Briefing 97
15 December 2022
A reminder from our Surgery….flu jabs can be booked via our Surgery but there are no more covid vaccines at this time. However, Reeds Pharmacy in Truro is offering a walk-in clinic if you’d like a covid booster. See their website for details or go online to the NHS website, or phone 119, to see you can book an appointment at Reeds Pharmacy, Truro, or at one of their other clinics, based at Falmouth or St Austell.
Stay warm this winter!
Warmth hubs are being offered all over Cornwall this winter – a friendly, safe space for the community where people can keep warm and have free refreshments. Please see the link here for details of warmth hubs running each week across the Roseland from now until March 2023. Everyone is welcome!
Details of other warmth hubs in Cornwall can be found here:
Winter Support Through Community Hubs – Volunteer Cornwall
or you could stay warm by taking part in one of the RSPG Activities!
RSPG Ping Pong has been attracting good numbers now that covid concerns have become background noise. Tuesday afternoon sessions have restored tea and biscuits so there is time to chat as well as to enjoy a game of pp. The booking sheet continues to be circulated, just for the convenience of regular players. There is no need for anyone to book, please just turn up. We look forward to welcoming you, both beginners and experienced players. There are 4 tables available and both singles and doubles are played, depending on players’ preference. Bats and balls are available to borrow. It is good exercise as well as being great fun and will help everyone who plays to keep fit through the winter months. To help with Hall finances there is a small charge of £2 per session to cover the cost of hiring the Hall and tea and biscuits, on a non-profit basis.
Tuesday 2.00 – 5.00 pm; Friday 9.30- 12.30
RSPG Painting for Fun
P4F takes place on alternate Wednesdays in the GPMH – all materials provided to get you going along with some encouragement and input from an ex-Art teacher. £2 per session and a rota to provide tea and cake…next session is on January 4th 1.30 – 4.30
RSPG Dancing for Fun!
Line dancing in a variety of styles – just for fun and laughter – no partner needed, just turn up yourself. Gerrans Parish Memorial Hall Portscatho, Friday afternoons 3- 4.00 pm and £5 a session requested – to pay for the Tutor – we need 18 people to turn up to cover the costs! If the cost is a problem for anyone then please let us know on the day and contribute what you can afford. Starts again on January 6th 3.00pm.
Briefing 96
21 November 2022
A short briefing this week but an important message to share….
Whilst we can toddle along to the Doctors for an appointment and not expect to pay anything, that is not true of the practice as a whole. Services have to be paid for – by the per head allowance that the NHS gives our Surgery to run the practice. If money is wasted then it is lost to you and I and reduces the overall level of service that we can expect.
This happened on Saturday. The Practice put on a vaccination clinic to help those who find attendance during the week difficult and to provide another opportunity for those who missed out previously to top up their immune response to covid and flu. Patients were asked to book a slot as the exact number of vaccines had to be ordered from a central store. Those vaccines are usable only for one day and supply is limited.
2 Nurses, 2 Healthcare assistants and 2 Admin staff gave up their Saturdays to enable a large number of people to be jabbed and so avoid eroding normal weekly clinic time – for things like blood tests, regular injections, ECGs etc . Those Staff have to be paid out of the Practice budget and at weekend rates.
19 people did not turn up on Saturday. This has wasted time and precious vaccine resources as those vaccines are now thrown away – and there is still a waiting list for people wanting both of those jabs. Whilst accepting that someone might become ill at the last minute and cannot let the Surgery know – 19 people not attending is too large a number to ignore hence this nag….
Missed normal appointments are always a problem – if you cannot attend PLEASE let the surgery know – there will be another person in need who can benefit from a last-minute slot – and one day that might be you……
Briefing 95
10 November 2022
RSPG Activities
As winter approaches and days lengthen, why not drop into the Gerrans Parish Memorial Hall and take part in one of our FUN activities? Nothing too serious, some activities have tea and cake as well…and as cheap as we can make it just to cover the costs!
RSPG Ping Pong Tuesdays 2.00 – 5.00 £2
RSPG Ping Pong Fridays 9. 30 -12. 30 £2
RSPG Painting for Fun alternate Wednesdays until July 2023. Next one is 16th November 1.30 – 4.30 £1
RSPG Dancing for Fun – our new activity – line dancing so no need to bring a partner just turn up – with a fiver (£5 – that is to pay for the Professional Tutor)- but if this is a bit of a stretch, do let us know and we will try to help out. It is fun with a little exercise thrown in. One session left this term on November 18th, then restarts weekly from January 6th Fridays 3.00 – 4.00 pm Free parking
Messages from our Surgery
Flu and covid booster jabs – if you haven’t had yours yet, please do ring 01872 580345 and book yourself in.
Urine samples – a plea: please don’t just post them through the letterbox at any surgery site! Unfortunately, we don’t have a courier collection on every day of the week, so ideally please call the surgery first if you think you may have some urinary symptoms, the receptionist will ask you to bring in a sample and will be able to say to which surgery on which day. Any samples that do come in must be brought to that surgery (ideally Portscatho if possible) before 12 noon.
Christmas is just around the corner – a reminder for patients on regular medication – please ensure your repeat order is with us by Friday 16th December to enable us to process the request and have it ready for collection by Friday 23rd December. Anyone housebound who is due a delivery on Tuesday 27th will get their medication on Wednesday 28th December (Tues is a bank holiday)
RSPG Using a Defibrillator – a short course….
The Roseland peninsula has got a network of defibrillators put in place by the RSPG.
Would you know what to do if someone had a cardiac arrest in front of you – in other words, if their heart had stopped and they stopped breathing? It could be a member of your family, a friend or a total stranger and you might just make the difference and save their life. Our defibrillators are simple to use but might seem a little scary if you haven’t actually held one in your hands. They are very straightforward, and you cannot hurt anyone as the machine will make the decision for you after you attach the pads to someone’s chest.
Why not come along to one of our free awareness sessions and brush up on your first aid skills? These are completely informal and will give you the confidence to deal with an emergency and to use a defibrillator. We will also practise CPR using dummies (chest compressions); give you advice on dealing with someone choking and show you the recovery position.
Could you spare a couple of hours of your time to learn how to save the rest of someone else’s life? The sessions are free of charge and will be held as follows:
Portscatho Harbour Club, Thursday 8th December from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Tregony Church Hall Thursday 15th December from 7:30 to 9:30 pm
There will be other sessions in the New Year in Veryan and St Mawes – to be advertised in Roseland Online and please keep an eye on Parish noticeboards.
Places have to be limited, so first come first served! Any questions please contact RSPG Defibrillator Coordinator, kateeblake1958@gmail.com or (07989) 902292
Briefing 94 – update
20 October 2022
RSPG Line Dancing – Friday 21st in the Gerrans Memorial Hall at 3.00 pm. All welcome – no need to bring partner. £5 to pay for the Tutor – but subsidy available if that’s a bit much. Just turn up. Then there’s gap of there weeks as the tutor is abroad working.
RSPG Ping Pong has started again as an Open and drop-in event. Tuesdays 2 – 5pm £2, to include tea and biscuits! Fridays 9.30 – 1230 £1 – no tea! Club bats and balls available. Just turn up
The Cornwall Council bulletin now out – it is here
https://mailchi.mp/bcbce4683f1f/cornwall-and-coronavirus-3281920?e=9a4615f9b7
Useful bits including – getting support from Citizens Advice to help you take control of your finances if you are feeling stretched, reminders about boosters and also that covid is still amongst us
Please be aware too that there is a nasty scam doing the rounds, WHICH YOU MUST NOT CLICK ….
Any financial support from the Government will come directly into your energy account via your supplier. You do NOT have to apply. Please do not reveal your bank details to anyone asking and if you have been caught out by this scam, contact your bank immediately.
St Mawes Pharmacy
Covid boosters to be administered here can now be booked via the NHS site and flu jabs will be available on a walk-in basis during the afternoons and from next week.
Briefing 93
29 September 2022
Here is the URL for the latest Cornwall Council bulletin –
https://mailchi.mp/2d762dd7dd00/cornwall-and-coronavirus-3281912?e=9a4615f9b7
– it includes info on:
New cost of living energy support for households and businesses
Council welcomes mini budget plans
School place applications open
Dogs on beaches – have your say
There’s never been a better time to bus – free travel in September
Save £2,000 a year by stopping smoking
Climate crowdfunding
Hire an e-bike in Falmouth and Penryn
Final call to sign up for Adult Education courses
RSPG Dancing to Health!
As a result of a number of requests we have set up a trial Line Dancing session in the Gerrans Parish Memorial Hall, Portscatho between 3 and 4.00 pm on Friday 7th October. No experience is necessary , no need to bring a partner – just turn up to laugh, have a bit of fun and get some exercise! Our qualified teacher Karen led some of the Strictly Scath sessions so many of you will know her as that was very successful.
And even better…..it is free of charge! Well this one is…..thereafter it will depend on numbers wanting to participate…. but it won’t be very expensive, just need to cover costs.
A message from our Surgery re Annual Flu and Covid booster jabs:
Patients over the age of 65 or those in at risk groups can have either/both any time now. We have clinics at all three sites including one on Saturday 22nd October.
Patients who are aged 50-64 who are NOT in an at risk group are eligible for a covid booster, but would need to wait until after 15th October to have a flu jab (new NHS rules around provision/availability of vaccine) …. but they can book into 22nd October for both.
Briefing 92
12 September 2022
Patients of Roseland Surgeries are reporting via Facebook, difficulties getting through on the telephone. Can I take this opportunity to reassure patients that none of the surgeries is closed to phone calls during their usual opening hours. When you phone any of our surgery reception teams, the phone system will automatically ‘hunt’ for the next available open line. So, you might have dialled Tregony Surgery, but if that line is engaged, the phone system will automatically search for an open reception line which could be at Portscatho or St Mawes. If the call takes a while to be answered, please do be patient – your call will be answered – but the receptionist may be dealing with a patient at the desk, finding information for a GP or nurse, or trying to resolve an issue with the dispensary. If your call is not answered immediately, it does not mean that the receptionist is not busy.
When we originally had this phone system installed, we had a queuing system – so that patients were answered automatically and told where they were in a queue. The feedback we received from patients at that time overwhelmingly said that they did not like this system and would rather have either the engaged tone, to prompt them to call back later, or the phone line ringing, knowing that it would be answered. We changed the system in line with patient feedback.
We have greater demand from patients between 8.30 and 11 am, and between 3.30 pm and 6 pm…… so if your call is not urgent, you may prefer to call late morning/early afternoon. Please remember, we are still dealing with covid cases and also have a reduced staff as a consequence of illness and holidays. We need to ensure that each surgery has reception cover, so that occasionally can mean one receptionist at each site, rather than two. If you have a mobile phone number, please ensure that the surgery is aware – this often will allow us to message you, i.e. to say your medication is ready to collect, to save you calling, or we can text you with a message from the GP. If you have internet access, you can send a request to us via the Klinik eConsultation Service which saves you calling in – we will come back to you once your query has been assessed – and you can of course email in if you have a medication query – prescriptions.portscatho@nhs.net
We continue to do our very best for our patients under difficult circumstances. Demand via our phone system has gone up by 43% in the last 12 months and continues at higher than pre-covid times. We are very appreciative of how much support we receive from some patients, but abuse of our team cannot continue. If we don’t answer your call immediately, please do just continue to let the call ring – or call back if your call is not urgent. Remember, if you have a life-threatening problem, you must dial 999, not the surgery.
LIVI – if any of you are experiencing difficulties in getting the LIVI system working there is a helpline that you can call – Livi support team on 0203 8703029 available 9.00am – 10.00pm Mon – Fri and 8.00am – 4.00pm Sat and Sun.
BOOSTER JABS – clarification – the NHS priority list for obtaining the jab is as follows:
Housebound/nursing homes priority, then over 65s, then anyone in an at-risk group (same as flu – diabetics, heart/kidney/lung disease, immunosuppressed, pregnant etc) then finally 50-64 year olds who don’t have any at risk issues, but they can’t be vaccinated until after 15th October in our Surgery.
If in doubt about your eligibility now for your booster jab go online to the Government site https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
RSPG DANCE …your way to better health!
Well we are going to try it! Line dancing with a bit of Latin thrown in for our first session on Tuesday 20th September at 4.00 pm at the Millennium Rooms St Mawes. A free of charge taster session so please let me know if you are coming via email to
roselandtogether@gmail.com Thereafter all depends on demand but it could be every Tuesday if we can support it! Karen is coming from St Austell to lead the group.
Briefing 91
7 September 2022
Once again we are experiencing difficulties at the Surgery because the media – both BBC and the newspapers have reported that you could book your 4th booster and flu jab. People are ringing in and are being frustrated because they cannot access a definite appointment. That frustration is being taken out verbally and in some cases unpleasantly on the reception staff who have a record of who is eligible at this time and who is not – they are following the rules set down by the NHS.
The first delivery of vaccine is ONLY for those patients in the highest risk groups – Cohort 1 – this means those patients who are in Nursing Homes or are housebound and those patients aged 65 or over who are immuno-compromised or suffer from chronic disease such as lung/kidney/heart/diabetes etc. etc. Cohort 1 patients will be contacted by the Surgery either by phone or text, but may now also phone in themselves.
The next cohort (2) of eligible patients includes those who are over 50 but these vaccinations will not start until after October 15th – NHS rules not ours! So, if you don’t qualify for Cohort 1 don’t phone in….just a little more patience please – we will tell you as soon as we can that you can book. We hope there will be an online booking system in time for Cohort 2 bookings.
Details of the dates and times of the clinics are in the latest newsletter from the practice below. Please stop verbally abusing the reception staff as they cannot do anything to speed up your jab – they are following the procedure laid down by the NHS. Anyone who wants a jab – or two by having the flu one at the same time – will get one, but it needs to be managed. You all know the pressure our surgery is working under, they are doing their best despite being understaffed – you can do your bit to help them by being polite and patient….please!
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 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 for the RSPG!
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.
28 August 2022
LIVI – an explanation of the service available to all patients of the Roseland Surgeries from one of our contributors
In the last briefing we told you of the immense pressures that our practice was experiencing due to a shortage of staff – Doctors in particular. So this is a good time to remind everyone about the LIVI service as it not only can help take some pressure off our surgery, but it also provides an extremely responsive out of hours service to support you at home.
Roseland Surgeries, as part of the NHS Kernow GP practices group, has a partnership with a service called LIVI for evening and weekend appointments – at no cost to yourself. LIVI is an online healthcare provider rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. An internet connection is needed to use this service.
Urgent cases where a 999 or a 111 call is needed should not use LIVI.
You can speak to a LIVI GP about any health concern or symptom, and their doctors can provide medical advice, prescriptions, specialist referrals and even sick notes where necessary.
With LIVI, you see an experienced and registered GP by video on your mobile phone or tablet. The appointments are usually within an hour and typically within 20-30 minutes of placing the request. Alternatively appointments are bookable within the next 3 days. The appointment is obviously only for symptoms that do not require a physical examination.
Appointments are available Monday – Friday between 6pm – 10pm and on Saturday & Sunday between 8am – 4pm so it provides a very responsive out of hours cover as well.
The GP to whom you are connected will have access to your medical records (you agree to this during the booking process), prescriptions can be sent to the local pharmacy or surgery and the GP will record the outcome of the appointment on your records. Therefore it is the same as having a telephone appointment with a local doctor.
The service is available to all patients registered with Roseland Surgeries. Children up to 16 are included and are seen via the parents or guardian’s sign-in with additional identity confirmation.
How to access LIVI – you need to download the LIVI app from the App Store or Google Play and sign up to register your device. This requires you to verify your identity with a photo of an identity document e.g. passport or driving licence and by providing a selfie. You only need to do this once. Each adult needs to sign up individually. You will be asked to select your current NHS GP practice, which for us is NHS Kernow GP practices. Ignore any options for payment – it is already paid for!
To book an appointment, follow the steps in the app. You can choose to see the next available doctor or book a specific time in the next three days. Then fill out the symptom form as prompted. You also have the option to attach photos to help the doctor more accurately diagnose your condition.
The GP will call you through the LIVI app when it’s time for your appointment. If the GP believes that you are in need of medicine or further care, you will receive a prescription or a referral. The GPs can write medical fit (sick) notes for issues where a physical examination is not required for the note. It is up to each doctor to make an individual assessment of you as a patient.
The help section on the LIVI website answers most queries and includes a list of a wide range of conditions that the LIVI GP can help you with. See https://support.livi.co.uk/hc/en-us
AUTUMN BOOSTER JABS – EARLY NOTICE …… a message from our Practice Manager
We’re hoping to vaccinate our housebound and nursing home patients on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd of September to offer both covid and flu vaccinations at the same time. The vaccine available is Moderna. We cannot get Pfizer or AstraZeneca. This is subject to deliveries being on schedule of course, but so far, nothing to suggest any delays!
We will then be offering an in-house flu/covid vaccination clinic on Wednesday 28th September. Because of the rules around the provision of the vaccine, we will have to invite our elderly and at-risk population first. We will let our patients know when the appointments are going to be available.
Please do not phone the surgery to try and book an appointment just yet!!
Patients who are aged 50 to 64 years of age, who do not have any risk factors, will be able to access flu and covid vaccinations from 15th October onward – again, the rules around the provision of the vaccine prevent us from vaccinating not-at-risk patients before this.
Please be patient patients – we will notify you when it is your turn to book appointments.
and…… with the Autumn approaching we (the RSPG) wondered if there was any interest in some light exercise classes in the Memorial Hall St Mawes based on a variety of forms of Dance. The Tutor who ran the successful Strictly Scath is available and is interested in offering something – yet to be defined and based on the interests of those attending – and specifically geared to individuals rather than couples this time. Karen can offer line dancing, cardio dance fitness, salsacise, dancercise and even belly dancing!!! Or a combination of any of those elements – but we need to get an idea of the level of interest before booking a set of lessons. Please respond to this email directly telling us if you would be interested in having a go! Tell us the area too if you can, or just say general exercise to music. Tuesday and Friday afternoons for around an hour are possible so it would be helpful again to know which is preferred. We may move one of the sessions to Portscatho for a trial too….we just need to know the level of interest and what works for you!
Briefing 90
22 August 2022
A really important message from our Practice Manager: Please do what you can to reduce the load on our surgery staff – they are already under immense pressure due to the influx of holidaymakers and with the on-going staff shortage since Dr Jacoby left, now exacerbated by Dr Stephen’s illness, there is a serious situation developing. LIVI and 111 can help but please take note of the other professionals attached to our surgery who may be able to help you in specific areas as mentioned by Nicola below. This is why it is important to explain to the receptionist exactly why you are ringing in rather than just be asking for an appointment with the doctor. You can be reassured that confidentiality is absolute whoever you talk to at the surgery.
Unfortunately, Dr Stephen is now off sick for the foreseeable future. We are doing our very best to secure additional cover, but you will be aware this is particularly tricky given the national shortage of GPs.
Please remember that you can access a GP online for a video consultation via LIVI – please seewww.livi.co.uk – they provide appointments 7 days a week. You do need internet connectivity, but this may be an option you can consider. Please check out their website for further information.
When calling for an appointment, please give the receptionist as much information as possible so that we may direct you to the right person, the first time round. Remember, you can access our pharmacist and dispensary team for help with medication queries, we have a social prescriber for non-clinical support and our practice nurses manage a variety of problems including diabetes and respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Please help us to help you. Many thanks, Nicola – Practice Manager
Briefing 89
13 August 2022
The latest Cornwall Council bulletin is here….
CC is offering some targeted help – Up to £5,000 is available from the Tenancy Sustainment and Rescue Project to help tenants of privately-owned properties who have fallen behind in their rent and, as a result, are at risk of homelessness. For more information email tenancyhelp@citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk
Roseland Together still has access to some food vouchers for any families having a tough time financially in paying for their food. Contact our Social Prescriber Sophie via 01872 580345.
New shared record system for Devon and Cornwall
Our Practice Manager – Nicola, has asked us to share this information below – a new system that will get real-time information about your treatment that may be underway at various NHS locations – something that can take weeks or not happen at all…finally some joined up thinking in the NHS – hooray! Nicola hopes that patients will appreciate the benefit of sharing their health information between health professionals –Surgery staff access is determined by ‘smartcards’ which enables access only to those parts of the record that they need to have access to. Surgery staff can’t get into the record without a smartcard, and then can only see stuff in the record that the chip within that card allows access to and it cannot be edited.
A new NHS and social care system has been introduced in Devon and Cornwall to improve the way you receive care. The Devon and Cornwall Care Record is a secure computer system that brings together information about your health and care and presents it as a single record. Previously, it was difficult to share information about your health and care between different areas of the system. Now, healthcare staff can see the details held by GP practices, hospitals and other health and care organisations across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Having a more complete view of your medical history helps healthcare professionals identify problems more effectively and make quicker diagnoses. For instance, they can see which allergies you suffer from, and any treatment and medication you have received. As well as making treatment safer, the care you receive will be more co-ordinated, giving you a smoother journey through the health system. It also saves staff the time it takes to find information and spares you the frustration of having to answer the same questions or undergo duplicate or unnecessary tests.
Dr John McCormick, GP and Chief Clinical Information Officer at Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The Devon and Cornwall Care Record has the potential to transform the way we care for patients in our region. “By enabling information to flow more easily between the organisations that provide services, we will produce a more efficient system and improve the experience for patients. For example, it means an oncologist treating a patient for cancer in Plymouth can see the same information as their GP in Callington.”
John Garman, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group added: “It’s a common – and justified – grumble from patients that they have to repeat their stories and answer the same questions as they move through the system. “This programme will go a long way to solving that problem, as well as cutting down on other inefficiencies – like calling patients for tests they’ve already undergone. “Initially, some organisations will both contribute and use data (including GP practices, acute hospitals and social care providers), while others will just use data. However, in time, more and more organisations will come on board, expanding the programme’s reach and impacting the care of increasing numbers of patients.”
Who is involved?
There are more than 760 health and care providers in Devon and Cornwall and, potentially, all of them can participate in the programme. These organisations include GP practices, NHS hospitals, social care services, mental health services, hospices, community care services and out of hours services. If you would like to know if one of your health or social care providers is participating in the programme, you can ask them directly or check the participating organisation list on the Devon and Cornwall Care Record website.
How do we keep your data safe?
Keeping your personal data safe is a key aspect of the Devon and Cornwall Care Record and all required measures are taken to keep information secure and confidential. Shared care records are subject to UK data protection legislation. They can only be viewed by people involved in your care, and they work under strict codes of conduct. However, if you would prefer that your information is not shared in this way, you can tell us by filling out the objection form on the data security and privacy page of the website.
Where can you find out more?
For further details, visit the Devon and Cornwall Care Record website at www.devonandcornwallcarerecord.nhs.uk
Work is underway to enable those patients without internet access to register any objections to their inclusion in this system – more details as and when they become available. Hopefully this medium can help spread the word to those who do not use a computer…even though it seems odd to be mentioning it!
Briefing 88 (and 87)
5 August 2022
A very brief briefing….but important! If you know of someone living near you who does not have access to this technology please would you share this information? Covid is still with us – and for the more elderly in the population poses a risk still so it is really important to get that booster jab. Anecdotally we know of some people who reckoned that as they had received the first two jabs and hadn’t caught covid they were safe – then with this last wave we are experiencing they went down with it…..please make two become three jabs and encourage your friends and neighbours….
NHS Kernow would not be offering these walk-in clinics if there wasn’t still an issue with infection rates…..
Covid vaccination pop-up coming to St Mawes on the 9th and 11th August.
Where?: St Mawes, Millennium Rooms Car park next to The Rising Sun, TR2 5AG
When?: Tuesday 9th & Thursday 11th August
Times?: 09:30 to 16:30 WALK IN!
Cohort?: All those who are eligible (from the age of 5 upwards)
Briefing 87
From our Practice manager….
1 August 2022
Forthcoming bank holidays:
Please note that the surgeries at Portscatho, Tregony and St Mawes will be closed on Monday 29th August as a bank holiday. We will be open again as normal on Tuesday 30th August 8.30 am. If you need urgent medical attention when the surgeries are closed, remember to call NHS 111 for immediate help and advice. For medical emergencies, please dial 999.
A real plea for support of our practice!
I am disheartened to report that during the month of July, we had 68 patients who did not attend for their pre-booked appointments with the Doctor or Practice Nurse………… when you look at the amount of time for these booked appointments, it equals just over 19 hours of clinician time. Put that another way, that’s the same as almost 5 whole GP sessions (or 2½ days!!)
At a time when we are really struggling to cope with the demand from our registered patients and tourists, when you remember that we are still in a pandemic, still trying to provide ‘business as usual’ but suffering with staff sickness and clinicians/staff needing to take holiday themselves, we really are up against it. Locum GPs are in very short supply too – so if we have a GP off (whether that’s due to sickness or holiday) it’s no guarantee that we have been able to secure cover. It’s also frustrating when the majority of patients will get an automated reminder via text the day before their appointment!
So, a heartfelt plea to our patients: if you book an appointment that you no longer need, or you find you can’t make it in to see the doctor, but you want to convert it to a phone call instead, please please please contact us as soon as you can….. we always have patients who are ringing in for cancellations.
Our Practice Nurse appointments are just as important – so if you don’t want to come in because you no longer need the appointment, or you find you just can’t make it, for whatever reason – please call us – we really don’t mind rescheduling or cancelling that appointment and making it available to someone else.
The NHS provides free-at-the-point-of-access care for all its patients – but that doesn’t mean that the appointment doesn’t have a monetary value. Please either keep your appointment or cancel it. Thank you for your co-operation.
Flu and Covid Vaccines for Autumn 2022
At the time of writing, we are having some glorious weather – but you know that Autumn isn’t far away and it will be time to get your flu vaccine and covid booster if you’re in an eligible group. The Joint Vaccination and Immunisation Committee has confirmed the following eligible groups for flu immunisation:-
Patients over the age of 65
Anyone who is immunosuppressed
Patients who are pregnant
Anyone working in health/social care
Carers
Patients with heart/kidney/lung/liver disease, and those with diabetes
Patients aged 50-64 who are NOT in any of the groups above (this cohort were vaccinated last year along with covid and have been reinstated for this year’s campaign)
Other organisations may approach you offering to provide an alternative service, but please remember they will not have access to your medical records and cannot give other immunisations, such as those to protect you again pneumonia or shingles, which are often given at the same time.
For covid-19 boosters, the following groups will be eligible for an Autumn booster:-
All adults aged 50 and over
Residents in care homes and staff working there
Frontline health and social care workers
Anyone aged 5 to 49 in an at risk group (immunosuppressed, those patients with diabetes, heart/kidney/lung/liver disease
Anyone aged 5 to 49 who is a household contact of people who are immunosuppressed
Anyone aged 16 to 49 who is a carer
At Roseland Surgeries, we will be taking a co-ordinated approach to vaccinating our eligible patients and in order to ensure that our most vulnerable patients are vaccinated quickly, we will look to deliver a vaccination programme literally as soon as our vaccines arrive.
At the time of writing, we are just waiting on confirmation of delivery of vaccines, but we are aiming for week commencing 17th October. As there are no restrictions on movement of the covid vaccine this year, we will be able to offer clinics at each of our three surgery sites and we will be offering week days and Saturdays. We should have this confirmed by late August/early September.
Because of the cost of postage and to reduce our carbon footprint, we won’t be sending out letters via Royal Mail. For those patients for whom we have mobile phone numbers, we should be able to send you a text to confirm that we can start booking appointments. Otherwise, please keep an eye out for notices around the surgeries, attached to your medication bags, information on our surgery website/Roseland Online etc.
Who do you need to see at the surgery?
Because we’re so short of appointments, it’s always helpful to remind patients which clinicians we have available – not everything needs a doctor’s appointment. In order to get you the help you need via the quickest and most efficient route, we do offer a variety of healthcare professionals that you can see – instead of a doctor! Medication queries can be dealt with by our pharmacist. Problems with social services/care providers, help with accessing benefits can be dealt with by our social prescriber. If you have a new wound, our Practice Nurse can deal with that directly. Don’t forget, travel vaccines are available again so if you’re planning your next adventure, please leave at least 8 weeks before departure to arrange any vaccinations. Check out the link on our surgery website for more information. Remember to give the receptionist as much information as possible to help you see the right person at the right time in the right place. There is also a useful guide to Who Does What at the Surgery which can be found on our surgery website (via the patient information tab)
Are you chasing a hospital referral?
At the height of the pandemic, the Royal Cornwall Hospital provided a Patient Hotline that you could phone to find out where you were in the referral system. RCHT has now removed that hotline and so, if you have been referred but you haven’t yet heard anything – and you feel your symptoms have deteriorated – please book an appointment with the doctor to discuss further. If you have been seen at the hospital and you’re waiting on going in for a procedure, please contact the hospital department directly. Unfortunately, we don’t have any influence on these appointments. Just to give you an idea, here are the current waiting times for some specialties:-
Cardiology – 45 weeks
Colorectal surgery – 68 weeks
Dermatology – 28 weeks
Ear, Nose, Throat – 31 weeks
Gynaecology – 47 weeks
Neurology – 56 weeks
Orthopaedics – 57 weeks
Urology – 47 weeks
A full list can be found here: www.royalcornwall.nhs.uk/visiting-hospitals/outpatients/im-waiting-for-an-outpatient-appointment
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.
Briefing 86
From our Practice manager….
18 July 2022
Flu and Covid boosters for the Autumn 2022 Season
After some ‘to-ing’ and ‘fro-ing’, we have now received final guidance confirming which patients will be eligible for flu and covid boosters for the Autumn 2022 season.
The COVID-19 Autumn booster will be offered to the following groups: –
- Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults (For our housebound patients, we will phone you to let you know what day the nurse will visit you)
- Frontline health and social care workers
- All adults aged 50 years and over
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group
- Persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 49 years who are carers
The annual ‘flu vaccination will be offered to the following groups: –
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022
- all primary school aged children (from reception to Year 6) (children in these age groups should be offered vaccinations via their primary school and we wait to hear confirmation of this from the Schools Vaccination Team)
- those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (those with heart/kidney/lung disease such as COPD/brittle asthma, diabetics etc)
- pregnant women
- those aged 65 years and over
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- In addition, secondary school children in years 7, 8, and 9 will be offered a flu vaccine (again should be via the school vaccination team).
- Lastly, patients aged 50-64 who are NOT in a clinically at-risk group (as mentioned above) will also be offered the vaccine – however, this will be available AFTER those who are clinically vulnerable have been offered the vaccine.
We are expecting our flu vaccines to arrive week commencing 19th September (just need this to be confirmed by our suppliers). The covid vaccine should come to our network surgery (Clays) any time after the first week in September, so we should be in a position to co-administer the two vaccines in one clinic which will be a much more efficient way of doing things – and will mean less impact on our usual clinics which we are expected to run as normal. So, if you’re a housebound patient, we will do the two vaccines for you in the one visit.
Please keep an eye out for information in the surgeries, on your medication bags and repeat medication slips, posters on noticeboards etc. As soon as our clinics are available, we can get booking!!
Enhanced’ Access
We would like to hear patient views on a new ‘enhanced’ access programme that our Primary Care Network is offering to patients. From 1st October 2022, Brannel Surgery, Clays Practice, Probus Surgery and The Roseland Surgeries will be delivering additional, pre-booked routine appointments. The purpose of this questionnaire is to understand when and how our patients would prefer us to do this. During weekend appointments we would be limited to the services we could provide – the hospital will not be providing any routine pathology testing, or a courier to collect samples, so we would not be able to offer blood/urine tests and limited support services would be available. The hours will be covered by our existing workforce so this survey will allow us to understand the most in demand times to allocate staffing resource accordingly. The network will share a rota of Saturdays so patients may need to travel to any of the four surgeries for the routine appointment that they have booked.
We would appreciate hearing your views and would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete this short survey – the link for which can be found here
The results will be collated and our Primary Care Network will then look at options available for offering appointments and we will of course, share those results with you as soon as they are available.
Forthcoming Bank Holiday – 29th August
We should like to remind patients that we will be closed on Monday 29th August – please remember if you send a prescription request, general email or electronic consultation (via the platform here on the website) at any time from Friday 26th August after 5 pm, it will NOT be actioned until Tuesday 30th August.
Please do NOT send urgent medical queries by email.
If you need medical attention when the surgery is closed, please phone NHS 111 or dial 999 for a medical emergency.
Briefing 85
COVID – a reminder!
7 July 2022
COVID cases are on the rise again in Cornwall and Cornwall Council is urging people to do all they can to protect themselves and others from the virus. (https://mailchi.mp/23b0651b2b51/cornwall-and-coronavirus-3281612?e=9a4615f9b7)
We are asking residents and visitors alike to make sure they and their families are fully vaccinated against COVID. Vaccines are still available for anyone aged five and older who has not yet taken up the offer. If you’re eligible for a spring booster, please do book this month to ensure you will have a six-month gap before the next booster is offered in the autumn. Remember you can drop into the Clinic in Falmouth for a 1st or 2nd jab or booster if you qualify – no appointment needed.
https://www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number?bookingtype=vaccine
CC is also encouraging people to go back to the basics of ‘hands, face, space’
- wash or sanitise hands regularly
- try to meet outdoors if possible
- keep indoor spaces well ventilated
- wear a mask if you can in busy indoor settings
- don’t mix with people if you’re feeling unwell.
There is an increasingly gung-ho attitude to covid – many of us shrug our shoulders and say no longer “if” but “when” I catch Covid. Whilst that is a good attitude in many ways as we learn to live with the virus, the fact that most people have now stopped wearing face masks is helping the virus to survive and circulate and that is not so good.
You may be infected with a respiratory virus such as COVID-19 and not have any symptoms but still pass the infection onto others. The risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to or sharing an enclosed and/or poorly ventilated space with other people.
When someone with a respiratory viral infection such as COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release small particles into the air that contain the virus which causes the infection. These particles can be breathed in or can come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The particles can also land on surfaces and be passed from person to person via touch. We have all experienced this with the common cold and also the flu – meet with someone blowing their nose to get rid of catarrh and three days later many of us will also be reaching for the tissues!
Face coverings and face masks can help reduce the chance of you spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect you from becoming infected. Today the Hospitals in Cornwall have announced that everyone has to resume face mask wearing on entry. You cannot choose whether you get the mild version or one that floors you – better to avoid both!
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people – it helps stop the virus spreading.
…..so why should we be concerned about the virus spreading – herewith today’s Biology lesson!
A successful virus is one that makes more of itself but in order to do this, it must find a host – for Covid19, that is you and me!
Viruses are essentially coils of genetic material stuffed into a protein shell that’s sometimes further wrapped in an outer envelope. It cannot survive on its own – it has to have a carrier/victim. The virus binds to its target’s cells, injecting genetic material that hijacks the host’s (us) cellular machinery to make a new generation of viral offspring. In doing so it stops some of the normal cell processes that take place in our bodies – that is why we feel ill and for each one of us it could attack something different because we are all different.
But each time a new copy is made, there’s a chance that an error, or mutation, will occur. Mutations are like typos in the string of “letters” that make up a strand of DNA or RNA code. Many mutations are harmless, some are not.
So, the more a virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to replicate, therefore the more the virus will mutate/evolve and the more difficult it becomes to control. Our carefully engineered vaccine serum is in a race that we all hope it will win, but if the shape of the thing that it is trying to smother/block keeps changing then that is a bigger problem!
We can all do our bit by reducing the opportunities for the virus to circulate and by following the Council’s advice to make its life more difficult – not ours!
Briefing 84 – 30 June 2022
BOOSTER JABS – reasonably good numbers attended the pop-up clinic in St Mawes which is great. No more dates booked in yet, but they plan/hope to come back in a few weeks. This may be left until the children break up so then they can come back and do a family clinic and can offer vaccines to children as well.
The surgery doesn’t hold any vaccine in stock, so if you get an invite and want to have a vaccine, you will still need to go to a vaccination clinic. The clinic at Falmouth Town Council Offices continues to operate – Thursdays 1pm to 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm. You can just turn up (take your invite with you) or pre-book a slot by going online:
www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination/do-you-have-an-nhs-number?bookingtype=vaccine
From our Practice Manager – a couple of patients say they’re still getting invites for a 4th covid booster despite having had it! This may be because the team doing the vaccinating haven’t yet updated the system but if their vaccine was months ago, we can check the system to see if we have the date on their records. It is a slightly confusing system in that the covid vaccination record system is not the same as the usual medical record – the covid vaccine given is recorded on a system called Pinnacle and 24 hours later, that ‘rolls’ into the medical record which we hold. On odd occasions, we have noticed that Pinnacle is up to date and we have the data in the notes, but still the invite goes out. We can’t actually explain this unfortunately, (Ed note – though perhaps the more cynical amongst us outside the central NHS management might have a go !!!!!) The key message I think is please don’t worry – most patients are able to check their covid vaccination status on the NHS App and you can ignore the invite if you’ve had your vaccination.
Anyone immunocompromised should have a 4th vaccine and our eligible patients should have been contacted either by letter or text. If anyone thinks they’ve missed theirs, please contact the surgery so we can check eligibility.
We are fast approaching a really busy time of year as schools start to break up for summer and the tourists descend upon us. Please help us to help you – when you’re contacting the surgery, give us as much information as you can to ensure that we book you with the most appropriate person (which is not always the doctor). We have a social prescriber and pharmacist on site who can help with a variety of things. If you suffer a fall, minor injuries unit is the best place to go. Although the weather has taken a slight dip (at the time of writing) we hope it will improve again so keeping yourself hydrated in the heat is vital. Everyone out in the sunshine should use sunscreen and regularly re-apply throughout the day. Sunburn is painful, sunstroke is extremely dangerous so please don’t under-estimate the damage the sun can do.
Introducing Sophie Maziere and a reminder about her role as our Social Prescriber
Sophie Maziere is the new Social Prescribing Link Worker for the Roseland Surgeries who has just started in the role after working in support and welfare services in education. She is looking forward to getting to know the local community and how her role can provide support. She will be out and about developing links with the community’s residents, local organisations, volunteers and activity groups over the coming weeks.
Social Prescribing is a way of linking people with non-medical sources of support within the community. As a Link Worker, Sophie’s role is to follow up referrals from healthcare professionals and other agencies as well as self-referral from individuals themselves and to work with people to focus on what matters to them, taking a holistic approach to their health and wellbeing.
Sophie can connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support and to increase their active involvement in their local community. She can provide information/signposting which can include support with wellbeing and mental health, social isolation and loneliness, caring, long term health conditions (non-clinical), general health and fitness and signposting relating to food poverty, benefits, housing, debt, employment and volunteering.
Sophie is happy to chat to anyone about their concerns affecting their health. If you think that social prescribing might be useful for you or someone you know and want to get in touch or if you think your organisation could link into this scheme, please email Sophie on sophie.maziere@nhs.net or telephone Roseland Surgeries 01872 580345.
A portion of Sophie’s salary continues to be paid for by the kindness of the members of our community who committed to those monthly donations to enable us to appoint someone in the first place. This means we get a full time SP instead of a small part of an NHS funded person and who has time dedicated to providing support in our Practice.