Old News Items

To all of our Holbrook Surgery Patients.  

 

We want to thank you for your patience and support through this difficult and extremely busy time during the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of consultations we have needed to provide to meet demands has certainly increased, in line with national GP appointment demands. In view of this, like many surgeries, we have had to address the way our appointment system works to meet this.  

 

We will speak to patients first and to determine if there is a clinical need to see a patient face to face, that will affect the management plan decided for the patient.  We never stopped seeing patients that have needed to be seen face to face during the pandemic, and the number of patients we are seeing face to face since measures have been relaxed has steadily increased.   

 

We have learnt from the pandemic there are indeed conditions and requests that can be managed over the phone quickly, efficiently and conveniently for the patient.  

 

We are unable to give specific time slots for telephone consultations, unless appointments that are bookable online are accessed – these do give a timed slot which we will endeavour to keep to. Otherwise the call will generally be morning or an afternoon call. This is to help manage the daily workload at the surgery in terms of the volume and complexity of patients, emergencies, paperwork and home visits amongst other things. If it is important to you that the doctor phones at a specific time please note when booking and we will to our best to oblige, but cannot promise. 

 

We have also had the introduction of a couple of other services to improve access. We now offer econsults and Livi consults which can be accessed via this webpage and you will find further information on these services here.   

 

I hope this makes our appointment system clearer, and you understand our rationale for the above.  

Holbrook Surgery

E-consult

This year the flu vaccine is being offered on the NHS to :

  • adults 65 and over
  • people with certain medical conditions(including children in at-risk groups from 6 months of age) such as: COPD, CHD, Diabetes, Chronic respiratory disease or any other clinical at risk group:
  • Pregnant women
  • Households who are shielding (on the NHS shielded patient list)
  • Carers working in a residential home and agency carers
  • Carers

Please note children aged 2 and 3 years old on 31.8.20 will be able to book appointments from the 7.9.20 due to the vaccine being available from that date.

Later in the year, the flu vaccine is expected to be given to people aged 50 to 64.More information will be available to the 50 - 64 'newly eligible' patients later in the autumn and until then appointments are only being offered to those patients who were already eligible.

Please arrive at your slotted appointment time and no earlier or later due to the  strict social distancing. All patients should please bring their own face covering or mask with them and dress appropriately to enable an efficient service and easy access to their arm.

WIDESPREAD MEASLES OUTBREAK IN UK AND EUROPE.

If your are born after 1970 and haven't had two doses of MMR (Measles,Mumps and Rubella) please make an appointment with the nurse to be vaccinated to ensure you are protected.

Measles: Are you protected?

In view of the national outbreak of measles in the UK, we are in the process of making sure all our patients are fully protected.

All patients above age 10 are recommended to have had 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps & rubella) to be fully covered.  Please check your records and book an appointment with a nurse at Holbrook Surgery (01403 339818) for the MMR jab if you have not had 2 doses.

 

Holbrook Surgery would like to clarify that our doors have been open to our patients throughout the pandemic and our staff have never worked harder.

We have made a huge system changes to follow ever changing advice from NHS England over the last 6 months with the aim of keeping patients and staff safe.

Following national guidance from NHS England we telephone triage all GP appointments but when clinically appropriate and safe we see patients face to face and have been doing so throughout the pandemic

The waiting room can now safely only have a certain number of patients in due to social distancing. Staff must change PPE and clean rooms between patient contact. We can not safely return to the previous system without putting people at risk.

We are continually sourcing PPE and extra equipment to keep staff and patients safe.

We reviewed an ever changing list of shielding patients, giving advice and support as needed.

We provide palliative care homes visits to the dying, mental health support to those in distress and see face to face those who need examining. All while dealing with unprecedented amounts of phone advice, prescriptions, investigations results, hospital letters and work being passed back to us from secondary care.

Staff have been covering shielding colleagues and with the current inadequate national testing capacity are also covering self isolating colleagues.

We are dismayed by the media reports on general practice and would welcome our patients ongoing support in providing the best service we can within the constraints we f

Our PPG have uploaded their spring newsletter, please take a look under the Patient Group tab.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic we aim to continue to provide the best possible, safest care for our patients. We realise some of our patients will be worried about non covid 19 related illness that is new or longstanding. We are working in a different way to what you expect from prior experience but, as your medical team, we want to encourage you to get in touch with us to discuss your health concerns so we can set about timely investigation and management individualised to you. 

8 - 8 Access via HUB surgeries

As part of the government drive to enable patients to access GP appointment from 8am – 8pm 7 days a week our CCG has commissioned a HUB surgery to cover the Horsham practice patients.

This HUB surgery will initially run from 4.30pm – 8.00pm in various surgeries in Horsham and a weekend surgeries in Crawley Urgent Treatment Centre.

These appointments are pre-bookable only and can appointments can be made via the surgery appointments line.  Each Horsham practice has an allocated number of appointments each day.  You will be seen by various locum GPs, and to access these appointments you must be willing to consent to the sharing of your medical record with the HUB.

NO Longer accepting Pharmacy managed prescriptions

These are no-longer being accepted by ANY surgeries as per CCG directives.  There is evidence that this has led to stockpiling and delays in changes of medication

ONLINE SERVICES

We are currently experiencing some technical issues with our Online services; we are working with our system provider to resolve these issues. Sorry for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.

NO MORE PRESCRIPTIONS via gmail

Please use the online services or the website form for prescription requests as the gmail account will no longer be monitored for prescription requests.  Gmail is no-longer considered a secure email account by the NHS for patient identifiable information.   

PPG newsletters can be found under the Patient Group tab - Patient Participation Group Newsletter

2020 Patient Survey is open follow the link at the bottom of this page

Thank you to all our incredibly supportive patients that have thanked our team and recognise how hard our whole team have been working to deal with the extra workload at this time.

All our measures we have put in place over the past 2 weeks are following guidance from Public Health England and are being implemented across many GP practices in the UK. It is all about keeping you safe, minimising your exposure to patients with COVID-19 symptoms and saving lives of the most vulnerable people in our community. At the same time we have to keep our staff safe so keep on working to provide patient care.

We understand that these are difficult and worrying times and we are sorry if you are inconvenienced by having to wait a bit longer on the phones than you usually would, but if you are thinking of calling your GP practice please remember these:

  1.   .  We can’t do prescriptions early or give you more just in case – the pharmacies are struggling already.
  2.      We can’t give you an inhaler even though you had one 5 years ago when you had a bad cough. I know it’s scary but lots of patients really really need these.
  3.      Prescriptions may take longer than 48 hours to process.
  4.      We cannot issue holiday cancellations letters for patients choosing not to travel due to the outbreak.
  5.      We are still triaging our appointments at the moment and a doctor will ask you to come into the surgery if they feel you need to be seen.
  6.      Please do not come to the surgery unless you really need to , you can phone or email reception.holbrook@nhs.net
  7.      Please do not verbally abuse our reception team and BE KIND to our team.

         Thank you.

DIABETES: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus


ASTHMA: https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/


COPD AND LUNG DISEASE: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus/people-living-with-lung-condition

OLDER PEOPLE: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/coronavirus/

CANCER: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/common-questions-about-the-new-coronavirus-outbreak.html


PREGNANCY: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

...................................................................

FLU CLINICS

Its not to late to book your jab today!

Please call the surgery to book an appointment

COVID19 - Pandemic

As you will be aware the Covid19 virus is now classified as a pandemic by the WHO.  Due to this this we have changed our appointment system to protect patients and staff. 

When calling the surgery you will be asked to leave a contact telephone number.  You will be allocated a time slot when the GP will endeavour to call you back, but please be aware this time is for guidance only.  If they feel you need to be seen they will make you an appointment.  Please make sure you are available on the number you provide to take the GPs call.  If you miss this call unfortunately you will have to call back. 

Dr Jonathan Heatley - Update

GOOD NEWS - Jonathan has just been given the all clear.  

He is feeling relieved and can now concentrate on making a recovery. He still suffers from the after effects of the radiotherapy but will be phasing back to work over the next few months.

Update on Type 1 Opt-out

The commencement date for GPDPR extraction has been postponed from the 1st September, and no current date for this is planned.

Change in opting out of national electronic data sharing

If you have ever opted out of sharing your record for research or planning purposes there has been a recent change. The surgery is no-longer able to do it on your behalf.

As of the 1st July 2021 your data will be shared with NHS Digital to help improve health, care and services

If you wish to register a Type 1 Opt-out with Holbrook before data sharing starts with NHS Digital, this should be done by returning a form which can be found on the link below to us by 23rd June 2021.

Visit www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters to find out how to continue your opt out or call 0300 3035678 for more details.

DRUG SAFETY ALERT

A drug safety alert has been received for EMERADE (Adrenalin injectors) -There has been a fault detected in a few devices where the full dose has not been delivered.  Patients affected by this will receive a fact sheet and letter.  If you are concerned please contact your pharmacy or the surgery

FIRST CONTACT PHYSIO PRACTITIONERS

This pilot is due to come to an end in the next few weeks.  The results will be evaluated and the CCG will make a decision whether it will continue.

HOLBROOK SURGERY RUN FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Holbrook Surgery Team who took part in this year's  "Race for Life" raised an amazing £7655.00

You can still donate by clicking on the link below:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/holbrook-surgery-run?fbclid=IwAR0cDyXNKtg2O8ICegUAgftNTYwDSPvMiwHg7m1G6DUiUcIMDWj2ChEu6e4

REMINDER MANAGED REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS

We have noticed a few patients are signing up to online pharmacies that offer to manage prescriptions, we do not accept these. To order your prescriptions use the NHS app, Online services or this website. You can use these online pharmacies as your nominated pharmacy but not to request anything on your behalf. See old news for CCG directive

Dr Jon Heatley

Unfortunately Dr Heatley has been diagnosed with a Throat Cancer so will not be at the surgery for the next few months.  He is embarking on a radical treatment regime, with a good prospect of a cure and we all wish him well.  Patients will be looked after by the other GPs so there will be no loss of continuity of care.

This comes in light of Dr Anisha Patel being given the 'all clear' from her recent bowel cancer.  She will be looking at a phased return to work in the summer.

BETA TESTING - NHS APP

Are you registered for our on-line services? YES Try the new access to your account using the NHS APP - see the online services tab for more information.

NEW LOOK WAITING ROOM

We hope you like our refurbished waiting room which is almost finished.  The paintings have been done by a local artist Liam Jackson and the waiting room designer Carole Colman.

We are very pleased with the results.

NO Longer accepting Pharmacy managed prescriptions

It is estimated that over-ordering, stockpiling and not using medication, costs the local NHS around £2.5 million per year. To reduce these costs the local CCG group, inline with others have made changes. These changes mean that patients must place orders on repeat prescriptions themselves. The pharmacy or supplier will not be able to do this for the patient.

This does not change how your medicine or equipment is delivered or received. The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) still allows you to nominate a pharmacy or supplier to fill your prescription for collection or delivery.

Changes with ear syringing/irrigation

As a result of funding changes within the NHS, we are no longer funded for ear syringing to clear earwax.  In order to provide the best service for our patients we will offer microsuction, but only after patients have used ear drops- preferably sodium bicarbonate with olive oil as an alternative.  The requirement is 3 drops into each ear for 3 minutes, 3 times a day for 3 weeks, as this technique will resolve 95% of earwax problems.  We cannot offer a microsuction appointment unless you have done this.

NHS HEALTH CHECKS

If you are aged 40 - 74 and have not been diagnosed with the conditions mentioned below you are eligible for a free NHS Health Check. Even though you might be feeling great, if you're over forty you may be at risk of heart disease, stroke,kidney disease, diabetes or dementia. A FREE NHS Health Check can help you reduce these risks and make sure that you stay healthy. Please click on the link below for more information.

Health Check Leaflet

Changes to Coeliac prescribing moved 21/6/18

Following national consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription, the government has decided to restrict gluten-free prescribing to bread and mixes only.

A wide range of Gluten-Free foods is now readily available in supermarkets and other food outlets, meaning that the ability of patients to obtain these foods without a prescription has greatly increased.

The following letter has been sent to all patients who currently receive gluten free products on prescriptions

Diabetic Home Glucose Monitoring moved 21/6/18

There is a problem with some home monitoring blood test strips used in the Accu-chek, Accu-Chek Aviva and Accu-Chek performa monitors.

If you use any of these monitors take your test strips to a local pharmacy where they can check if you have any of the affected batch numbers.

each ear for 3 minutes, 3 times a day for 3 weeks, as this technique will resolve 95% of earwax problems.  We cannot offer an ear syringing appointment unless you have done this.

There is a new Central NHS Computer System called the Summary Care Record (SCR). It is an electronic record which contains information about the medicines you take, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had.

 

Why do I need a Summary Care Record?

Storing information in one place makes it easier for healthcare staff to treat you in an emergency, or when your GP practice is closed.

This information could make a difference to how a doctor decides to care for you, for example which medicines they choose to prescribe for you.

Who can see it?

Only healthcare staff involved in your care can see your Summary Care Record. 

 

How do I know if I have one?

Over half of the population of England now have a Summary Care Record. You can find out whether Summary Care Records have come to your area by looking at our interactive map or by asking your GP

Do I have to have one?

No, it is not compulsory. If you choose to opt out of the scheme, then you will need to complete a form and bring it along to the surgery. You can use the form at the foot of this page.

More Information

For further information visit the NHS Care records website or the HSCIC Website

Subscribe to the newsletterDownload the opt out form >>>>

As I am sure, you are aware a new COVID-19 virus variant Omicron, is spreading throughout the UK.

The discovery of the Omicron variant once again requires an extraordinary response from the NHS. On Sunday night, the Prime Minister announced the new vaccination challenge which will see the NHS deliver more vaccines over the coming weeks than ever before, and will require us to prioritise activities to deliver this.

However, even with the additional protection that vaccine boosters will give, the threat from Omicron remains serious. 

A Level 4 National Incident has been declared, in recognition of the impact on the NHS of both supporting the vital increase in the vaccination programme and preparing for a potentially significant increase in COVID-19 cases.

General Practice is asked to increase its capacity to vaccinate people as quickly as possible while maintaining urgent on day care and cancer services.

The more people that are vaccinated the less likely this COVID-19 variant will cause severe illness and even death.

We will be trying to offer up to 19,000 vaccinations to patients up to the  31st December 2021. We will being doing this by vaccinating Monday to Sunday at Millennium Hall, Roffey. The only 2 days we will not be vaccinating will be Christmas and Boxing Day.

All vaccinations are by appointment only and booked through the National Booking Service or by calling 119

Although many of our vaccination team are from outside of the surgery, it is likely Holbrook Surgery doctors, nurses and admin staff will also need to help.

There will not be so many routine appointments available during this period. However, if you have an urgent medical problem or feel your concern cannot wait for a routine appointment then please let our staff know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Due to these exceptional circumstances, we will have to postpone some routine work. Although there is Government support to do this in order to provide more vaccinations, we hope this will be minimal. If we do need to cancel your appointment, we will contact you and offer you the next available date.



 
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