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September Newsletter
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Dr Mark Stephen
Many patients will have been made directly aware that Dr Stephen is currently off on long term sick leave. We are doing everything we can to secure locum GPs where possible but this is particularly tricky, given the national situation with a shortfall of GPs.
We are very grateful to our patients for their support and we have forwarded best wishes onto Dr Stephen as requested.
Flu and Covid Vaccinations!
Yes, it is THAT time of the year again – doesn’t it come around quickly?!!! For the Autumn programme, NHS England has asked that all housebound and nursing home patients are vaccinated as a first priority. We are aiming to visit our housebound patients on 21st and 22nd September. We will be in touch with those patients directly to confirm the day and whether it will be morning or afternoon.
The next priority group after this will cover our patients who are 65 years of age and over, those who are immunocompromised (and so particularly vulnerable, and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, lung/kidney/heart disease etc.
Clinics will be:
Wed 28th Sept a.m Portscatho
Wed 28th Sept p.m. Tregony
Wed 12th October – St Mawes
Wed 19th October – Tregony
If you are aged 50 to 64, and you’re NOT in one of the ‘at-risk’ groups, we can still offer you a free flu vaccination and a covid booster at the same time – however, we cannot do this until after 15th October (NHS England ‘rules’) and we’re hoping that we can do this on Saturday 22nd October to assist people who are working and not able to get into a clinic on a weekday. We’ll keep everyone posted with information of clinics so please keep an eye out for the notices, the text messages, the emails, the phone calls etc…….
Remember other agencies can offer you these vaccinations, but they won’t have access to your medical records and we can, in some cases, offer you a shingles vaccine or pneumococcal vaccine as well (subject to eligibility).
From Sophie – our Social Prescribing Link Worker:-
Patient Participation Group ~ we are looking for new members!
The Patient Participation Group is a group of volunteer members. They support the surgery to promote good health and wellbeing and to develop services for the local community. The group is currently looking for new members across all the villages and hamlets covered by the surgery – so if you can offer any amount of time to be part of this or are interested in finding out more, please contact Sophie at the surgery. It isn’t a heavy workload – we don’t expect you to sit for hours in meetings month after month! However, it’s vital that the patient group is representative of the surgery population – we need to know what you’d like to do for the benefit of your neighbours and friends.
There are lots of activities that continue thanks to the support of the patient group – art, ping pong, walking, the choir to name but a few. We’d like to look at other suggestions – as an example, do you enjoy gardening, but don’t have a garden? We’ve got patients who derive such joy from their garden but don’t have the mobility now to work in it as much as they used to. Can we put you in touch with them?
Are you good at fixing things? Can you help by teaching someone how to change a plug, how to fix a broken bedside drawer/cabinet….? little jobs that a ‘handyman’ used to do, but we seem to struggle to find them nowadays…….
Are you an unpaid / informal carer?
Cornwall Carers support carers including young carers and young adult carers. They offer a range of services including information, advice and guidance, emotional support, access to grants and community support. They also work in partnership with Cornwall Adult Education to offer free courses for carers. You can find out more on their website Cornwall Carers Service, by ringing their advice line on 01736 756655 or by joining their Facebook page.
Promas also provides free courses for unpaid carers. You can find out more on their website Home – Promas Courses include ‘Dementia Carers: Preparing for Change’ and ‘Coping Strategies’.
Virtual Village Hall
The Virtual Village Hall is an online activity hub and community, designed to help people stay physically and mentally active, connected and having fun. There are all sorts of sessions to take part in such as creative arts and crafts, music and singing, cooking and baking, dance and exercise, and technology skills. You can join in with live sessions or catch up on demand later at a time that suits you.
Online Activity Classes | Virtual Village Hall | Royal Voluntary Service
Could you be a Digital Champion?
Digital Inclusion gives everyone the opportunity to learn about getting online. Whether it is saving money, looking for work, staying healthy, keeping in touch, or accessing key services, digital skills can help people make the most of day-to-day life.
Would you be interested in supporting people in the local community to develop their confidence using digital technology? You do not have to be an IT expert, just willing to give a little of your time to help others to get online and develop their digital skills. Please contact Sophie at the surgery to find out more: either call the surgery and leave a message for her, or by emailing sophie.maziere@nhs.net.
Cost of living………
You may be able to get a payment to help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits. If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit.
There are 3 different types of payment dependant on circumstances:
- Cost of living if you’re on low income benefit or tax credits
- Disability cost of living if you get a disability benefit
- Pensioner cost of living, if you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel payment.
For more information check out the Gov.UK website here: Cost of Living Payment – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Are you a Forces Veteran?
If you have served in Her Majesty’s Forces, for any length of time (doesn’t have to be years and years), we need to know. We can put a code into your medical record to highlight that you are a veteran. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you can ‘queue-jump’ for services, but there are some medical conditions where veterans will be able to access priority treatment. Please remember that the surgery and your GP have no influence over waiting times for treatment at the hospital – this is all governed by external forces – BUT, we can let them know that you are a veteran. We can also put you in touch with specific support for the armed forces community. Please do let the receptionist know if you would like this adding to your records.
Breast Pain
It is common for patients to consult about breast pain and there can be many reasons why a patient is suffering with pain, not always related to something sinister. Breast pain can be caused by an injury or sprain to the neck, shoulder or back; it may be linked to pregnancy or general hormone changes during the menopause and is often linked to periods. Breast pain on its own is unlikely to be a symptom of cancer.
However, please ask for an appointment with the doctor if your pain is not improving or pain killers are not helping or if there’s a history of breast cancer in your family.
You would need to be seen urgently if you find a new lump, if any part of your breast is red, hot or swollen, if you have pain with a very high temperature, you have any discharge from the nipple, your breast has changed in shape or size or the skin is dimpled (like orange peel). Please give the receptionist as much information as you can.
Access to a GP when the surgery is closed:
We continue to promote the LIVI service for patients to access a video consultation with a GP for evenings and weekends – and there will continue to be a service over bank holidays.
If you have internet access and a smartphone/tablet, you can register to use the service completely free of charge – go to www.livi.co.uk to see more.
Nicola Davies
Practice Manager
Dr. Will Hynds MA MB BChir MRCGP DRCOG DCH
Dr. Terese Tubman BMed MRCGP DipFFP
Dr Mark Stephen MB BCh BSc MRCGP DRCOG