Practice News Winter 19/20

Social Prescribing – new practice service!

This service is predominantly to help support vulnerable patients with long-term conditions, mental health issues, those who are lonely and isolated, or who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Our Social Prescriber, Faith Walkwell, will work with you to create a shared plan based on what matters to you.  The aim is to help you take control of your health and wellbeing.  Together you will explore what’s important in your life, and identify local activities and services that you will benefit from.  You will be helped to find services, community groups and support in your local area. This may include:

  • Healthy lifestyle and activity
  • Arts, music, outdoors and creativity
  • Befriending, counselling and other support groups
  • Housing, benefits, financial support/advice
  • Employment, training and volunteering
  • Education and learning
  • Getting involved in your community
  • Accessing specialist services and support

Faith will work with you for up to 8 sessions, to support you to stay on track and to meet your goals.

If you are aged 18yrs+ and think social prescribing might help you improve your wellbeing, please talk to your GP, nurse or another member of practice staff who will be able to refer you into this service.

Repeat Prescription Ordering System

From September, Community Pharmacies have no longer been able to order medicines on your behalf.  This is to ensure the safe and responsible issue of medication and to prevent unnecessary medicines waste.

Please remember, therefore, to order your repeat prescriptions from the practice when you have 7 to 10 days of medicines left.  You can do this:

  • on-line (if you are not already registered for patient on-line speak to reception)
  • by completing the white, tear off part of your repeat prescription identifying which
    medicines you require, and returning it to the practice
  • clearly writing what you need on a piece of paper (including your name, date of birth,
    address and telephone number) and returning it to the practice.

Planned works at both sites

The practice is currently undertaking planned refurbishment at each site.   Whilst ever effort will be made to minimise disruption to patients, please bear with us as improvements are made.  Planned works include:

Claypath Medical Centre

  • phased replacement of windows;
  • recovering of patient seating;
  • new vinyl flooring in downstairs waiting
  • room/reception and corridor
  • painting and redecoration.

University Health Centre

  • new lighting;
  • new vinyl flooring in waiting room/reception/corridors.

Practice staff starters/leavers/changes

Staff who left the practice

Regrettably the practice has said goodbye to two practice nurses:

Carol Beeby, Practice Nurse, retired at the end of October, 2019.  We very much hope she enjoys a well earned, and healthy, retirement.

Yvette Lamb, Practice Nurse, also left at the end of October, 2019, to work nearer home and hopefully achieve a better work/life balance.

Both Carol and Yvette were very conscientious and hard working members of our nursing team and will be a great miss.

New starters:

We have welcomed the following new staff:

Jane Naylor, Practice Nurse, started in September, 2019. She has recently completed her respiratory diploma and is now focussing on sexual health and contraception training.

Melanie Baker, Phlebotomist, started in January, 2020

Faith Walkwell, Social Prescriber Link Worker, started in February, 2020 – see above article.

Deborah Skelton, Salaried GP, started in February, 2020, and will be known to some patients having previously trained as a GP Registrar in the practice.

Aisling Dutton, Practice Nurse, started in March, 2020.

Last modified: March 6, 2020