling issues.

Where a referral by a staff member was not necessary, the team will signpost patients. Sign posting includes providing information to the patient for them to contact themselves, support to make a call (being present or providing equipment – phone or laptop – for the patient to access; overcoming digital exclusion) or accompanying to a community service. This year, as with last year the most referred to services (including signposting) can be grouped into the following key areas: Mental Health: Talking Together Wirral (Every Turn) Wirral Mind Women’s Enterprising Breakthrough CWP crisis line Well (online support) Martin Gallier Project Housing Wirral Council Housing Options Team Whitechapel 4 Shelter Cost of living support Wirral foodbank Ask Us Wirral – advice service Wirral Advisory Service Social Supermarkets FUSS (Free School Uniforms) Energy Projects Plus Fuel Bank Independence: Rehab at Home Central Advice and Duty Team Occupational Therapy team Age UK Wirral WIRED carers support In total, the team linked patients into over 200 statutory and community services in the last 12 months covering everything from maternity support, domestic abuse, long term condition management, exercise and activity, pain management, dementia support, to animal rescue, cruise bereavement, holiday activities, and more

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