WELCOMEWelcome to the summer newsletter! Here’s hoping that we may get some sunshine soon and this wet weather finally passes!

I am sad to announce that Dr Addis has now left us due to wanting to work closer to his young family. He has been a wonderful addition to the practice, particularly in helping drive diabetes care forward and we would like to wish him all the best for the future. Dr Lunn and I will now be in charge of the Diabetes Team and we are using the opportunity to look at all our policies to try and improve things further. We will continue to work with our excellent Nurse Practitioner Sue Percival and will also be adding Nikki Palmer to the Diabetes Team to make sure we have everything covered!

I am pleased to announce however that Dr Vibhore Prasad has started as a new GP Partner and I am sure you will all help to make him very welcome. He has written a piece about himself so that you can start to get to know him.

I would also like to thank the HIP group again for their excellent Breast Cancer awareness evening which I understand was extremely interesting and useful. They are always looking for new members and ideas for information evenings so if can help in anyway please contact them at hipshuthwaite@outlook.com

Dr Lucy Genillard

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Summer Newsletter 2019

Within the Surgery the Nurse Practitioner/Prescriber Sue Percival runs a Minor illness Clinic Monday to Thursday for same day appointments. If you have any of the following problems please book an appointment

Sore Throat Earache Coughs/colds Urine infections Abdominal pain Eye problems New headaches and dizziness Neck pain Constipation Back pain Animal and insect bites Diarrhoea and vomiting Emergency Contraception Fever Minor Injuries , sprains, strains , lacerations, wounds,

Please also be aware that some of these problems can also be dealt with by the Pharmacist at your local chemist.

If you have an on-going medical problem or have already been seen before by Sue you will need to make an appointment to see the GP

If you require a sick note or need a medication review an appointment with the GP will be required.

Minor Illness Clinic

Protecting yourself from severe heat

Whenever we experience a heat wave in this country there is an increase in emergency admissions. This is multifactorial but in part is due to people being underprepared for this eventuality. Please consider the following and also try to look out for your neighbours who may be frail and elderly (and who are more susceptible to experiencing difficulties). The following guidance is taken from the National Heat wave Plan:-

Stay out of the heat:-

Keep out of the sun between 11.00am - 3.00pm If you must go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply

sunscreen and wear a hat Avoid extreme physical exertion Wear light loose-fitting cotton clothes

Cool yourself down:-

Have plenty of cold drinks and avoid excessive alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks

Eat cold food (especially salad and fruit which have higher water content)

Take a cool shower, bath or body wash Sprinkle water over the skin or clothing

Keep your environment cool:-

Keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped

Close curtains that receive morning or afternoon sun. Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment (these

generate heat) Keep indoor plants and bowls of water in the house as

evaporation helps cool the air If possible move into a cooler room, especially for sleeping Electric fans can provide relief if temperatures are below 35

degrees

Flu VaccinationsPlease note we will be holding Flu Vaccination Clinics in late September. Please contact the surgery to book your appointment in Early September As usual we will be holding our annual Saturday Clinic and this will be on Saturday 28th September 2019, 9am till 12noon

Measles Mumps & MMR

There continues to be an increase in cases of measles and mumps across England, particularly in young people over the age of 15 years. There have been confirmed cases of measles locally. There are also several large measles outbreaks across Europe.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can sometimes lead to serious complications. It can be more severe in teenagers and adults than in children.

The best source of information about measles is on nhs.uk – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

Mumps

Mumps is most recognisable by painful swellings at the side of the face under the ears.

There is more information about mumps on nhs.uk - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/

MMR toolkit for festivals

Mass gathering events like festivals can be hot spots for measles as they present the perfect opportunity for the infection to spread.

If you think you have either measles or mumps, please ring the surgery and ask to speak to a Doctor, Do Not come into the surgery unless advised to do so

Travel VaccinesMany people will leave the UK for their summer holiday, which may include some potential risks.

A list of travel health questions can be found on nhs.uk – https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/travel-health/

An A-Z of countries with advice and information for travellers can be found on the Foreign Office’s travel advice page – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website also has health information and advice for travellers – https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheets

If you are going abroad for your holiday please collect a Travel Vaccination Form from the surgery to see if you require vaccines.

You can also download this from our website on www.bpmcgp.co.uk

Changes to the Bowel Screening ProcessWhat is bowel cancer screening?, What does it involve?,

Bowel cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK and survival rates are greatly improved if an individual is diagnosed early. Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage, before people experience any symptoms, and when treatment is more likely to be effective. The later a diagnosis is made, the more difficult bowel cancer is to treat.

Bowel cancer screening can also identify polyps (small growths on the inner lining of the bowel), which are not cancerous, but may develop into cancer in future. Once identified they can be removed which reduces the risk of bowel cancer developing.

NHS bowel cancer screening is only offered to people of all genders aged 55 or over, as this is when you're more likely to get bowel cancer:

If you're 55, you'll automatically be invited for a one-off bowel scope screening test, also known as flexible sigmoidoscopy, if it's available in your area. if you're aged 56 – 60 you can self-refer to the programme for flexible sigmoidoscopy, if it's available in your area, by calling the freephone helpline on 0800 707 6060. If you're 60 to 74, you'll automatically be invited to do a home testing kit every 2 years. If you're 75 or over, you can ask for a home testing kit every 2 years by calling the bowel cancer screening helpline on freephone 0800 707 60 60.

More information is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/

What is the main benefit of bowel cancer screening?

Having bowel cancer screening reduces your risk of dying from bowel cancer by at least 25%*. Although bowel cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK, survival rates are greatly improved if an individual is diagnosed early.

What is the current bowel cancer screening programme in England?

The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in England offers the following:

The guaiac faecal occult blood test (gFOBt): offered to men and women aged 60 to 74 every two years and is offered as a test that is used at home. This test checks for tiny amount of blood in poo to find out if further tests are needed. This is the test that will be replaced by FIT. 2. Bowel scope screening: This is currently available to some men and women in England aged 55. Bowel scope screening uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look at the large bowel. (Source: BCUK / NHS Choices)

What is the faecal immunochemical test (FIT) and how does it work?

FIT works in a similar way to the current guaiac Faecal Occult Blood screening test (gFOBt) but is easier to use with only one sample required versus the current test which requires samples to be taken from three different poos. It is more sensitive as it detects tiny amounts of human blood in the stools that could indicate cancer or polyps (growths that can develop into cancer).

Has there been a change in the age at which, and how frequently, people are called for bowel cancer screening?

No. Currently bowel cancer screening is offered to people of all genders from the age of 60, with invitations automatically continuing every two years until they reach the age of 75. After reaching 75 people can ask for

a screening kit, every two years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

The GP computer systems automatically generate contact details for the invitation letter that is sent to people in the eligible age group, so it’s important to ensure that your GP surgery has your correct name and address.

The UK NSC has made recommendations regarding future changes to the age range for bowel cancer screening. See https://legacyscreening.phe.org.uk/bowelcancer for further details. NHS England and Public Heath England are considering how best to implement these proposals.

Will bowel scope continue alongside the new FIT test?

Yes, the NHS will continue to offer bowel scope across England

Parents’ Guide re: Concerning Behaviours Pathway

Do you have concerns regarding your child’s behaviour?

In the first instance parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their Health Visitor or School Nurse who will then contact the child’s main care setting and identify a key worker.

The key worker will help explore concerns and put a holistic support plan in place which will be reviewed regularly. If you do not know how to contact your Health Visitor or School Nurse please contact the Child & Families Single Point of Access Team on 01623 557136

What if concerns continue despite early interventions and key working?

The key worker will gather information about your child on an Early Help Assessment Form (EHAF) or Getting to Know Me Form and review with the appropriate staff (e.g. SENCO/School Nurse). You may be referred on to the Small Steps Service. If referral to a community paediatrician is indicated, the information will be forwarded to your GP to review and make the referral.

Please note a GP cannot refer a child for further assessment without this paperwork

Falls Advice

Prescriptions from Hospital/Private When you attend hospital either routinely or at A&E there will be times when you are issued with a prescription. You may not be aware that these prescriptions are different to the ones issued within the practice. It is extremely important that you get your prescription dispensed whilst you are at the hospital:-

1. Should there be any issues with dispensing the medication it can be sorted there and then

2. Practices are not able to re-issue a prescription that has been done by the hospital

Often there can be delays at the hospital but we cannot emphasise enough how important it is that you get your medication issued by them.

Protected learning time2019 DATES

Important staff training and continuing professional

development activities take place on a Wednesday

afternoon of each month except August & December.

On these days the surgery will close at 12:00 and

re-open the following morning.

If you require emergency assistance during this timeplease ring 111.

Dates are as follows:

25th September 2019 23rd October 2019

27th November 2019

Changes to text messaging Please note that from the 1st July 2019 you will no longer receive an appointment confirmation text if you have consented for us to contact you via text messaging. You will still receive an appointment reminder the day before your appointment and we will continue to contact you via text for anything else we already do (asking you to contact the surgery, letting you know a letter is ready to collect etc.) We understand you often may receive quite a few texts from the surgery for different things and it can be sometimes overwhelming. We hope by doing this we will reduce the amount of texts we send you, but will still be able to remind you of your appointment in good time.

If you do require a confirmation text of your appointment, we will be able to do so on request at the time of booking if you have the MJOG smart messenger app downloaded. This is now available to download on the Google Play and Apple App Store. Please see your respective app store for more information.

The NHS app is now also available to download and is an easy, accessible way to not only book, view and cancel your appointments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without having to wait on the phone, but also order your medication, set organ donor preferences and get instant advice (via the integrated 111 service) This is also available to download on the Google Play and Apple App store. Simply download the app, follow the on screen instructions to verify your identification which will link it to your electronic record here at the surgery

Please note the NHS app is nationwide, whereas MJOG is local to this area and others. They work separately but we recommend downloading both to optimise how we communicate you with digitally. With your help we can reduce the amount of paper we use and in turn, reduce our carbon footprint and help save the environment.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the surgery.

Meet our new GP Dr Prasad I am delighted to have joined Brierley Park Medical Centre (BPMC, as I have learned to call it) in May this year. I am an experienced GP with 12 years of experience working in various settings. I graduated from Leeds in 2001 and worked all over England before coming to Nottingham to live with my family. I am really excited to join BPMC because it is similar to the area where I grew up in West Yorkshire in many ways. I recognise the unique needs for our ex-mining community with close family ties and social support structures. However, those needs are counterbalanced by hardships and challenges that can make it difficult to make health a priority over other things.

When I am not at BPMC I work as an academic GP. This means I undertake research and teaching with doctors, scientists. I love to learn new things that could help my patients. Currently I am learning about the issues with the healthcare system and how we can make it better for children and young people who have mental (and physical) health issues. It involves talking to parents, other scientists and a lot of time on a computer doing clever maths (that I can't claim to full understand!!!).

When I am not working, I love spending time with my family. My daughters keep me on my toes and are 8 and 11 years old. I try to exercise when I can and love cooking and singing. I also love to read about ancient history because whatever we are going through has already happened to someone else in the past. We just need to learn from their lives. I love listening to the life stories of my patients and think being a GP is an immense privilege. I don't think many people can go home every day and say they really made a difference to other people's lives for the better like we can :-)

GP access survey results In June 2019 we asked for our patient’s opinion on how they access the practice and our services. Below is a quick summary of the results we received. Please note these results are not extensive and only cover the higher percentages of results.

93% of patients we asked were able to make an appointment in the past 6 months

58% of patients we asked said if they could not see a GP within the next 2 days, it was because there were no appointments.

80% of patients told us they were very satisfied with the hours their surgery is open.

56% of patients told us they would like the surgery to be open on a Saturday, with 38% of patients preferring after 6:30pm. 5% of patients told us they would like us to open on a Sunday.

The surgery is open after 6:30pm most Wednesdays and appointments are available on a weekend as we work alongside the Practices in the area to provide this service

89% of patients told us they definitely had confidence and trust In the doctor they saw.

89% of patients told us they were very satisfied with their care at the surgery

We would like to thank everyone who took part in the survey, and we will use these results to continue to improve our services and access to them.

Huthwaite Involving Patients PPG StatementLadies – Come and support your local PPG and grab a fashion bargain

Your Patient Participation Group (otherwise known as the HIP Group) works alongside the practice staff to promote health issues. You may have seen us at the flu clinic, or at the health events that we hold each year at the medical centre, or you may have helped us recently with our patient survey.

We are a group of patients from the practice, who are volunteers. We don’t get paid for our participation in these events and only ever claim out of pocket expenses, such as postage costs. Irrespective of this, we need to raise funds to support the working of the PPG and to help us with this, we’ll be running a ladies fashion evening at Mansfield Hosiery Mills on 26 September 2019, commencing at 7.00 pm. The event will be run by the Complete Clothing Company and will include clothes and fashion items from many of the big names on the high street at discounted prices. The admission ticket price will go to help fund us, so ladies make a date in your diary, come along and support your PPG and grab a fashion bargain.

I mentioned earlier that you may have met our members when we were carrying out the recent patient survey. This was carried out to support the Ipcris/MORI poll that is sent out at random to patients at the Health Centre. Nearly 300 patients took the time to respond (either in person or by Survey Monkey) and the findings were generally very supportive of the practice. Nearly 90% of patients were satisfied with the care that they got at the practice, with a similar percentage having confidence and trust in

the doctor that they saw. Although many patients were satisfied with the hours that the surgery is open currently, a considerable proportion of patients would like the surgery to be open on a Saturday – appointments are available on a Saturday morning within the Ashfield North group of surgeries and even Sunday morning (pre-bookable) appointments can be arranged at the Forest Medical Practice at Rosemary Street, Mansfield. More information on “out of hours appointments” is available on the Mansfield and Ashfield CCG website or by following the link on the Brierley Park Medical Centre website.

Steve Wright – Chair of the HIP Group – The PPG for BPMCG